Possible to lose weight over the holidays?

[Anonymous]

I need to lose 10-15ish pounds. The holidays are the worst time. I am trying to be very disciplined and not eat during get togethers. Anybody else in the same boat?

I am 5’7” and weigh 146. I weighed 125 when I got married and 135 when I had my first kid. Just turned 40 and feel gross. Had my last kid 4 years ago so it’s not baby weight anymore!

[Anonymous]

Try to maintain until January. Have protein shakes when you are not at holiday gatherings. Begin in earnest in the new year.

[Anonymous]

Anything is possible but I try and maintain until the schedule/food evens back out.

[Anonymous]

At holiday get togethers I am trying to eat healthy before I go and then not eat there. It will be harder when we are with staying with family because there is always tons of food around. I am trying my best to fast during the day - I mostly only eat about 1.5 meals a day and lots of water. I walk about 15,000 steps a day as well.

When the new year starts I am trying to up my workouts to walking plus light weight lifting. Trying to keep my calories down to around 1200 a day. Do you think that will help lose the weight faster?

OP here

[Anonymous]

It’s hard to lose weight during the holidays, but it’s even harder to lose weight when you are within the healthy BMI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s hard to lose weight during the holidays, but it’s even harder to lose weight when you are within the healthy BMI.

I am on the higher end of normal BMI which is not where I have ever been in my life. I am afraid to enter my 40s and have the weight creep on with menopause. OP here

[Anonymous]

I think sustainable habits are your best friend.

Enjoy holiday foods, just in very small portions. Have a drink at a holiday gathering, but just one.

Eat healthfully while you are at home and try to exercise every day.

In order to keep any weight off, you have to keep these habits once you have lost it, so don't start anything you don't plan to do long term.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At holiday get togethers I am trying to eat healthy before I go and then not eat there. It will be harder when we are with staying with family because there is always tons of food around. I am trying my best to fast during the day - I mostly only eat about 1.5 meals a day and lots of water. I walk about 15,000 steps a day as well.

When the new year starts I am trying to up my workouts to walking plus light weight lifting. Trying to keep my calories down to around 1200 a day. Do you think that will help lose the weight faster?

OP here

I'm the same height as you, weigh 147 and I'm 53yo/ pre menopausal. I'm also trying to lose 10-15 lbs. Your plan sounds solid - if it weren't the holiday season. I agree with a pp who recs maintaining through the nnew year and then kick a$$ in 2025. I know how that extra weight feels, but I know you look great because I do and people tell me that. I know I'll *feel* better at 135 and I will get there. The holidays with the food, travel, family, stress isn't the time to undertake this. Maintain while enjoying some treats and not beating yourself up for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s hard to lose weight during the holidays, but it’s even harder to lose weight when you are within the healthy BMI.

I am on the higher end of normal BMI which is not where I have ever been in my life. I am afraid to enter my 40s and have the weight creep on with menopause. OP here

You are not on the high end of normal. You are almost smack dab in the middle of normal. Work on toning and body image issues; not the number on the scale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s hard to lose weight during the holidays, but it’s even harder to lose weight when you are within the healthy BMI.

I am on the higher end of normal BMI which is not where I have ever been in my life. I am afraid to enter my 40s and have the weight creep on with menopause. OP here

I understand and all of us have been there. Your body is no longer 18 or 28 or 32.

I am just letting you know it's very, very, very hard to lose weight when your BMI is normal even if your weight doesn't feel normal in your head.

Also what you think is healthy your body might disagree. Studies show as you enter your 50's being on the low end of your BMI is generally not as healthy as being on the high end or even a few lbs over.

But seriously learn this lesson after years of trying. You are not going to listen to me.

[Anonymous]

The holidays will be over in 12 days. Just commit to enjoying them and losing in a sustainable way next year. (You don't need to eat one meal a day or under 1200 calories while increasing your exercise - maybe if you were 4'7).

[Anonymous]

Thanks all - I do think it’s hard for me to wrap around my head that I am 40 now and my body has changed after having kids for a decade. I just want to go into the next decade as healthy and strong as I can to keep up with my kids. I feel gross and overweight at my current weight and really need to try hard to lose weight.

Op here

[Anonymous]

Starving yourself is not a healthy way of losing weight, it's an eating disorder. And will likely just cause yourself to binge later.

[Anonymous]

I used to be 5-7 and 145. Would give a lot to be that at 74. 5-4.5 and 175

[Anonymous]

You can eat at get togethers - just fill up on the veggies FIRST, then proteins, then one small sweet a day.