To track Christmas or not?

I am not planning on tracking this year. I did last year, but I was still in the process of developing better eating habits, and needed to do it to keep from having one day turn into 2 days, or a week, or a month of not tracking. Now that it's a firmly established habit for me, I know that not tracking that one day won't be a big deal for me and I will jump right back in the next day.

Aemiliana wrote: »

I'm torn about tracking my intake on Christmas day.

If it were just the actual meal, I wouldn't be terribly worried, but it's the chocolate etc. I've already spoken to my parents and they've agreed not to get me any but there's always some around at Christmas and for me it's a food that once I eat, I crave for days and normally overeat. So I might track just for accountability with that.

Are you going to track (if you celebrate it obviously!) or just take the day off and get back to it on Boxing Day?

I think what counts the most is not what you do on the actual holiday but what your do between the holidays themselves.

I plan on tracking. It's okay to go over every now and again. The thing that concerns me is that if I stop for one day, I'll start making excuses for other days and then not track at all. I'd rather just keep tracking and go over then stop tracking.

It's really up to you but just be aware of the possible pitfalls if you stop tracking for a day.

I'm logging. Don't see a reason not to.

Absolutely! For some odd reason I seem to do much better during the holidays, I can stick to my diet and workouts easier, maybe because I am more determined NOT to let a holiday ruin my goals.

Next to that I don't see why not either, it feels a bit like fooling yourself, like if I don't log it it's not there and never happened. But that is how I feel of course.

yes ofc track it imo, its just information. By not tracking it doesnt mean it didnt happen.
The same strategies as people had available for Thanksgiving can be used if you want to minimise the calorie impact i.e burn some calories beforehand, moderate, just record but dont worry as its just one day etc.

Logging is good imo because it gives you knoweldge of what you are consuming. I just like information, but no need to worrt and juts make reasonable estimates.

I'm visiting my parents for a few days and not bringing my food scale so if I log it will be rough estimates. I'll probably do it anyway but not stress about the inaccuracies, but I might take it as an opportunity to see how I do without logging.

For just one day I wouldn't worry about it. I did log Easter since I cooked everything but decided not to log Thanksgiving and didn't eat any more than I would have if logging.

Aemiliana wrote: »

I'm torn about tracking my intake on Christmas day.

If it were just the actual meal, I wouldn't be terribly worried, but it's the chocolate etc. I've already spoken to my parents and they've agreed not to get me any but there's always some around at Christmas and for me it's a food that once I eat, I crave for days and normally overeat. So I might track just for accountability with that.

Are you going to track (if you celebrate it obviously!) or just take the day off and get back to it on Boxing Day?

I track... if I am not sure about the actual calorie count I give an HONEST est. of calories and put that in for the meal or snack in question.... I try to pre-enter what I know my basic meal will be and that I try very hard to stick to, plus by doing that ahead of time I can decide if there is something I have often enough to cut for something special so I don't go too far over. like maybe I'll take off corn because I know I'm going to have mashed potatoes AND stuffing, sometimes I cut the mashed and just have stuffing. If I have no idea ahead of time, I will est. the calories at a straight 600 (for ex.) for each meal. If you've been doing this long term and/or are at goal maybe you don't need to do this, but for me I still have a long road ahead and I need to keep it upfront, I won't limit my calories on a holiday to 'diet mode' but I won't go overboard too far.

Yep I track it all.

I am going to record as best as I can (even thinking of taking my kitchen scales along to Christmas dinner!). I'm not concerned about staying at my calorie-goal, but I am very interested in the numbers and long-term tracking of calorie-intake, body weight and performance at the gym.

In terms of over-indulging outside of Christmas dinner, I'm thinking of planning it beforehand. I mentioned this on another thread, but for instance, eating 5 mince pies over the season seems about the right number for me. It neither feels greedy nor a number so low that I'm denying myself pleasure.

In terms of food presents, I have one or two very close relatives who always buy me X that they know I love. I've just asked if they are thinking of doing this this year, would they just buy me smaller boxes.