PARANOID FOR THE HOLIDAYS

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vynnette26
vynnette26 Posts: 58 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
During Thanksgiving, I "enjoyed" my food. I also gained 4 lbs. Now, I have family christmas dinners, corporate holiday gatherings, friends reunions, and 2 birthday dinners, all in the month of December. I want to decline all the invites but there's no way to hide from food. I also recognized my avoidance issue when I was sick and took 2 days off work and I refused to stay home for fear of eating too much or unhealthy. With a fever of 102, I went to walk around walmart and slept in my car for 2 hours because I didn't want to stay home cuz the chips, mac and cheese, and candy bars where in my cabinet.

Last weekend, I said I would go to my friends BBQ then I just didn't show up.....

Guidance anyone
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Replies

  • Justifier
    Justifier Posts: 336 Member
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    That doesn't sound like a healthy relationship with food. Practice some moderation. You can have a drink at the party, just not five. Fill up on the veggie tray instead of the cookie platter. Have fun, don't hide from the world in fear of some cheese.
  • Shuuma
    Shuuma Posts: 465 Member
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    Eat a healthy meal before you go. Save a few calories at the end of the day for a piece of pie or a couple of cookies. Drink lots of water and station yourself across the room from the food table. Don't avoid your family and friends and enjoy the holidays! Another suggestion I saw that I really liked was to not select treats that are store-bought, but use your saved calories to sample some of Grandma's peanut butter fudge since you only get it at the holidays (for example).

    If you go over, don't fret! It's only a few more weeks and the holiday season is over.

    Good wishes!
  • NavyKnightAh13
    NavyKnightAh13 Posts: 1,394 Member
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    Bumping for the advice.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
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    To gain four pounds on Thanksgiving would mean that you ate 14000 calories in one day..which I highly doubt..

    The "gain" you say was most likely water retention/bloat from slight over indulgence..

    As others noted, it sounds like you have some issues with food. Why not just eat less for breakfast or lunch on said days and fit in the Christmas party meal to your daily deficit, or eat ate maintenance on those days..?

    if you are avoiding going home with a 102 flu because you are scared of what is in the kitchen, then you have issues that an MFP thread cannot cure...I would suggest professional help...
  • RinnyLush
    RinnyLush Posts: 389 Member
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    Please take my advice in stride. I am not a doctor, but I am a previously-hospitalized survivor of a severe eating disorder. I've been in recovery (stable, healthy, happy) for years now.

    See a therapist. Food, and your fear of it, is controlling your life. It is effecting your social relationships, physical health, and mental health. Seek help so that you can make peace with the thoughts inside your head before attempting to adjust your diet under the influence of a skewed perspective. You may end up doing yourself more harm than good by trying to go this alone. Take care of yourself. :flowerforyou:
  • vynnette26
    vynnette26 Posts: 58 Member
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    Thanks for all the input. I don't think I have a mental problem but it doesn't hurt to speak to someone.
  • GBrady43068
    GBrady43068 Posts: 1,256 Member
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    Please take my advice in stride. I am not a doctor, but I am a previously-hospitalized survivor of a severe eating disorder. I've been in recovery (stable, healthy, happy) for years now.

    See a therapist. Food, and your fear of it, is controlling your life. It is effecting your social relationships, physical health, and mental health. Seek help so that you can make peace with the thoughts inside your head before attempting to adjust your diet under the influence of a skewed perspective. You may end up doing yourself more harm than good by trying to go this alone. Take care of yourself. :flowerforyou:
    This. It looks like food DOES control you...the flu story is a good example. And I'll echo Rinny on: Take care of yourself. :flowerforyou:
  • Saramelie
    Saramelie Posts: 308 Member
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    Please take my advice in stride. I am not a doctor, but I am a previously-hospitalized survivor of a severe eating disorder. I've been in recovery (stable, healthy, happy) for years now.

    See a therapist. Food, and your fear of it, is controlling your life. It is effecting your social relationships, physical health, and mental health. Seek help so that you can make peace with the thoughts inside your head before attempting to adjust your diet under the influence of a skewed perspective. You may end up doing yourself more harm than good by trying to go this alone. Take care of yourself. :flowerforyou:

    Agreed
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 7,677 Member
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    The kind of fluctuations you are talking about sound like glycogen stores replenishing and depleting, not loss and gain of fat..

    http://justinowings.com/understanding-bodyweight-and-glycogen-de/
  • Just_Kim_
    Just_Kim_ Posts: 38 Member
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    Sometimes people just want a hug and the reassurance that they can do this. I had a terrible time during Thanksgiving with difficult family members. I felt I was losing my grip on my healthy eating plan, but no one I talked with about it understood. Vynnette, I know what you are talking about. I feel scared, too. Let's just try the one day at a time approach and if we mess up, we'll learn from our mistakes and carry on. Good luck. :smile:
  • vynnette26
    vynnette26 Posts: 58 Member
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    Thank you :0) Just_Kim_
  • Fishshtick
    Fishshtick Posts: 120 Member
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    You are most likely right that you do not have any severe mental illness. Most people can take something that is important to them and over do it. Likewise, most of us lose some perspective at some time in our life and can benefit from talking to an impartial person to get back on track. Normal healthy people commonly talk to councilors or therapists when they think they could use a hand during a hard or confusing time. Sometimes relatives and friends are OK, but often they aren't and just don't have the unbiased perspective you need. Don't let all the people on here that are quick to throw labels on things scare you from doing what any normal person should do when they hit a tough patch. If you work for a larger company or the government you may even have the opportunity to talk to someone as part of your benefits. Doing so can often be a huge relief and much better for your self image than the feedback you can get on a forum like this.
  • gigglesinthesun
    gigglesinthesun Posts: 860 Member
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    I would actually try not to gain weight during this period rather then losing it. Put yourself on your maintenance calories (either for your current weight or your goal weight) and try to hit that rather then your weight loss goal.
  • FindingAmy77
    FindingAmy77 Posts: 1,266 Member
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    we are always going to have a food issue no matter what the time of year or occasion. Its a matter of preplanning, having good choices and alternatives to eat, how much you really are motivated to lose weight and keep it off, and getting rid of that processed junk in your cabinets that is unhealthy empty calories for you and your family. Why have chips? get some pretzels instead. if you must have mac n cheese in a box then only have the single server options. IF you must have candy then only have fruit which is fresh or freeze dried so you actually get some vitamins along with your sugars. Eat before you go to food related functions. Bring a healthy dish and a plate of vegies to pass, put some protein bars in your purse, only have one or a very small portion of your friends/families dishes, drink lots of water, get in some extra exercise on the days you have a function to go to so you can have more calories to eat, don't eat like you are on vacation everytime you have a function: be aware of what you eat and have an idea of how many calories it may be. Most things you go to you may have an idea of what they will be serving before you go so make a plan. Keep a journal of what you eat and find a time to write everything down no mater what. Keep it in your purse.. jot in in it in the bathroom here and there. This way, you are holding yourself accountable even if you indulge and overeat. Don't say oh well, this definitely leads to weight gain. I log into mfp and my journal even when I overeat. It helps me to recognize patterns later on.

    If you want it bad enough then you can make it happen. Nobody ever promised it was going to be easy but it can be done even at this time of year.
  • FindingAmy77
    FindingAmy77 Posts: 1,266 Member
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    I would actually try not to gain weight during this period rather then losing it. Put yourself on your maintenance calories (either for your current weight or your goal weight) and try to hit that rather then your weight loss goal.

    ^^^ definitely a great idea and gives you more caloires to play with as well as making it easier to not set you back and outdo all your hard work
  • leadiax3
    leadiax3 Posts: 534 Member
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    I completely fear being alone with food. I know I have often lost self control and avoiding that situation has helped me reduce binging and purging episodes. I am bulimic. I recommend that you stop the thought process you described because it is an unhealthy procession of thoughts that can lead you to ED. Just eat little bits of what you like. Chew slow, enjoy the flavors drink water and do not over stuff yourself, because it leads to regret.
  • HollisGrant
    HollisGrant Posts: 2,022 Member
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    During Thanksgiving, I "enjoyed" my food. I also gained 4 lbs. Now, I have family christmas dinners, corporate holiday gatherings, friends reunions, and 2 birthday dinners, all in the month of December. I want to decline all the invites but there's no way to hide from food. I also recognized my avoidance issue when I was sick and took 2 days off work and I refused to stay home for fear of eating too much or unhealthy. With a fever of 102, I went to walk around walmart and slept in my car for 2 hours because I didn't want to stay home cuz the chips, mac and cheese, and candy bars where in my cabinet.

    Last weekend, I said I would go to my friends BBQ then I just didn't show up.....

    Guidance anyone

    I totally understand, It's really hard for me too and I don't want to erase all my efforts. I agree with the comments about practicing moderation but I'm not there yet. I'm still a big food addict and probably always will be one.

    I eat a full meal before I go so I'm not hungry (like a big bowl of steel cut oats with sliced apple), then nibble or take tiny portions.
    Drink water -- if possible, keep water with a lemon or lime slice at all times so people won't try to refill your glass.
    Keep something on your plate and take as long as possible to eat it.
    Put vegetables on your plate.
    I avoid bread and try to sample one dessert (not 2 or 3)
    Turn down the ice cream and whipped cream on pie.
    I don't eat dairy anyway so that cuts out high calorie cheese.
    Be happy, chat, talk about stuff other than what you are eating. People love to talk about themselves, so you will be fine if you can get the subject off yourself and your weight.
  • HollisGrant
    HollisGrant Posts: 2,022 Member
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    I would actually try not to gain weight during this period rather then losing it. Put yourself on your maintenance calories (either for your current weight or your goal weight) and try to hit that rather then your weight loss goal.

    ^^^ definitely a great idea and gives you more caloires to play with as well as making it easier to not set you back and outdo all your hard work

    I agree with this... great suggestion.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
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    To gain four pounds on Thanksgiving would mean that you ate 14000 calories in one day..which I highly doubt..

    The "gain" you say was most likely water retention/bloat from slight over indulgence..

    As others noted, it sounds like you have some issues with food. Why not just eat less for breakfast or lunch on said days and fit in the Christmas party meal to your daily deficit, or eat ate maintenance on those days..?

    if you are avoiding going home with a 102 flu because you are scared of what is in the kitchen, then you have issues that an MFP thread cannot cure...I would suggest professional help...

    This is exactly where my mind went!
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
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    Thanks for all the input. I don't think I have a mental problem but it doesn't hurt to speak to someone.

    Making a title called "PARANOID OF ENJOYING LIFE AND HAVING A GOOD TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS"along with choosing to be alone because you don't want to gain water weight suggests otherwise. What's the point of looking good if you just gotta stay in the house, alone and eating plates full of kale?

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