What's your deal?

MyCoachNYLA · November 2011

Okay, so what's going to be your deal? Will you give into the holiday indulge or will you indulge your body in a different way, like training and having your own healthy desserts after that TG dinner?

I remember that as soon as Halloween hit, all heck broke lose and commitments were out the window because the temptation was so intense everywhere I went, there was no way I was getting out of it alive or I should say without stuffing my face - eventually. I always broke down and once I did, it didn't stop until after Jan. 1st - totally defeated and on my mental knees saying - I have to get back on my game plan.

All the work I put in up until that point of hitting holiday season, went right out the window and I was back to square one on the New Year struggling to feel good about myself.

So, instead - I made better plans. I had more tools to pull from to get me through, one being something like MFP. Connecting with people who wanted the same goal of knowing how to enjoy the holidays instead of me being miserable and passed out on the couch stuck to the t.v. or what am I going to eat next.

What I did was I found incredible recipes that were my own healthy pie recipes (low sugar, flour free) and I made them ahead of time and brought them with me to my family's house. I measured out my carbs (potatoes) and I stayed away from the flour loaded gravy or the gooped up stringbean casserole and I had steamed veggies with olive oil on them and then I had a piece of my healthy pie with coffee. Then in the morning, I would also have a piece of my healthy oat bran applie pie with a 1/2 cup of low fat cottage cheese - totally filling and I swear I am not kidding, it taste great together. This year I also have a healthy balanced nutrient rich low cal, no fat shake for my snack (chocolate to boot) and I can make it into a pudding or freeze it for ice cream.
I walk a lot around the neighborhood with my sweats on and bring my iPod with some cool music and affirmation/motivation tracks and I also journal and read a meditation book in the morning to start my day before anything. That tool alone totally helps me to do the healthy and loving thing for myself.

The result, a happy non-remorseful and non-defeated and lighter feeling person. I repeat this for Christmas and New Years and I am able to get through.

So how about you? Do you have a holiday game plan or do you think you are justing gearing up for all the indulging food? Will you slip on your pants the weekend after TG and feel constricted or will you pull up your pants and feel comforatable.

Share where you want to be. Maybe think about having some tools if you haven't tried it. And lastly, if you had to make a list of what you would feel like without your tools on one side of a piece of paper and make a list of what you would feel like with your tools on the otherside of the paper, which side would you be drawn to more?

I am going to be very active on the boards during the holiday to reach out and be there for those who want to make it a WE Game Plan, so if you want to get your game on - let's game on together!

Hugs,

Sidesteal · November 2011

So how about you? Do you have a holiday game plan or do you think you are justing gearing up for all the indulging food?

I'll be stuffing my face with no regard for macros. But when it's over and done with, I'll be able to move on without guilt or consequence beyond that of the excess cals.

For those that can do this without the after-effects of either guilt, or falling off the wagon, I think it's the way to do things. But, not everyone can do that, so in that regard it's not a method everyone should do.

dcmat · November 2011

I just take my bike with me (well, the whole family do) and do a fast pre-breakfast burn and then a slower ride with the family. Works for me - maybe put 2-3 pounds on.

Eat what you want - just in moderation

kjslilangel · November 2011

I have a holiday gameplan. I will have a little of the holiday food. I am planning to have only 2 BITES, small bites and not big ones mind you but many of the freinds I visit on the holidays are wonderful cooks and 1 is actualy a chef. I will try the food and even if its the yummiest stuff I will still only have the 2 bites. Its gonna be tough but I can do it :-)

shovav91 · November 2011

The holidays are hard; I have little to no self control at family functions. I eat until I feel sick, and then I eat more. If there's food in front of me, I will eat it. My biggest goal is to work on my self control- I want to eat until I'm satisfied and not until I literally cannot lift a fork to my mouth. It's going to be hard, but I'm going to do my best.

NiciS72 · November 2011

Interesting topic. I for one am "LUCKY" due to the fact I cannot eat Gluten and I don't cheat. This precludes me from indulging in a lot of the high caloric foods that pop up this time of year. That said, I do make plans. I speak with my family and determine who's bringing what and I make stuff that I can have within reason. Like last Thanksgiving I'll eat some of everything but only one plate and it won't be a heaping one. I've got some options for something pumpkin that is lowcal (Cooking Light Magazine) and plan that for my one sweet!

Christmas is easier because I just don't make anything anymore that I can have and everyone else makes stuff with Gluten in it. I did really well last year and plan to follow the same path this year.

When I am tempted by something I can have I look at it like this. Say I want a Snickers bar, it's about 280 calories. I can have 3 Honeycrisp apples for 240 calories. Now really I would never eat 3 of them, but my point is I can eat an apple for 80 calories and probably be just as satisfied if not more than I would be eating the 280 calorie Snickers. It's all about making the right choices. Now if I did choose that Snickers you bet your A** I'd get my tushy on the treadmill for an extra half an hour!

P.S. I'm also running a 5k Thanksgiving morning, so will have the extra calories to use too!

MJ7910 · November 2011

probably just having 2 off days is my plan - thanksgiving and christmas. not counting calories, trying to not overdo it and just not worry about things those days. maybe i'll take a walk after those meals but giving myself off days. i think we all deserve it. the key is just not to let it be an "off 2 months"... or "off 4 weeks"... just an off day or 2 is fine.

Helenatrandom · November 2011

I cook Thanksgiving dinner. So I won't be making anything I can't have. No green bean casserole. No marshmallows in the sweet potatoes. I will make homemade stuffing and plan for it. I will make homemade turkey broth and not use canned to keep my sodium level down. I will make a smaller turkey. I will make my own cranberry sauce and not used canned. It is also my uncle's birthday, so there will be a birthday cake. At least it's a combined holiday, and I won't be tempted with desert for two days. Leftover cake will be sent home with family members. I'll save an extra piece for my uncle.
Could my plans be better? I guess eliminating the birthday cake would be best for me, but not fair to him and other family members. Perhaps I'll make a sugar free pudding pie and have that instead of cake...

bcattoes · November 2011

So how about you? Do you have a holiday game plan or do you think you are justing gearing up for all the indulging food? Will you slip on your pants the weekend after TG and feel constricted or will you pull up your pants and feel comforatable.

I plan to eat the holiday dinner, have dessert, and exercise daily. One big meal with dessert (or two) isn't going to kill me or derail any long term plans. If the pants are a little tighter on Monday, that's okay. They'll loosen back up in a few days.

anastasiaBH · November 2011

I'm with sidesteal and bcattoes, eat without regard to calories or guilt. Thankfully, I'm at a stage where this works for me. It's a few days out of my otherwise relatively healthy life. Hubby and I stay in a hotel when we visit the family for TG, so virtually every meal we eat is "dining out". (Courtyard Marriott started posting calories on their menus, and they do have a few "healthier" options, so at least for breakfast I can track if I want to.) I'll schlep my workout clothes with me, and if I make it to the dreadmill, great. If not, I'm back at it when we're home.

Christmas / Channukah we're at home, usually just the two of us, so I may make a special (indulgent) meal, or we may go out. But again, one meal, one day...... not game changing.

Italianyc84 · November 2011

I used to just gorge on holiday meals BUT, found that it was hard for me to get back on track. Plus, the guilt just isn't worth it. I used to gorge at all "special events", regardless of how "special" they actually were--it was like everything became a once in a lifetime event to me... "oh, so and so is leaving to start another job, sure I'll have four cocktails and nachos and a burger!" or "we're going out to eat before a concert, how often does this happen?? Sure, lets get the buffalo dip and wings!"

And then I realized I had waaaaay too many of these "special" events to make them even qualify as special LOL. Plus, I feel like crap after I eat that stuff! I feel guilty and bloated and icky.

So I'm choosing my holidays wisely. Thanksgiving food isn't my favorite and I can easily resist it. So, I'll have some of the white meat of the turkey, some sweet potatoes that I'm making, and just a bit of stuffing (because I love stuffing). Desserts I can resist for the most part, but I'm sure I'll have a few bites of pumpkin pie.

Christmas Eve I love. I'm Italian and we do the Feast of the 7 Fishes. I cook that meal, and I definitely am not calorie counting that day. I'm not going to eat till I'm overly stuffed, but I'm not going to feel guilty for taking an extra baked clam, or bread to dip in the mussels marinara! So, my thanksgiving calories will be shifted over to that day :-) I'll be hitting spin class that morning though!

Faintgreeneyes · November 2011

I plan to eat what I like, but in moderation. So no going back for 2nds! But also to just keep doing what I do normally. Exercise on a daily basis, drink lots of water, and if I over-indulge, just know I get to run longer and harder afterwards. Holidays are to be enjoyed with family and friends. Food is a part of that, so I don't go along with the idea that I have to sacrafice the good food for my diet. I will enjoy what I love within reason, and still love myself the next day.

hbrittingham · November 2011

I'll do what I did last year. I'll have a little of everything, make sure I get my exercise in. Fortunately, my mom asks me to bring my dogs and we take a 3-4 mile walk with them before eating. I'll probably hit the gym beforehand, too. Then I will be happy if I just maintain my weight through the holidays. That's how I did it last year and it worked.

Ebbykins · November 2011

So how about you? Do you have a holiday game plan or do you think you are justing gearing up for all the indulging food?

I'll be stuffing my face with no regard for macros. But when it's over and done with, I'll be able to move on without guilt or consequence beyond that of the excess cals.

For those that can do this without the after-effects of either guilt, or falling off the wagon, I think it's the way to do things. But, not everyone can do that, so in that regard it's not a method everyone should do.

This ^^ I do this with each and every holiday, it gives me something to look forward to, if all you feel is dread of an impending holiday, is it really a celebration anyway? Food for thought.

PS If I lift super heavy during the holiday season to relieve stress, then I make gains from calorie surplus, it's a win win, no? LOL.

hockey7fan · November 2011

Since I have Celiac diease I have to be careful about what I eat anyway. Plus I think gravy is the most disgusting food on the planet and the green bean casserole looks like it's already been eaten once.

Just give me the turkey. I can sit down and eat a whole pound of nicely roasted turkey breast.

What's your deal?

Replies

Categories