To track Christmas or not?
MagistraSaunders
Posts: 20 Member
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?
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?
0
Replies
-
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.0
-
I track everything...good, bad, or ugly. Not tracking doesn't make it go away.
That said, if logging the goodies is discouraging to you, don't do it. I personally NEED to know where I stand.
It's just one day in the grand scheme. Don't sweat it and enjoy your holiday either way.0 -
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.0 -
I dunno. I'll probably track any protein to make sure I'm not low, but otherwise I plan on eating our regular meals. I doubt I'll log most of it, and I'll most likely not be stuffing my face anyways. Normally i'd eat like all the chocolate I received on Christmas, this year I won't.0
-
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.0 -
It is a very individual thing, based on your own individual status and position on your healthy lifestyle journey. I will not weigh and measure , but I will log all to the best estimate I can. I am also planning about three fitness challenges - the C25k, the ab challenge with my husband and 31 days of Barre3 without a break. It's December day after tomorrow and it's time (for me).0
-
I'm logging. Don't see a reason not to.0
-
I won't log Christmas Day, will throw in a 3000 cal quick add and be done... Mainly because I can't be bothered trying to remember and log every single little thing I eat!0
-
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.0 -
This content has been removed.
-
I log one big entry for the day that probably overestimates what I actually ate.TavistockToad wrote: »I won't log Christmas Day, will throw in a 3000 cal quick add and be done... Mainly because I can't be bothered trying to remember and log every single little thing I eat!
Same here. it's one of the few days where I'm mindlessly eating throughout the day. For Thanksgiving I logged one big 4,500 calorie entry with a high estimate of carbs and fat and called it a day.
Then I started logging again the next day.0 -
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.
0 -
I'll log, just not as accurately as I would any other day.
I'll get back to accuracy and stuff after the Xmas parties and Xmas day.
Other than that, any sweets/foods I get for Xmas I'll just fit into my calorie goal until they're gone.0 -
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.0 -
I track every day. It's important data to me.0
-
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.
0 -
I'm going to give a rough track, but I'm not going to weight my dinner or anything like that. It's just for a ballpark estimate of the damage I know I'll do, so that I know where that puts me afterwards.0
-
Yep I track it all.0
-
I'll be logging, but also accepting that I'll definitely be in the red for the day. I like to log to keep myself right, but I don't mind going over for the day, not at Christmas.0
-
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.0 -
TavistockToad wrote: »I won't log Christmas Day, will throw in a 3000 cal quick add and be done... Mainly because I can't be bothered trying to remember and log every single little thing I eat!
Yep, aside from the big Christmas dinner, we generally just keep the appies rolling all day, and Christmas Eve too. Too much of a pain in the butt to track, and frankly I don't care. I didn't track Christmas for the past two years and saw either a weight loss or no change at all in the days that followed. I keep exercise consistent, so maybe that helps.0 -
I'll track as best I can but I won't beat myself up when I go over my goal calorie intake - one day won't ruin my progress. Part of making these improvements stick is learning how to cope with special occasions.0
-
I didn't log on Thanksgiving (the first day I skipped in ten months on here), and I doubt I will for Christmas. If I can keep my estimations about the same, that'll be good. And I'll work a lot of it off that night when I have to be at work.0
-
TavistockToad wrote: »I won't log Christmas Day, will throw in a 3000 cal quick add and be done... Mainly because I can't be bothered trying to remember and log every single little thing I eat!
Yeah this is one of the big things that's making me not want to. That and Dad is very much in charge of the cooking so I won't even be able to see what goes into it.
0 -
You're already worried about Christmas? What about all the days until then? Those matter much more than the 1 day.
I'm not worried about those days - I know I'll be around my calorie goal. And it's less than a month away - the way the shops are going on you'd think it was tomorrow though.0 -
Um, it's not even December yet and you're stressing over Christmas already? Mainly focus on your weight loss right now till that day... then don't stress over that ONE DAY.-1
-
Well Christmas is the first holiday here and New Years is always quiet because it's a family member's birthday so it's only the actual day I'm worried about. I'm worried it'll make me go 'eff it' and go off course. Then again, seeing the numbers could well do that!libbydoodle11 wrote: »I think what counts the most is not what you do on the actual holiday but what your do between the holidays themselves.
Yeah that's exactly my fear! I think I'll have to spend Boxing Day morning on MFP to get myself back into the right headspacesmichhertz wrote: »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've already lost over a stone without MFP, I'm just back here to keep me honest - I plateaued for a while because I went off track with food. Maybe if I'm very strict and say I have to get straight back to tracking on the 26th that'd work. I certainly don't plan on having a very 'diet mode' Christmas either.cheripugh1 wrote: »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.0 -
This content has been removed.
-
You're already worried about Christmas? What about all the days until then? Those matter much more than the 1 day.
I'm not worried about those days - I know I'll be around my calorie goal. And it's less than a month away - the way the shops are going on you'd think it was tomorrow though.
The point is, less say 27 days of hitting your goal and hitting your deficit -vs- 1 day if Christmas where you eating maybe at maintenance or 500 or even 2000 calories above. What do you think makes a bigger impact?
It's only 1 day.
Very true! I am worried about falling off the wagon after though, but I guess I'm not sure whether tracking would help or hinder that situation (though I guess tracking it would mean I'd be concious that people could see my diary and therefore how much chocolate I've had!)
0 -
This content has been removed.
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 427 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions