Just started maintainence-worried about Thanksgiving

Jubee13
Jubee13 Posts: 132 Member
edited November 2024 in Goal: Maintaining Weight
I just started maintaining this week. I had planned to start adding 100 calories per day, but I'm wondering if I should not start adding now, knowing I will go over on Thanksgiving. What I'd like to do is add the calories, eat what I want to for that meal, but not gain this week. Is that possible? I've been eating 1,200 calories or less because I only had 10 pounds to lose and wanted to get it off quickly. Also, I'm 5'3" 115 pounds and 49 yrs old so I don't get very many calories as it is. (I'm pretty active with running and crossfit. I didn't eat back any exercise calories while losing.)
What would be the best thing to do and still maintain?

Replies

  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    What I'd do is keep eating at a deficit this week and increase calories next week.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    If you're active then yes you can eat more calories. ...I'm an inch smaller, also active and maintain in 2200 cals.

    Enjoy Thanksgiving :smile: , it's one day, you can eat at deficit up til then which will help and even for a few days after (depending on how much you eat) ...that's the beauty of maintenance and looking at the weekly total cals rather than daily.

    I would recommend not stepping on scales for around 3 days after to let the sodium/water retention subside.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    its a day...you don't gain a bunch of fat in a day...that's not how your body works. your body's natural tendency is to maintain the status quot and it is very good at adjusting processes to account for more or less energy consumption in the short run...you have to consistently under feed or over feed to override the body's ability to maintain the status quot...

    the only weight you gain in a day is water an waste.

    keep in mind that body weight isn't a static figure...maintenance is a range, not exactly XXX Lbs. your maintenance level of calories is also going to be a range rather than a set figure...nobody has a TDEE of exactly XXXX calories. it is also likely that your maintenance range is higher than you think it is, particularly if you're active. it is also normal to put on 3-5 Lbs when you actually go to maintenance as you are replenishing depleted glycogen stores...this freaks out a lot of people an they end up doing this perpetual dieting thing just to rid themselves of glycogen when really, it is good to be full of glycogen.
  • dubird
    dubird Posts: 1,849 Member
    It's one day. One day going over isn't going to be an issue unless you let it. If you're concerned, focus on getting smaller portions that day. You'll still get to celebrate and enjoy your favorite foods, just less of them. And eat slow. You may find it actually will take less to satisfy you, but if you eat too fast, that signal doesn't register in your brain until you've past the point of feeling full.

    In other words, it's a holiday you're celebrating with friends/family. Enjoy it!
  • FitPhillygirl
    FitPhillygirl Posts: 7,124 Member
    Enjoy Thanksgiving. It's one day out of the year to relax and be with family and friends. Not to worry about calories. If you made it this far, you have to be doing something right.
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,571 Member
    Enjoy Thanksgiving. There's lots of healthy food. Go heavy on the proteins and don't take a second serving of pie. Do enjoy the first.

    I wrote this for Psychology Today a few years ago on eating over the holidays:

    https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/thinking-about-kids/201311/enjoying-holiday-eating
  • FitPhillygirl
    FitPhillygirl Posts: 7,124 Member
    edited November 2015
    nxd10 wrote: »
    Enjoy Thanksgiving. There's lots of healthy food. Go heavy on the proteins and don't take a second serving of pie. Do enjoy the first.

    I wrote this for Psychology Today a few years ago on eating over the holidays:

    https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/thinking-about-kids/201311/enjoying-holiday-eating

    This was a nice read. Thanks for sharing it. :)
  • Jdc021
    Jdc021 Posts: 19 Member
    I agree with the posts; enjoy the day, balance it out over the week and have fun! :-)
  • bioklutz
    bioklutz Posts: 1,365 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    its a day...you don't gain a bunch of fat in a day...that's not how your body works. your body's natural tendency is to maintain the status quot and it is very good at adjusting processes to account for more or less energy consumption in the short run...you have to consistently under feed or over feed to override the body's ability to maintain the status quot...

    the only weight you gain in a day is water an waste.

    keep in mind that body weight isn't a static figure...maintenance is a range, not exactly XXX Lbs. your maintenance level of calories is also going to be a range rather than a set figure...nobody has a TDEE of exactly XXXX calories. it is also likely that your maintenance range is higher than you think it is, particularly if you're active. it is also normal to put on 3-5 Lbs when you actually go to maintenance as you are replenishing depleted glycogen stores...this freaks out a lot of people an they end up doing this perpetual dieting thing just to rid themselves of glycogen when really, it is good to be full of glycogen.

    I second this. I go out to eat every 2-3 weeks and have a higher than normal calorie day because of it. I never purposefully adjust my calories because of it. I temporarily gain a few pounds that go away after a few days.

    On Thanksgiving I plan on eating everything I want and Friday I will eat like I normally do (unless there is leftover dessert - I might have to help get rid of that :smile: )
  • Debbie_Ferr
    Debbie_Ferr Posts: 582 Member
    the only weight you gain in a day is water and waste.
    I temporarily gain a few pounds that go away after a few days.

    yep, too much sodium = water retention = temporary weight gain.

    just stay hydrated, so you can flush out the sodium.
    and in a couple of days: MAGIC. You drop a few pounds :)

  • yogicarl
    yogicarl Posts: 1,260 Member
    edited November 2015
    1. don't celebrate it, or
    2. celebrate it but eat half portions and don't eat sweets in between
  • lemonychild
    lemonychild Posts: 654 Member
    uhh, even if you over eat for one day, it levels out in the next few days if you continue eating at maintenance
  • mysherman
    mysherman Posts: 11 Member
    Sometimes, the fear is if one overindulfes one day, it might carry on through the next few days. And when compounded with the stress of work and/or school, it becomes very difficult to offset excess calories by eating below your avg recommended maintenance daily intake because you need the stimulation to perform. What do you do then?
  • bkstein40
    bkstein40 Posts: 41 Member
    I just recently reached my goal as well, I am trying not to fret too much over Thanksgiving or the Holidays for that matter. I plan to just stay the course. I also agree to enjoy Thanksgiving, it is just one day / one meal. One thing MFP has taught me over the past 4 1/2 months is portion control, so this is going to be a breeze will track every last calorie in and calorie out, going for a walk on Turkey Day is a must for me.
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    There are things you can do to help, such as load your plate with vegetables first and skipping the bread, but I anticipate overeating on Thanksgiving. When I have an opportunity to eat less on other days, I take it. Also, if you can, get your exercise in. The excess calories on Thanksgiving really only amounts to about a pound or less of weight gain, but if aren't eating at a deficit, that pound will stick with you.
  • Jruzer
    Jruzer Posts: 3,501 Member
    nxd10 wrote: »
    Enjoy Thanksgiving. There's lots of healthy food. Go heavy on the proteins and don't take a second serving of pie. Do enjoy the first.

    I wrote this for Psychology Today a few years ago on eating over the holidays:

    https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/thinking-about-kids/201311/enjoying-holiday-eating

    This should be posted in reply to every single thread on holiday eating. What a great piece!
  • Jubee13
    Jubee13 Posts: 132 Member
    Great article! Thanks everyone! I have stayed at a deficit all this week, and I plan to enjoy myself tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to it!
  • RogerToo
    RogerToo Posts: 16,157 Member
    Hi
    Here is a list of approximate calories in a Thanksgiving meal with portion sizes.
    The total count of all the stuff below is 1023 calories. You therefore shouldn't eat the whole list, so pick and choose your favorites.

    Turkey (white meat) 3 oz, Approx. Calories 133

    Ham (fat trimmed) 3 oz, Approx. Calories 150 -- HIGH sodium

    Mashed potatoes 1/4 cup , Approx. Calories 75

    Stuffing 1/4 cup, Approx. Calories 90

    Gravy 1/4 cup, Approx. Calories 25

    Sweet potatoes 1/4 cup , Approx. Calories 100

    Green Beans (steamed) 1 cup , Approx. Calories 40

    Cranberry sauce 2 Tbsp., Approx. Calories 40

    Roll (no butter) 1, Approx. Calories 90

    Pumpkin Pie (no whip) 1/8 of an 8" pie, Approx. Calories 190

    Wine 4 oz., Approx. Calories 90

    Good Luck
    Roger
  • FitPhillygirl
    FitPhillygirl Posts: 7,124 Member
    Jubee13 wrote: »
    Great article! Thanks everyone! I have stayed at a deficit all this week, and I plan to enjoy myself tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to it!

    This sounds like a great plan. Have a nice Thanksgiving.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories