Logging at Christmas

I keep logging, personally. On a few major food holidays I might just add a generous amount of quick add calories rather than logging everything, so I may do that on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. On those specific days I don't worry about going over my calorie goal, but I keep myself to it throughout the rest of the festive season. At a maintenance calorie level, I can fit in a few Christmas cookies without going over!

One of my pals did a bulk last year that happened to fall during the holiday season from Thanksgiving through New Year's, and then she started a cut in January. She said it worked so well to do the bulk during the traditional overeating season that she might make it an annual thing!

I know that come every Christmas I always struggle so I'm curious as to whether how many of you continue logging and being good or decide not to for a few weeks.

To break it down in honest terms, you aren't talking about letting loose on Christmas itself (aka 1 day), you are talking about "going crazy" for 3 weeks. That is a recipe for disaster, IMO.

I started MFP in early 2011, lost 30 pounds and have been maintaining for close to 2 years, so this will be my 3rd holiday season coming up. What I have found is that kind of mentality will be exactly what will do you in. You have to eat healthfully and mindfully the bulk of the time or you will gain weight, period. When I was actively losing weight, what I did was instead of reducing calories, I ate at maintenance. This gave me some extra calories in that danger period of Thanksgiving to New year's, but I didn't undo all of my hard work. I also do not count calories on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day. One day off once in a while won't set you back. Eating whatever you want, whenever you want for a month's time will.

Don't undo what you have worked hard for.

This will be my first Christmas on MFP and I am not planning on logging on Christmas Day. It comes once a year and I plan on enjoying every minute of it :bigsmile: I'll be back on track the next day!

I only log occasionally now at maintenance. I won't bother logging at Christmas. I also won't be going "crazy" with everything either. I will enjoy my Christmas dinner and what not and I'm sure a few holiday parties...but I'm not one to just sit around and eat Christmas cookies all day long during the entire holiday season. That's simply glutenous and you're looking for trouble. Nothing really changes for me that much...yes, I will most likely over indulge on Christmas day, but I'm not spending a whole month or two just sitting around gorging myself...that just seems stupid.

Christmas time will be hard for me also, and my first one while one MFP! I love baking and cooking and I know I won't stop, just hoping I won't consume too much of it!! My husband is a firefighter so I'm planning on still baking and cooking, just sending it to the firehouse after I taste it lol

> festive season

> few weeks

tread carefully, that's dangerous

I might skip logging on two Days. Thanksgiving and christmas day, not the entire season. But still make healthier choices on those days. I will have my treats one piece of pie maybe a few cookies but Im not gonna pig out...ya know. I still will log the rest of the time. Just because stores are selling the sweets.doesnt mean i have to eat it.

I haven't been on here long enough for Christmas, but I plan on logging even if I go over. It's all about accountability for me!

I Logged at christmas and new year and found it helped to keep me accountable but at the same time I did eat what I wanted to, I did not go without but found ny self being ore sensible. This paid off for me as I only put on 2lb over the whole festive period, even with cake, chocolate and buffets

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We usually go to stay with family for a week and get invited round to different family members for meals everyday !!
I intend to be polite & accept but be cautious of the kind of foods I eat .
I intend to keep the carbs & sugars restricted & go for the veg - unless it's smothered in sauce or butter ! I haven't got a sweet tooth so that won't be a problem.
On the DAY itself we are taking my parent out for lunch so it will hard to calculate exactly what calories i ve had but am still going to log as best I can ! & will be taking the dog for a loooooong walk & she might even get a doggy bag !

It's September.


ETA: And no one got fat in a day...or even a week.

Natty, I am with you all the way. I planned out my Thanksgiving menu just yesterday. It works out better for me to plan.

I "hope" to stay within my calorie limits for the day. I found healtheir alternatives to some recipies for the actual meal, and made sure to be reasonable with breakfast and lunch items to not go overboard. With that being said, if I did choose to go over, I am prepared for that too. It is a holiday, and one day of going over would not be the end of me. But, I also don't want to undo my hardwork.

Bottom line - know your personal limits, enjoy yourself, and move on

It's hard because the best treats are hanging around at Christmas.

What helped me was having the flu a week prior to Christmas and day of. Red and green popsicles for all, ho ho ho.

In past years, I've taken control of my menu and that helped - for those particular days. The killer for me are things like little cheesecake squares or truffles hanging around in the communal work areas. Even if you eat just a little of this and a little of that, it adds up so quickly.

Plus, when money's tight (and that seems to be the case at Christmas for me and all my loved ones) we share the holiday joy with baked goods instead of spending money at the store.

Knowing the pitfalls helps, but it's definitely the hardest time of year to maintain a reasonable number of weekly calories.

I sure do log.
its the holidays
go eat and drink your face off.