Let's talk about your strategy for remaining in maintenance this Christmas?
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I was in maintenance but slipped over the summer and am back losing. I picked right after Thanksgiving to start. We have tons of candy at work. I log it all. Portion control is the key for me. I have to get into the habit, again, of trying to eat the healthy and lower calories snacks at Christmas parties. My motto has been "if I wouldn't buy it myself, why eat it?". Alcohol calories get logged before a dinner or party. It takes practice, but can be done. If I go over a couple hundred at a party, I actually consider that a minor success and don't sweat it, but it isn't my intent.1
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Mostly I try to keep perspective.
First - this is my fourth holiday season on MFP. First two were actively losing, last year and this year are firmly in maintenance. I've tried everything from being uber restrictive staying within a deficit for the weeks of the holidays, to saying 'to heck with it, I'm going to eat like it's my job'. You know what happened to my overall weight in those two extremes? No significant change that was not addressed within a week or two after the new year started.
Second - I remind myself that maintenance is a range, not a finite number. My calories to maintain that weight range also vary as well. So if I have a 4 lb window, and I'm currently below the midpoint of my range, I can comfortably gain 2-3 lbs of actual fat and still be within my maintenance range. That means I can consume upwards of 7000 calories ABOVE my weekly maintenance calories (~15,000 cals). That's quite a bit of holiday food, even with the multiple celebrations I have planned I'm likely not to hit that number with workouts, etc.
Third - I also know that because I've been successful at losing the weight and keeping it off, even if I do end up gaining a bit more and ending up outside of my maintenance range, I have the knowledge and tools to take the weight back off again fairly easily.
Fourth - There is enough stress around the holidays: trying to wrap things up at work, getting shopping done, decorations up, events planned, cookies baked, etc. Stressing about how to stay in maintenance, when food traditions are such an integral and enjoyable part of the holidays, is just not worth it to me. I want to enjoy the time with my family and friends and not be worried about the calories. That's not to say I won't log - I definitely do, for me it helps keep that perspective when I see that even with the wild guess estimates on potluck meals, I'm still not exceeding 5000 calories in a single meal...
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HappyGrape wrote: »What is your plan to remain same weight on 1st of January as you are now?
While that is indeed a worthy goal at this time of year of 1/4 of the world's population, my plan is to continue in my calorie deficit except for one day between now and January 1. We'll see if I can stick to that plan.0 -
This has been my goal since October 3rd. Due to new meds I gained a lot of weight and knew I'd gain a ton during the holidays starting with Halloween... so I work out 5-6 times a week, count calories, but don't worry about calories at gatherings and holidays. Down 12 lbs doing this and I've had a LOT of cheat days.1
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StealthHealth wrote: »KANGOOJUMPS wrote: »Um, its a holiday, one day,I am going to eat it all drink it all, and have a good time, and get a workout in.
You work out on Christmas day?
I am!2 -
StealthHealth wrote: »KANGOOJUMPS wrote: »Um, its a holiday, one day,I am going to eat it all drink it all, and have a good time, and get a workout in.
You work out on Christmas day?
I am!
Wow. I'm not sure if that is awesome or terrible (personally, if I even mooted the idea my wife and kids would kill me!) but have a good one.0 -
StealthHealth wrote: »StealthHealth wrote: »KANGOOJUMPS wrote: »Um, its a holiday, one day,I am going to eat it all drink it all, and have a good time, and get a workout in.
You work out on Christmas day?
I am!
Wow. I'm not sure if that is awesome or terrible (personally, if I even mooted the idea my wife and kids would kill me!) but have a good one.
I would too if my gym was open. Xmas eve and Boxing day will have to suffice.0 -
I'll do what I do every year. Eat what I want, as much as I want. Add an extra 20
Mins of cardio a day. I really only "indulge" Xmas eve and day, and New Years isn't a big party to me so no danger there. Also, i don't drink alcohol so that helps with calories. I always plan on gaining 5 pounds and don't stress it. I know im disciplined and that weight will come off naturally by the middle to end of Jan anyway.1 -
I just walk and do yoga as usual and eat within budget. If I go over, it won't be by a crazy amount. At parties, I eat a portion and save the rest to eat later on in the week. I spend all season long eating winter treats in moderation, so I never have the desire/need to go overboard at Christmas parties.0
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I'm PMSing so all my good intentions went out of the window because of some sweet bread on Monday (and we got 4 boxes of food gifts yesterday so I didn't get to keep a big deficit). Going to try to make up for that by Saturday though... We do Christmas Eve and Christmas day after that so I'm not even expecting a miracle. Just limit the damage (plus I'll still be PMSing anyway... at least it's good timing I suppose that it's going to happen at the same time).
Plan to exercise more failed as well as I'm horribly sore from my weights sessions of Monday night still, so I might have to take an extra rest day.. Oh well. I'll get back into it tomorrow (although obviously I probably won't get much more than a short walk in on Sunday).1 -
I am looking for support from like minded people on maintaining weight strategies this Christmas.0
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StealthHealth wrote: »KANGOOJUMPS wrote: »Um, its a holiday, one day,I am going to eat it all drink it all, and have a good time, and get a workout in.
You work out on Christmas day?
I will most definitely work out on Christmas Day. A 10 mile run banks about 1000 calories. And, I got to pick the menu since dinner is at my house. Beef tenderloin, green beans and twice baked potatoes and poached pears for dessert. Even with a few glasses of wine and appetizers I can keep the day at maintenance. BOOM! That's one in the win column if I stick to the plan.
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I'm going to eat whatever I want Christmas Eve till probably January 2
Going to be gooood2 -
I was going to get in a blast of exercise on xmas morning, but it's going to be 40c (104F) here, so my plans there went out the window!0
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My strategy is to see how much weight I can gain!!!1
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Christine_72 wrote: »I was going to get in a blast of exercise on xmas morning, but it's going to be 40c (104F) here, so my plans there went out the window!
Same! Might be worth it to get away from some of the crazy relatives...2 -
Christine_72 wrote: »I was going to get in a blast of exercise on xmas morning, but it's going to be 40c (104F) here, so my plans there went out the window!
Can you send some of the warm my way? I will swap for 50 kph northwest winds.0 -
Daily training and intermittant Fasting........Christmas?? never herd of her!0
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Christine_72 wrote: »I was going to get in a blast of exercise on xmas morning, but it's going to be 40c (104F) here, so my plans there went out the window!
Can you send some of the warm my way? I will swap for 50 kph northwest winds.
Brrrrr from one extreme to the other. I'll meet you somewhere in the middle
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I try to keep as many low carb foods I LIKE in the house. A lot of people will eat salads, celery, carrots, I think they are yuck! So I go over board with things I do like so when I want to snack they are always there. Olives, cheese, eggs, hickory farm beef sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, nuts etc. I allow myself to eat one meal with known carbs, bread, rice, pasta, potatoes etc.0
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I don't plan on maintaining, I will weigh less on January 1st. I eat keto so Xmas is a breeze.0
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My annual mindset is to weigh the same on Jan 2nd as I did the day before Thanksgiving. For me, it's not just two days, it's work events, parties, out to eat, etc. So I aim for being OP 80/20, but keeping my 12K steps every day regardless.
This year I scored a weight loss buddy here and we've been doing a challenge that started 10/31 and ended today. Keeping accountable helps in this time I call "The Bermuda Triangle of Holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day).2 -
Uh I feel you. Free food at work and big Italian dinner tonight and traditional dinner tomorrow. Think I'll just drop to a 250 deficit for awhile after new years2
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I hit maintenance in September. 2 weeks holiday in Orlando WDW and Universal October/November. Chrismas season! I feel properly challenged. Glad it went relatively well and not too hard either but happy to have few months with no vacations or big holidays ahead!
How did it go for you?0 -
I'm doing .5 a week every day but holidays0
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I've accepted that I usually gain 1-3lbs over the holiday season. Tough to determine how much is water retention from excess carbs and higher sodium intake. Probably half of the 1-3lbs.
Still keep active and stick to usual meal routine outside dinners/deserts/holiday treats. Takes a couple days in January to get used to eating less again and I'm usually back to weight I was before the holidays by later in the month.1 -
Christmas was kind of a disaster for me but I've backed down off of where I was. I've been maintaining for over 2 years. January 12th is actually my 3 year anniversary of when I started.
To be honest, from Thanksgiving on was a disaster but really it's all just a series of excuses. I didn't have to overeat on Thanksgiving or when my brother died or the work potluck but I did and I'm back on track.0 -
Christmas was kind of a disaster for me but I've backed down off of where I was. I've been maintaining for over 2 years. January 12th is actually my 3 year anniversary of when I started.
To be honest, from Thanksgiving on was a disaster but really it's all just a series of excuses. I didn't have to overeat on Thanksgiving or when my brother died or the work potluck but I did and I'm back on track.
sorry for your loss.
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