What's your strategy to stay on track during the holidays?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It happens once a year, and the years remaining are getting shorter without fail. Unless you are a mad frenzied binger, you might at worst gain 10-15 pounds from Halloween to New Year's Day - that's a goodly amount to keep you warm through the coldest days of winter as you walk you way back to spring/summer body.

Live a little. Feast season is meant to be a feast! Be really good all the other weeks of the year.

Gaining 10-15 pounds is not healthy.

[Anonymous]

I signed up for a holiday challenge at F45 where I’m a member.

Nothing like a body composition scan before Thanksgiving and after New Years to motivate you.

I generally eat whatever I want over the holidays so it will be interesting to see the difference in my body. I have been the same weight five or take for 30+ years.

[Anonymous]

If at home, brush your teeth after dinner. Then, you don't feel like eating anything else because you don't want to brush your teeth again or run your clean mouth.

At parties, just select 2-3 best ones and that only. Or if more than 3, eat a spoonful size amount of each. No need to eat an entire slice of anything.

[Anonymous]

Not OP but I did not stay on track yesterday. In fact, I went off the rails. But today is a new day.

[Anonymous]

Well I don’t have much of a social life so that helps and I get pretty sick if I overeat (which is most people’s normal consumption but my terrible chronic indigestion).
. Kind of sad, really, I miss the life I used to have, lots of parties and friends. Enjoy it but focus on the social aspect! and get moving everyday. I find that’s the real challenge, with the dark cold weather.

[Anonymous]

Op here. I was visiting family over thanksgiving and definitely over indulged for thanksgiving day and the day before and after, when I had no control over the food in the house, I ate way more calories than I would usually. But I am recommitting to my normal routine tomorrow!

[Anonymous]

I’ll be glad when all this food is gone. I really don’t like being tied to this holiday for days on end. I’m going back to normal - everybody else in the house can work on the leftovers if they want.

For me it’s all the sugar in the baked goods and the alcohol. When not regularly consuming that stuff it really throws a wrench in my gears here.

[Anonymous]

I have a strategy that works for me. I go on a diet for all of December. A kind of scorched earth, no more than 1500 calories per day, aiming for around 1200 most days. This really just offsets all the "cheat days" that WILL arise from holiday parties, family holiday dinners, extra cookies and alcohol. It works like a charm. I maintain or lose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It happens once a year, and the years remaining are getting shorter without fail. Unless you are a mad frenzied binger, you might at worst gain 10-15 pounds from Halloween to New Year's Day - that's a goodly amount to keep you warm through the coldest days of winter as you walk you way back to spring/summer body.

Live a little. Feast season is meant to be a feast! Be really good all the other weeks of the year.

Gaining 10-15 pounds is not healthy.

+1 I didn't even gain that much weight with pregnancy (after the birth).

[Anonymous]

I just eat all the things on actual holidays, have a few extra treats on other days, stick to my workout routine, and try not to be obsessive about something that really doesn't matter that much. The world will not stand still if I teeter over my preferred weight by a few pounds for a brief period of time. (Although I get it and I did not always feel this way about food/my body).

[Anonymous]

Here is a great article that I came across that may be helpful! https://shorturl.at/hwJW1

[Anonymous]

You have to eat clean and exercise all the other days that you don't have holiday events. Also, only indulge in treats/meals that are worth it. I do not buy holiday treats for home and also do not eat any low enjoyment treats like Christmas cookies, candy canes, fancy Starbucks holiday drinks, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I have to say as a hostess (who goes to a great deal of effort and expense to provide delicious, celebratory meals), it is equal parts irritating and sad when women are super diet-conscious and restrictive at special events. It is so pinched and bereft of joy. Most people do struggle with their weight, buy maybe skip the fast food and Starbucks habit and allow yourself to fully enjoy holiday meals with family and friends.

You're on the diet and exercise forum. Many of us can enjoy spending time with friends without binging on corn syrup and fat-laden party food.

If guests are noping out on your food every year, you might consider providing less calorie-laden fare. Or just enjoy the leftovers yourself.