Thinner for Thanksgiving! 7 week challenge

Also, guys, I am trying. I swear. But I have been over on my calorie goal the last few days. My in-laws got to town (from Germany) on Thursday and we have been doing family dinners every night (some lunches, too) with dessert and alcohol, which I usually don't have any more. I have been having small portions, but eating non-healthy food racks up the calories so fast! They are going to be here for seven weeks, so I just can't keep going like this or I will never get my last ten pounds off! Twice a week, we are supposed to eat dinner at my sister-in-law's house and she is a fabulous cook but super fatty food. For example, last Thursday she made a baked pasta dish with kale and pumpkin (good) and whole eggs, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, butter, and milk (bad). Should I simply take my own food? That seems so anti-social. Argh. It feels like every other day is a holiday type meal and I just don't know how to handle it. Advice?

Hi Everyone!

So sorry I've been gone - no excuses really, just totally swamped with business travel and being sick this week (ugh). I say no excuses because I have a choice, well, not on the being sick part, but on making sure I make my health, well-being, and fitness a priority. As I write this I realize how empowering it is to fully realize you have that choice and in the end if you make it your first priorty everything will fall into place. Granted sometimes it's a struggle or a sarcrifice, but it can be done. I see it being done everyday by people on MFP and on this thread.

A very sincere thank you this group for being open, honest, and continually encouraging even when someone goes off the wagon. One thing I've learned is that when I fall off it can be really hard for me to get back on. Looking at my own profile I realize it's the getting back on that makes you successful and you have to continue no matter what, otherwise, the darkness and all your bad habits want to swallow you back in - like a very slow domino effect.

So, here I am, back, facing the darkness and getting back into the groove and even though I feel somewhat embarrassed by only doing 4 weeks of our 7 week challenge I would very much like to do a New Years challenge.

Thanks to Mandy for organizing this and being our challenge leader. All of you have really done an amazing job!

Well, I am 149.4 today, which is a 1 lb loss from last week ~but I had gained 2 last week. Slowly, getting back down to where I was...and hoping to see a drop by Thanksgiving. I'm already trying to mentally prepare myself for all the Thanksgiving temptations. If I decided ahead of time what I will/won't eat, I think it will help--especially if I not only promise myself but others as well. And I'm gonna make myself continue some sort of exercise every day I'm out of town visiting relatives.
Hope you all have a great next week! Looking forward to seeing all of your victories!

Trying my hand in posting a picture to the message boards. This is me with my 4 siblings. I'm all the way on the right in the plaid shirt. Love the way I'm looking and am ashamed at looking back at pictures of me over the last 8 years or so. I waited too long for this! Hopefully it uploads! This photo was from this weekend for my families Early Thanksgiving. I'm only .2 lbs heavier than I was on our weigh in on Friday, and I definitely enjoyed myself in the eating department on Saturday. Going to be good and work hard the next few days so I can enjoy Thanksgiving day (as well as my 5 year wedding anniversary) on Thursday!