Part of me says it is a special time of year and I should just throw caution to the wind. Eating right does not have to be my focus and as soon as the New Year arrives I will get back on track. After all, I love food and what better time to enjoy it in all it's fattening glory? (This is the part that I am trying hard to ignore.)
There is this other part of me that says to just treat it as any other normal time in my life and eat the right foods in the right amounts. This is not that big a deal, don't over-dramatize it, etc. (This is the part that I wish was right because this seems like the most normal approach.)
Then there is the part that thinks this is the time to kick it into high gear. Turbo-discipline mode. (This is the part that is screaming the loudest right now.)
I received a helpful email from a good friend of mine the other day. She is really fit and eats a very healthful, balanced diet. I don't think she has ever had a weight "problem," but she definitely works hard to maintain the shape she is in. This is what her email said:
...I just want to say that you can totally make your way through the holidays without any serious disaster and if you want to know what I do I will tell you…
Somehow…I just go in the zone. I know I am going to be overwhelmed with all kinds of amazing foods and choices at a ridiculously abnormal speed and pace. Everywhere I go there will be something. You just can’t go there--it will not feel good and when you get done giving in there will be another temptation!
As for the actual holiday meals I pick my favorites and focus on them. For me it is mashed potatoes with butter, bread with butter and turkey. I don’t care about gravy or many of the other things. I would rather have more potatoes. And I pick a green vegetable too. If there is one without all kinds of soup etc mixed in. If not, just a little bit.
I am so happy after all of that and the reward is I didn’t gain weight after the entire festival was over.
Does that help???
YES! It does help me, amazing friend who will remain anonymous!
She is so right about the crazy amount of temptations at a ridiculous pace. And when she said "You can't go there" I'm pretty sure she didn't mean "don't attend" but rather "Girl--Don't GO there!" Not even once--don't go there. Giving in to just one temptation is like letting your guard down...and we all know what happens when you let your guard down--Hips! Big booties! Chins and more chins!
And then I love how she approaches the big meal. Just because there may be 50 casseroles and desserts to choose from, doesn't mean we have to eat it all. Focus on your absolute favorite things and try to have something that is good for you. Simplicity. The payoff--feeling good in your own skin when you wake up in 2011.
Hmmm.
Going into "The ZONE" for the holidays...I really like this concept. I am still letting all my "parts" get their opinions out in the open, but I think I know what my strategy is going to be. I will finalize my decision in the next couple of days.
Anyone interested in an "In the ZONE" pact for the holidays???
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16 comments:
Me! I totally want to be in the zone pact!
I feel like lately I am in a total zone and I feel delightful! I feel like can accomplish the world! Besides we all know that eating to much over the holidays is just going to make you feel gross and I don't know about you but I want to celebrate the holidays with a feeling of gratitude not a feeling of AHHH why did I do that?!?! I feel so sick :(!
So again I am in :)
lisat0618@gmail.com
What I do for the holidays is I break out the calendar and right down "the events" I have and I even write my approach to those events. I also think of my "must haves" that might be outside events - like going to the Cheesecake Factory while shopping, or making XYZ cookies. But other than those events and must-haves, the rest of the days should be normal. It makes it easier to not go hogwild from Thanksgiving - New Years. But I don't completely deprive either - we always have cheese fondue on New Year's Eve - no way you are going to get me to skip that!
I also try to maintain between Thanksgiving and New Years - I don't try to lose.
count me in!!
I'm relieved to have abstinence of a lot of holiday foods to keep me on the straight and narrow - but my food addiction still rages even when it comes to healthy food (in unhealthy quantities). I have a few strategies - but want to get in on your challenge!!
I've been really stressing too! And feeling the urge to go into over drive mode! I'm trying to convince myself to allow a few "off plan" items on Thanksgiving day and Christmas day but otherwise to stay completely on plan and exercise as usual. Just the thought of eating off plan scares me and thats got to stop!
I'm in! I've decided that I'm going to do my best to not go over my daily Weight Watchers points so that I have flex points to use at the occasions where I will not go crazy!
I'm IN !!!
Those were some really useful tips! Thanks to your anon friend and you too for posting them. You might have saved a 100 lives this festive season with your timely tips :)
I am definitely in. We already had our Thanksgiving here but I am in for Christmas :)
The thing I am going to concentrate the most on this year for the holidays is the family I am with. I plan to enjoy their company and take the focus off of the food for the FIRST time ever in my life.
Don't get me wrong, I am making a weight watcher pumpkin pie to enjoy! :) hehe
Hmmmm... I loved your friend's advice but I'm not sure I'm up for a food regimented holiday season.
I am hoping (HOPING!) that I will be able to enjoy my many holiday faves in moderation. Of course what I define moderation as will be key!
I am really quite bummed but I've had to give the 30 Day Shred a rest. I've got something wrong with my wrists and they were hurting SO BAD from the push ups, even with my holding on to my weights and making a fist. It didn't matter. So, I'm taking a break and am thinking maybe I should try Level 2 when my wrist pain goes away. Or I just need to come up with a fitting substitute for push ups. What a wimp, I know. I don't like it but that's my reality.
Thanks for your encouraging comment on my blog. My daughter follows you and reads your blog so she was quite touched by your sweet words! :)
I'm totally in! =) Thanks for the post!
When I started Weight Watchers in May 2009, one of the first things my leader said was, "Nothing tastes as good as being healthy feels." For some reason that statement stuck with me and I always repeat it to myself (especially around the holidays). I may not be where I want to be right now, but nothing is worth undoing all of the hard work I have done to get where I am today...nothing.
The times I have made a plan are the times I am most successful. I am not sure what mine will be. I know I need to do something. I have had to quit running for a while and for some reason without the exercise I have a harder tie keeping my eating in line. I really like how your friend picks out her favorites to focus on.
Wow, that never occurred to me, but it's GENIUS and I want to give it a try!!!
I'm in too!!! I love her ideas and ways that make you get a bit of what you want without being bitter or binging in the process.
Sweets are my down fall - I figured that Thanksgiving will be my meal and Christmas Day but all the other snacking doesn't need to happen.
Example: If I bake cookies I need to send them out as gifts, NOT keep 10 lbs of them around the house to eat morning, noon and night.
I love this concept, thank you for sharing girl!
Keelie...thank you for sharing your plan before the holidays vs after the holidays titled "How I Survived the Holidays w/o Gaining"...Now it's up to us...
I too am all in...along with your invisable friend "SARA", although my Sara will be a sassy beautiful red head encourager...named Keelie, AKA Sara...
May God richly bless you for encouraging us. rhondabill@aol.com
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