How do you stay focused during the holidays?
HotMama115
Posts: 25 Member
Gained 80 with first pregnancy- lost the weight. Just had my second baby and I have 50 more to lose to get me to my goal! My husbands sister... so yes!l she’s my sister in law! is coming to the states for the first time and will be spending a month at our house. I want to make a ton of awesome dishes but I know I am setting myself up for failure. She will be here through the holiday’s... any suggestions? For my childs birthday I consumed almost double my calories for the day- and yes I put thought into it! When I’m at my ideal weight I don’t eat or have a problem with consuming too many calories but being overweight I do. I really lack self control with hormones involved and I know this could potentially be a stumbling block for me that I very badly want to avoid. Thanks for any helpful suggestions!
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fasting is what helps me really have fun at times... it's not only healthy but also allows me to have days where i don't follow any dieting at all and just enjoy what is around me.8
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The way you present this, it could be tough. I try to break the holidays down into individual events. Looked at that way, I usually am only facing 1 or 2 challenges per week.
I lost my last 40lbs on Weight Watch. A saying around WW is to remember it's holi - "days" not a whole month. Buts that's what you're planning.
Can you alter some of the recipes? Look for new stuff here on MFP or other healthy eating sites?6 -
Thank you so much for the ideas! I love what you said about what you all say at WW- maybe I just need to plan for 1 holi day out of the month to look forward to (not count my calories) and I have enough time to find some good MFP recipes!!0
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@duckforceone that is a great idea!!0
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The one thing I try (although admittedly sometimes fail at lol) is that during the holidays its important to remember that when there are many dishes available to you, (ie. Thanksgiving with sometimes 5+ yummy dishes to eat), is that you do not have to completely fill your plate towering with each one. Just take a slice and one or two spoonfuls (depending on the spoon) of each dish and you'll find yourself nice and content by the time you clear your plate.
Now I don't know about you, but I'm a very fast eater and that can really make or break you on during the Holidays. Especially if you're not paying attention. Lately I've been trying my best to wait at least 10 or 15mins after finishing my plate before I think about seconds. It takes a minute for your brain and stomach to sync up appropriately.
As for holiday dishes, I've been finding loads of healthier recipes to bring in, thankfully they're not that hard to find these days, whether they're in a magazine or quick google search they are indeed everywhere.
Hope this helps a little, and good luck!!!4 -
@xkitxkatxkaix I like the idea about waiting for seconds. I did that tonight and it worked.. I am also a fast eater. I have to be with two babies lol!!!0
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When I was really good around the holidays, I would treat the holidays as one day, not days of leftover yummy foods. I made rules for myself, like if anyone offers me food, I would always say no. It would have to be my decision whether I wanted to eat the food myself, not someone elses suggestion.3
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I am sitting here depressed because I’ve gained about 10 pounds in the last year after hitting goal. So now I’m +10 and about to enter the holiday season when I generally gain 7-10 pounds. I can deal with having to lose 10, but more than that is overwhelming. My total weight loss was 50 lbs. I need a plan!!1
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When I was really good around the holidays, I would treat the holidays as one day, not days of leftover yummy foods. I made rules for myself, like if anyone offers me food, I would always say no. It would have to be my decision whether I wanted to eat the food myself, not someone elses suggestion.
That’s a good idea. I really wanted to make a turkey and stuffing to have for left overs (I am not hosting this year). Maybe I will just do the turkey for sandwiches and skip the super caloric stuffing
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I try to keep in mind that whatever special food is being served up--this is not my only chance in the world to eat it. Realistically, I can roast a turkey breast and make my grandmother's stuffing anytime I want. Turkey, bread, celery, onions, parsley, and broth will pretty much always be available and worst case, Thanksgiving comes every year. Avoiding that scarcity mindset makes it much easier for me to enjoy a reasonable serving of special foods, whether it's holiday treats or making those awesome dishes that are so much fun to share.5
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When I was really good around the holidays, I would treat the holidays as one day, not days of leftover yummy foods. I made rules for myself, like if anyone offers me food, I would always say no. It would have to be my decision whether I wanted to eat the food myself, not someone elses suggestion.
I love this!!!! On the days my husband is off work I stumble. Every. Single. Time! He knows it too and feels bad. Saying it’s my decision - I don’t have to take him up on everything he suggests will really help my train of thought on the days he’s home. Thank you so much for this!1 -
Thankfully in Canada, Thanksgiving and Christmas are 3 months apart. Thanksgiving is a single day so that can be tackled as any other special day, like a birthday etc. Track the calories, don’t pile your plate to the sky etc.
Christmas is a bit more difficult because it’s a “season”, so people try to feed you all month. At work our guests are always bringing us goodies throughout the month as gifts as well. Wines, cheeses, cookies, chocolate, nuts, all kinds of baking, etc.
Here’s how I handle it. The very first thing I do come December is say to myself, “I’m coming out of this holiday skinnier than when I went in.” Come Jan 3rd I’ll be lighter than I was December 23rd. Has worked every time I’ve done it.
I think long and hard about the things that I REALLY care about and just ignore everything else. Gingersnap cookies, yes, but only if they are the soft ones. No shortbread, I just don’t care. Won’t eat it. Butter tarts yes (but not if they have nuts! Not for the calories but because it’s an abomination, lol), lemon squares, but only if mom made them (because they’re amaaaaazing), and my mom’s home made eggnog (sooooo muuuuch rum in it). Best friends parent’s caramel corn.
I REFUSE to waste calories on sub-par baking.
Then for Christmas Eve, and Christmas Dinners (in-laws so I have two full Christmas dinners) I don’t pile my plate high, and I don’t take a little of everything. I will only eat the things that I feel fit my goals. So if it’s downing in oil, butter and nuts I don’t touch it. I don’t take food just to be “polite”. I will skip a dish if I have to, because I’M the one that has to deal with my choices in the long run. So I pile on the turkey and salad (little to no salad dressing), then add in the squash, then work my servings smaller and smaller from there with other side dishes.13 -
my3boys424 wrote: »I am sitting here depressed because I’ve gained about 10 pounds in the last year after hitting goal. So now I’m +10 and about to enter the holiday season when I generally gain 7-10 pounds. I can deal with having to lose 10, but more than that is overwhelming. My total weight loss was 50 lbs. I need a plan!!
I totally know how you feel. This time last year I was 5kg lighter and only 5kg away from my goal too. Now it's a total of 10kg and double the weight seems like a massive task!
I've set myself an interim goal of getting back to where I was. Rather than pressurising myself to get to my "ideal" weight.
I'm also trialing the 5:2 eating approach and yesterday was the first time I really felt I'd achieved my fast day (4th or 5th fasting session).
What it does mean is I can have a fast day just before and eat as normal (but not to excess) for a couple days before fasting again. I'm not sure if this will work because ideally I would fast on 23rd December but it's my partner's birthday.
My partner and I have already decided we'll go walking for a minimum 5-6 miles a day over the Christmas period just to give us a bit of a buffer.
I'm also trying to drink less alcohol and only eat when I'm hungry.
I'm losing but it's early days so there's water weight to consider.
We shall see.
Best of luck to everyone over the holidays.
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I'm obstinate by nature and never fold to peer pressure - In fact, its usually the opposite. I do better at saying 'no thank-you' to all the food offerings the harder people push. Holidays are the easiest days to stay focused (for me).1
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HotMama115 wrote: »Gained 80 with first pregnancy- lost the weight. Just had my second baby and I have 50 more to lose to get me to my goal! My husbands sister... so yes!l she’s my sister in law! is coming to the states for the first time and will be spending a month at our house. I want to make a ton of awesome dishes but I know I am setting myself up for failure. She will be here through the holiday’s... any suggestions? For my childs birthday I consumed almost double my calories for the day- and yes I put thought into it! When I’m at my ideal weight I don’t eat or have a problem with consuming too many calories but being overweight I do. I really lack self control with hormones involved and I know this could potentially be a stumbling block for me that I very badly want to avoid. Thanks for any helpful suggestions!
I wonder if your calories are set too low. Are you home with these kids? Are you breast feeding?0 -
Last year I was still in the losing weight process and OMAD helped me stay within my calorie limit. I would choose the proteins and veggies at meals and allow one dessert per meal.3
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@MsHarryWinston your post is extremely helpful! Thank you so much for sharing!!!1
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@Athena98501 yes my calories are set low- but if I’m hungry I just eat more. Yes I breastfeed a toddler and newborn and I’m home with them.1
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Hi. I hope its ok to jump on your thread with my concern.
I am just nicely getting used to going to the gym and prefer attending classes. Dec has me scared. I have to be out of town for 6 days at the start of the month (I have a new baby nephew to meet!!!!!) and then at Christmas I will be gone again abut 5 days.
Neither of these trips will be very active for me if I do what I norally do when I go there. Other than going for walks what can I do so I don't fall off my fitness wagon?
Trip 1 I think I can perhaps go to the gym there and pay day fees. But trip 2 is sounding challenging. The gyms are all 24 hour card access that I do not have.0 -
I’m not sure what kind of cardio you do but what about bringing a jump rope? Sit ups, planks, push-ups you can do without a gym membership. Also there might be some fun cardio exercises off YouTube that you could maybe access over the tv or computer. Maybe ask the people you are visiting to help you stay fit and have them join in the fun?1
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HotMama115 wrote: »@xkitxkatxkaix I like the idea about waiting for seconds. I did that tonight and it worked.. I am also a fast eater. I have to be with two babies lol!!!
Or maybe just skip seconds?2 -
Thanksgiving is driving me bats. This is my first holiday season as a diabetic, and basically everything my family has available is a) something I really love and want to eat and b) chock full of enough carbs to literally kill me.
One of the more tricky things socially is that the hostess is herself a diabetic, who is on insulin, weighs 400 lbs, and eats whatever she wants, despite the fact that she is now in kidney failure and dying as a result. So using my diabetes as an excuse not to eat her food is likely to seem like a direct criticism.
By my calculation from what I know about her recipes, if I eat nothing but plain turkey, a single half slice of any dessert offered will put my blood glucose over 200. But there is so much more than plain turkey. There's cranberry sauce, oyster stuffing, green beans with carby stuff all over, garlic mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, gravy, pumpkin chiffon pie, ambrosia, pecan pie, and chocolate chess pie.
I swear I have considered pretending to be sick for a day. But I don't want to do that as she literally is dying and I probably won't get another holiday with her.0 -
I've learned to just have portion control at events, a small bite of everything, or skip some things, or have a carb OR wine OR dessert, not everything. Log food every day, have lighter meals to balance out "holiday" meals. Don't let anyone else own it, YOU own it. If you say no thanks, don't explain why, just no thanks or I'm good. And by all means help teach your sister in law to make some healthier tasty options.1
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HotMama115 wrote: »I’m not sure what kind of cardio you do but what about bringing a jump rope? Sit ups, planks, push-ups you can do without a gym membership. Also there might be some fun cardio exercises off YouTube that you could maybe access over the tv or computer. Maybe ask the people you are visiting to help you stay fit and have them join in the fun?
Oh the jump rope idea is awesome, I like it! Thanks so much.0 -
And I also thought of packing up my cross country skis too.0
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I've already put my thanksgiving recipes into MFP and am planning ahead. I'm not on carb restriction though, I just count calories. If she takes your refusal to eat everything as a criticism just explain that you are choosing to manage your diabetes in a different way than she is. But you have no control over other people's reactions you do have control over your own actions and health.
How about taking a healthy holiday dish that you can eat?0 -
If you are doing the cooking try and find less calorific recipes (something you can actually control).
When eating outside your house be sensible and don't snack (as hard as this may be - or snack on healthy foods like unsalted nuts and fruit.)
Try and reduce you alcohol intake as well if you drink. As I'm sure you realise you snack and eat more after a few drinks than when you are sober.
I agree about waiting for 10 to 15 minutes between dishes.
Either fasting or lighter meals between days when you know you might or want to eat a lot are also wise suggestions.
The 5:2 diet where you eat normally for 5 days then pretty fast for 2 days (around 500-600 calories) might be suitable for some people as you only have think about dieting for 2 days during the week.0 -
duckforceone wrote: »fasting is what helps me really have fun at times... it's not only healthy but also allows me to have days where i don't follow any dieting at all and just enjoy what is around me.
That’s fantastic. Can you please explain in more detail?
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I’m just going to fit it into my daily calorie goal and exercise. I like the idea of fasting also. I find if I were to eat more one day, generally the next day I’m not as hungry.1
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Christmas isn't for another 6 weeks.
Stick to your diet for the next 5 weeks, take a couple weeks off over Christmas, and resume again a few days into January.
That's my plan!
Also, start ramping up your exercise. Here, it's late spring and the weather is finally starting to become nice. More walking, more cycling!!
If it is winter where you are, get on the cross-country skis, snowshoes, skates ... get your family involved and have some fun. Focus more on getting out and doing stuff than on eating.
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