Anybody else fear the holidays?

[TheMiss]

I love this time of year, but I hate dealing with all of the stress that comes with it. This year I am already having a huge struggle in my head about what to eat, should I eat? should I stick to my plan? Will I even have control?
I've already seen a couple of threads about what people are planning to do, but I'm just stuck in terror about it because too much stuff is going on that involves food. I also love to cook, and eat! And serve what I cook to people!
I know, there are lots of good low carb recipes, but I like preparing everyone's favorites too. and not the low carb versions.
I have to go to a conference in Austin for 5 days the week before thanksgiving, that means eating out every day, every meal. I think I can probably handle that alright, even though it's kind of hard.
My entire family is coming for Thanksgiving. I love them to death, but they stress me out, and love to eat! This I'm worried about.
Christmas is also a huge deal with my husband's family. They made tamales on Christmas eve. This is the best food I ever had, I can eat a zillion of them. It's a lot of work making them, so I doubt I can resist eating them after that.
Help! I'm scared, I've lost about 32 lbs. I don't want to gain it back. This is going to be hard!!

[fatnfedup]

The Miss- I know I have already started to dread the eating options surronding the holidays. I'd say besides turkey I will be hard pressed to find anything diet friendly on the holiday table this year.

The good news for you is they are coming to your house so you have more control!!! I think my mominlaw would be po'd if I brought in my own pie, cranberries and such but yours can't be insulted if it's your house!! I would however try to get them to save some tamale meat mixture to eat with out eating the maseca. Fill up on the filling and you might eat less of the actual tamale. Ohhh how I love homemade tamales....

I am preparing myself to eat a little of the illegal stuff and be darned good on all the other days to counteract it. Some things I will just not eat though. Try not to stress out and think about it too much, if you are like me you will wear yourself down, stress out and eat!

I'm glad I don't live in TX. I love the food too much!

[Donna I.]

I am worried about Christmas time, it always a bad time for me (food wise). My birthday is on the 24th of Dec, so that never helps! And at work, we have 2 Christmas parties coming up, as well as my husbands that I will go to, not to mention that I love Christmas baking. Food is just so ingrained in that holiday. I am planning on making lowcarb alternatives, but I just fear that one bad slip-up that makes me give up. Oh, I know I won't give up for good, but even a week or two of pigging out can do alot of damage. I am getting closer to my goal and that makes me less strict. Plus, I am starting to think more and more about maintenance and all the mental work that it entails. I don't think I have changed enough to be able to handle eating more carbs.

[Charran]

I'm worried about the holidays also, but it's not just the holidays that concern me....it's any social occassion, because in thinking about it, they mostly involve food! Some are ok, because you can fill your plate with raw veggies, meats and cheeses etc. Holidays like Christmas involve ,for me, many ethnic foods that we don't eat on a regular basis and they are ones that I so look forward to, as much as I do just the family gathering! And let's not even get started on the desserts, chocolates, candy and chips that just sit around all in bowls all day! :daze: It is easier to control if the event is at your own home, but for me...it's eating out at least 3 meals at others homes.

I don't know what I'll do for Christmas, but for Thanksgiving, I did allow myself tiny bits of the foods I love and savoured them. After all, they don't taste better the more you eat of them! :) My resolve was very strong around that time, so I had no trouble getting right back to low carb the next meal and it didn't have any effect on my weight. I don't advocate this for everyone mind you, but it worked ok for me. so I'm thinking Christmas will be similar! :)

[SunnyCarol]

Not any more. I was last year, when I had just started, but I did fine last year and I have been at it non-stop for the rest of the year. I made it through all the holidays last year without a single cheat and now I never want to. I have truly accepted this as the lifestyle that I will follow for the rest of my days and now enjoy and crave what I am 'allowed' (for lack of a better word) to eat. I've learned to make visiting with and enjoying family and friends the focus instead of the food.

Sunny!

[joesfolks]

You might want to think about the 3 bite rule. If there is something that you absolutely must have, take 3 bites. Then get rid of it. Of course you can't do this for every food that comes under your nose but it really does help for those times when you just can't resist the urge. Sometime just knowing that you can have a few bites is enough to keep you on track so you don't feel deprived.

As for gatherings outside your own home, it sometimes helps to make yourself a large plate of raw veggies with a little lf dip. Eat this as you are getting ready to go out. It will make it much easier to resist temptation if you belly is full of fiber rich foods.

[Nebula]

My parents are routinely out of the country for Thanksgiving, so we always have it earlier in November. This year we had it yesterday, the 4th. I managed to avoid all of the stuffing, potatoes, biscuits, gravy, and desserts. It wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought it would be.

The trick is to keep yourself satisfied and hydrated during the day of the celebration so that you're not starving by the time you get there. Most people, my folks included, make the celebration their "one big meal of the day." That causes more overeating and splurging than anything else.

Eat as you normally would through the day. Make sure to drink extra water. When you go there, you won't be starved into making bad decisions.

I did it (and have to do it 2 more times for Thanksgiving alone). You can do it too!!

[MizKitty]

Anybody else fear the holidays?

Yes. In fact, I wish I could just enter the hospital around 11/20, be put into an induced coma, and be brought out of it 1/2/07. I could probably lose about 30 pounds, dontcha think? lol

Hubs and i grocery shopped together this eve, and it's really the first time we've done that since the groceries went into full holiday mode, and I have to admit I was overwhelmed walking through the aisles of candies, cookies, chocolates and baking supplies.
I remember many years ago when I was a member of Jenny Craig, the teacher there speaking on the need to change your thinking. To stop thinking of parties and holidays as food events with people present, but as people events with food present. make the food secondary. It was an "aha" for me, but one I just can't seem to make stick. I don't have much family, or that many friends for that matter, and it IS about the food for me.

Holidays without the traditional comforting foods... there's really not much else about them I look forward to, as sad as that is to admit out loud.

sunnycarol, thanks for saying you got through it fine. That's encouraging maybe I'll surprise myself and do the same. Just got to stay out of the stores!

joesfolks, I like that 3 bite rule, too.

[LCCamper]

Yep...them holiday candies, cookies and meals can really be tempting and having a plan of attack always seems to help. All of my holiday eating will be done out at other relative's homes and none of them are LC'ers except one brother-in-law who says that Holidays only come once a year, so I guess I will be alone in trying to find LC foods at the buffets. However, a good friend of mine decided that she would go out and buy herself a girdle and wear it to all the functions that she will be attending so that she will feel a constant reminder to keep with her diet. Another friend who is a real hoot says that because high carb foods makes her go into a catatonic state that she will be wearing a bright red ribbon tied around her right wrist to reminder her how far she has come and to not let the holidays derail her progress. I like the ribbon idea and will try that to see if it helps.
I have made it through many holidays on my quest to lose this weight - some with great determination and others with not so much but all in all I can say this that regardless of what I have done I did not quit. We can do this together and no matter what happens be good to yourself and not fret over a slip - be back here ready to keep LCing your way to your goal! :thup:

[Vernollajr]

I love the girdle idea, I just may try that!

[big_mama]

I'm afriad too...I think I'll consistantly up my exercise and hopefully losing weight will be my motivation.

I was trying to let myself eat a little carbs every once in awhile, but it got the best of me this weekend. So, today is back to induction. I haven't quite decided what I'll do, I think the best thing is having a clear plan.

[TheMiss]

Yes. In fact, I wish I could just enter the hospital around 11/20, be put into an induced coma, and be brought out of it 1/2/07. I could probably lose about 30 pounds, dontcha think? lol

:lol: :lol: me too!!

you all have some great ideas! I'm trying to formulate a plan here so that I'm set and ready to go when everything starts happening. I think the girdle, the 3 bite rule and upping my exercise are definately going to be part of the plan!
I also really really want to concentrate on my family. This is the first time we are all going to be together at the same time for like 10 years so it will be pretty emotional, we've been through a lot!
I already started planning horderves for football - deviled eggs, broiled zucchini with cheddar cheese, and veggies and dip. If I fill up on all of that, I doubt I'll want too much for dinner besides turkey.

I'm glad to find some other people who can relate! Thanks! :)

[miristar]

If you have a plan and do it, that will work. The biggest thing is not to subconsciously plan to cheat. I have done that, works every time if you want to break the diet...:agree: ... but I don't.

I have to just say though, I can't do the 3 bite rule. I really think sugar is an addictive substance for me. There's just no way I could have 3 bites of anything in my life. If you can do it, great! For me, even one bit of sugar is death to the diet and my sanity. Same with a few sips of wine.

My plan is to know what I can have, to eat an HB egg and have a glass of water before I go to take the edge of the hunger off, and to focus on my recovery.

I have a holiday luncheon at an Italian restaurant at lunch today (for work) and I am planning on a salad with meat in it, dressing on the side, and a cup of tea... and to be wearing a pretty new dress in my lower size! If people linger over dessert, I will get up and take some digital pictures of the gathering to keep my hands busy! Oh, in fact I think I'll get the extra batteries and larger storage card out for that right now!

Have a great day and a great holiday season - I think you have done great by planning ahead and asking for help. These are things that have helped me the most.

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started 9/16/06 (again) at 257 // ultimate weight goal is 135

Started Kimkins 9/16/2006 (http://www.kimkins.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=30&a_aid=b139ef18&a_bid=e73a9488)



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