The holidays are going to be hard

More protein...less carbs. I fill up on turkey and ham...skip the gravy, stuffing, and desserts.

The holidays are 3-4 days not months! Eat what you want ON the holidays not the days in between.

The holidays are 3-4 days not months! Eat what you want ON the holidays not the days in between.

A lot of people are left with tons of left overs after their family dinners.
It can be tough on them.




What I've started doing with the left overs, I freeze them into separate bags. Some people mind the freezerburn taste..But me? I don't mind it. Another alternative, feed it to your pets. No use letting food go to waste... But what's worse, is EATING all of that food that goes to waste. Perhaps you could have your family take portions of it with them, so you're not left with left-overs yourself. There's an idea

I'm just gonna be pickier, basically.

No Lil Smokies (I stopped eating meat), no cheese dip, no creamy dip I didn't make myself.

I will drink water, unsweetened tea, or wine in moderation. Steer clear of eggnog, cocoa, cider, and peppermint-tinis and other holiday drinks.

For me...still gonna have plenty of fudge and candy. That stuff's worth it to me. I'll stick to veggie & fruit trays and then enjoy the baked goods (limiting myself to 1 cookie or pie slice) and candy.

I'm still going to indulge, but I will be going to the gym, even while I'm on vacation, and I will take a nice long walk after a big meal, or do some sort of exercise, to help balance it out. You can also try to drink a big glass of water beforehand to help you get fuller faster. And chew slowly; don't scarf it down. Enjoy every bite!

Breakfast with lots of protein. PACK pleanty of protein rich veggie SNACKs! Most relatives don't have healthy food options. Stay away from sugar.
Sugar is so bad for us. Sugar is the hardest thing to deal with for me before Halloween. I am doing much better this year. I am thinking of not buying Halloween candy this year. But I don't want to risk the tricks if we don't give out treats. I think I am going to buy myself one bar of really good Swiss Dark chocolate to have on Halloween instead of the bags of 'fun size' that I used to eat when I was 317lbs.

One thing is for certain. We are all in this together. :flowerforyou:

For the big meals, if you're cooking, make healthy sides that you won't feel guilty about, along with the traditional things everyone expects. If you're going somewhere to eat, bring a healthy dish to pass, that way you know there will be something you don't feel bad about. Keep going with the workouts and cal counting. If you must have a "cheat day", sandwich it with good days. I'm worried about holidays too, I just started back at MFP last sunday, gonna try to plow through the holidays, right into January. Not going to do a cookie exchange this year (I always have to try one or two of each kind) but I may do a gathering of friends prior to Christmas with maybe wine and snacks and maybe a massage party!!

Another tactic (because several people have offered excellent suggestions) is to decide ahead of time what you want to indulge in and what you can set aside for this year. Really gotta have that pumpkin pie? Maybe skip the potatoes. Love the homemade stuffing? Maybe don't eat the green beans or the rolls/biscuits.

Sometimes we tend to eat out of obligation and we'll eat what is put on our plate. Make food priorities and skip over those things that you can live without. You can enjoy yourself without eating recklessly.

All best!

I'm focusing on all these weeks between the holidays, watching portion control etc, trying to lose as much as I can so I don't have to be as strict during the holidays.

I learned to make my own turkey and dressing using whole wheat bread and lean turkey

I took to baking my own treats this year, since I knew I would want a ton of sweet treats with my hot tea when fall and winter rolled around. Made some pistachio dream cupcakes that were 89 cals each, and pumpkin bread last night, which came out to be 163 cals per slice for 12 slices a loaf and was really moist and divine ;3. Should have been around 140 cals instead, but I only had vanilla greek yogurt on hand instead if plain nonfat XP.

I probably will make some strawberry cake mix cookies tonight ;D.

How many can say they used to overindulge this time of year? I'm not saying all of it is going to be moderation and weight consciousness, but for the most part I would like to be at my ideal weight sooner rather than later. Any tips or tricks on how to crack the whip on yourself?

Motivation clothes (jeans) in the next smaller size work for me. I put them out where I can see them at home and occasionally try them on.

Eat before you go to social events so you aren't hungry. Then eat a small amount on a small plate and eat it as slowly as possible.

Give your leftovers to homeless people, seniors in nursing homes, etc. It will make someone's day, and you won't be tempted to eat them. It's a win-win! This is what I do during the holidays and whenever I want something that is difficult to make in small portions such as casseroles and lasagnas.

Last holiday season I was in the middle of losing weight I still lost a couple pounds through it all. This year I'm in maintenance and I will enjoy some of the food, will skip some of it, and will stop eating when satisfied. I'm very in tune with my body's cues now, and I'm not stressing at all about the upcoming holidays :drinker:

Holidays are a challenge. But relax, scan the choices. Think green salad and veggies first - that would include things like steamed asparagus, mushrooms, whatever is not coated with sauces or cheese; maybe a bit of mashed potato, better yet yams or sweet potatoes assuming they are baked and not loaded with butter, sauces, or coated with marshmallows.. Load your plate with these, then take a portion of protein be it turkey, ham, whatever - 4 ounces max (the size of a deck of cards - no more. You can add some bread if you wish, a small slice or roll. Butter, if you simply can't resist, go for it. One pat, no more. Ah, and then there's dessert. You can safely add a piece of fruit pie like pumpkin, apple, or apricot - no whipped toppings. Be sure you take a super slim slice - doing this you might even indulge in two really slim slices. Oh, I forgot stuffing. My personal stay away from food. Yes its yummy but usually loaded with butter, gravy etc. Forego the stuffing and you'll feel like a winner or simply take a tablespoon full - no more. You get the flavor and can enjoy its texture and memory as it slips down your throat and not feel guilty.

So enjoy your holiday, remember ladies limit yourself to one drink; gents two. And hopefully we'll all see the other side of these holidays without gaining the typical 5 - 10 lbs.