Holiday Season - Too Soon To Plan?

dougstevens
dougstevens Posts: 208 Member
edited September 30 in Motivation and Support
A famous quote reads, "If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail." This is quote has truly hits home when it comes to planning goals for the week, planning calories to consume and burn for the day. Let's face it, when you have an idea of what to expect, you simply can adjust your meals and/or activities to meet your goals. When this happens, you start taking control of your own life and weight elimination efforts.

Now for a broader picture, let's look at the calendar. Holy cow, the holiday season is right around the corner! Before you know it, the last month of summer is gone, and school has started. This could mean quick meals (a.k.a fast foods).
Then, September goes by in a flash, and then there is Halloween candy. Shortly after that, we've got Thanksgiving and Christmas to contend with. Doesn't it seem that the last few months of the year are filled with sweet temptations, office parties, neighborhood parties, family get-together; all of which includes food.

So now that I've started MFP, and learning my lessons about planning. I find myself asking, what does the holiday season mean to me? How will it differ this year from previous years?

First, in a way, mentally prepare myself. I accept that I'm not perfect and I'm human. Meaning despite my best efforts of eating veggies and fruit fricking day; those extra helpings of cranberry sauce, slice of pie, and Christmas cookies will be calling me. Therefore, I might sample the sweets, but not feast on them (as I have in the past). There will be good days and not-so-good days when it comes to eating right. May the good days out number the not-so-good days.

Second, reaffirming my commitment to to logging everyday and every item.

Third, prepare myself physically. During the month of August I am starting a "work-out" program (e.g. SI6); and also beginning C25K.


Do you also feel that the holiday season is close? Or do you feel that its too early to think about it?

When a big celebratory events are on the horizon (holidays, vacations, business trips, birthdays, weddings, etc. ) on your calendar, do you plan for it?

Replies

  • sexylonglegs
    sexylonglegs Posts: 278
    I plan for it, just not too far in advance.

    :)
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    When I was losing, I would log everything, and try my best to stay within maintenance on those days.
    Don't forget, if you chose 1 lb per week, you can go 500 cals over your "daily goal" and just maintain. Your deficit is built in there...
    "Going in the red" does not mean failure. You'd have to go at least 500 over to "fail", and even that isn't such a big deal, just get back on the wagon the next day. If you feel deprived you're more likely to give up altogether.
    You can always set your diary TO maintenance calories and just stay right under it for the holiday season, that way you can taste everything but not gain weight, or you can try to stay within your deficit calorie goal, but you won't be able to eat all the yummies...

    Now that I am just maintaining though, I don't even log what I eat on days I am out of town or special occasions. I'm on vacation now and am not logging anything until I go back to work, but I am trying to stay active and make smart choices.

    FYI -
    I normally eat 2000 a day at 109 lbs and 5'2".
    The MINIMUM healthy amount for a male is 1500, and your goal is less than that to begin with, so instead of worrying about eating too much, start worrying about being undernourished and raise that goal! If you chose 2 lbs per week PLEASE change it to 1 lb per week. Your aggressive goal is going to sabotage you without you even knowing it.
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