Tips: keeping it under control as we move into fall holidays!?

[Anonymous]

I'm dreading the fall a bit, although its my favorite season. Between all the kids birthday parties, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and winter holidays, I'm worried about gaining weight again this year. Any concrete suggestions or strategies for avoiding seasonal pitfalls? I know not to buy the Halloween candy until the morning of Halloween (!), but otherwise I need help!

How do I avoid mindlessly snacking at all the kids parties, some of which are kind of boring and I find myself grazing without thinking much about it? Or avoid having a slice of the pizza after being there for 1.5 hours and feeling a little hungry?

How do I avoid the strong lure of the birthday cake (I am a huge sucker for store-bought cakes from Giant, etc.!)?? Am I better off having a tiny piece to slightly satisfy my craving or better off with a bright-line rule of no cake and then just dealing with the growing mental obsession about it? And when I do skip a piece for myself, how then to stop finishing the leftover cake from DC's plate?!

How do I avoid "sharing" my kid's Halloween loot? (As you've probably figured, I have a big sweet tooth!)

Any tips for Thanksgiving and other holidays as far as managing food intake and choices?

Thanks for any help!

[Anonymous]

This is what has worked for me. I pick one day a week to be my "cheat" day. On this day, I can have whatever I want, with no guilt because I have been good the other 6 days. I usually pick a day that will have food (parties, etc.), then I go back to my normal routine for the next 6 days. If it is something that I really want to try, I just take a taste and move on. My fitness pal has also helped because now I think twice before I put something in my mouth. Tracking is key for me. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Carry a bottle of water with you everywhere, and make yourself drink ALL of it before allowing yourself to eat anything. Chances are, you'll be full from the water.

As for finishing my kids' food- I see them licking the icing and what-not, and it kind of kills the allure for me.

[Anonymous]

hmmm. I don't have much of a sweet tooth myself, but the increase in socializing means an increase of wine and cocktails (even just one, when I normally don't drink much) seems to add a couple of pounds every holiday season. So I am very careful about my alcohol intake. Plus, nothing worse than a tipsy guest at a holiday party!

[Anonymous]

Eat something healthy before you go to events and/or bring something like a fruit or veggie platter that you can munch on during the party.

I find it easier to avoid the cake altogether because a little sugar makes me crave more and then indulge in a square of dark chocolate later as a reward.

[Anonymous]

I would indulge in the treats when they are around but balance w/ lo-cal and health meals...exercise.

[Anonymous]

I get it. I see cake, I want to eat it and it can be stressful for me not to eat a slice.

What ahs worked is promising myself, that I can have cake at the next party.... I used to promise myself that I can have the cake now but would have none at the next party!

When it is my own kids party, of course, I have cake with no guilt attached.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is what has worked for me. I pick one day a week to be my "cheat" day. On this day, I can have whatever I want, with no guilt because I have been good the other 6 days. I usually pick a day that will have food (parties, etc.), then I go back to my normal routine for the next 6 days. If it is something that I really want to try, I just take a taste and move on. My fitness pal has also helped because now I think twice before I put something in my mouth. Tracking is key for me. Good luck!

This works for me. I also find that I don't like the sugar crash so on my cheat day I end up not cheating!

[Anonymous]

Carry an apple with you in your purse. Seriously. If you find yourself at a party and want to indulge on pizza or whatever because its mealtime and you haven't eaten yet, whip out the apple. If you are still truly hungry, a slice of pizza won't kill you, but that was your dinner (apple plus the slice). Eat an apple instead of the little snack goodies entirely. Those aren't worth it. I find apples like galas curb my sweet tooth and are filling. I also second the idea of having water with you.

As for the cake. This is personal and varies for everyone. In your case, I actually think you are better off indulging in a small piece. Particularly if you would obsess over it and then end up snacking on some other sweet seemingly better for you alternative at home, but you aren't really satisfied and peck around the kitchen looking for something to quench the cake craving, and ultimately end up consuming an orange, a handful of low cal cookies (that never do the trick) then a spoonful of Nutella because it reminds you of icing, but you still want something cake like so you eat one of the kids' mini muffin packs and that kind of does it but now you've had a million little non-satisfying snacks and now you want something salty to balance it all out so you reach for the crackers because they are better for you than chips....and so the cycle continues....

I guess my point is, just have the cake.

[Anonymous]

I'm with you op, I am determined not to have to break out my "holiday" jeans. This month alone we have 3 b day parties, 2 Halloween parties and of course trick or treating. I love fall so I try and balance the party spurlge with fall hikes or bike rides. I also reward myself for staying strong, which I know is pathetic but works. If I get through a party without eating any crap...no pizza, no cake, no goLdfish, ect I add 10 bucks to my splurge jar to use for shopping later. Pizza is truly a no no for me, one slice equal 3, which equals a really bad day.

[Anonymous]

Send your DH to the birthday parties.

For Halloween, keep candy out of your house. Buy the day of, and don't buy anything you like. Tell the kids they can eat what they want that night, and keep a select amount to eat for dessert over the next week, and then bring all the leftovers to the office the next day (or throw out).

Make sure you keep exercising.

[Anonymous]

OP, i thought i was the only sucker who loves giant or safeway cakes above the fancier ones

i recently joined weight watchers online and it has done wonders on my ability to rein in my eating through three family birthdays just this month. i am shocked because i have always failed at keeping my eating under control. i think the act of tracking your food intake and working towards a pre-set maximum makes you think very carefully about what you *really* want to eat snd splurge on. GL.