Ack! How do I handle this?

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

For quite a long time now, we have done Thanksgiving twice. Once at my parents and again later in the day (around dinner time 5-6 pmish) with my husband's family. I'm not quite sure how to handle this year, however. My mom is taking everyone to a local all-U-can-eat buffet instead of cooking.

So I'm REALLY worried about overdoing it and not being able to exercise that day because I KNOW we'll be having another very heavy, full meal that day. Eek. I know that at the buffet (and esp because it't Thanksgiving..hello turkey, gravy and cornbread stuffing! ) I'll be severely tempted to overeat/overdrink (soda, that is).

Any suggestions on how to avoid this?

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Seems like you are doing a good thing. You are planning. Get your mind in your day and take that one plate, put small portions of what you feel you can enjoy then eat very slowly. You can do this. I know being in a restaurant that the offerings are usually filled with calories. Take the turkey, leave the gravy or just a "taste" if it is already on the meat.

If you are having two big offerings, plan the second home served meal with more of the turkey (protein is good) and look for the salad. Taste a small portion of something you want that you can feel proud of for not eating more than you would have in the past.

Make it a success story to come back and report! You can do this. You are doing it to become a healthier you!

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

I've been to the resteraunt in question before and I know they do have a salad bar, so I can try and fill up on that instead of all the other nummy offerings--sweet potatoes, cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes w/cream gravy, DESSERTS by the bucketload.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Ugh, good luck. Be strong!

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I too think that planning will go a long way towards avoiding a train wreck.

But, can you switch it up a bit this year? Why not tell your mom that since she is not cooking that you have decided to skip the buffet and have dinner with DH's family. That way you can bring some healthy dishes and eat turkey without gravy. Bring some fruit for dessert.

If your mom balks at this suggestion, then perhaps you can have coffee with her in the morning on the way to working out. Just explain to her that you have been working hard to lose weight, and that when you think about it, eating two meals like that in a week is a lot, let alone 2 in one day! I don't even think it is reasonable to expect people to do this. If you do what you've always done, you're gonna get what you've always got(ten).

 

[mom2faith]

I do not think you should avoid it. You cannot avoid it every year right?

My thoughts are we are going to be faced with these challenges for the rest of our lives and since we are making lifestyle changes we have to adjust. Sometimes that adjustment may mean cutting yourself a break.

I am not telling you to go crazy, but we have to do these things in moderation. I am not just referring to the servings, I am referring to the day as a whole. You are not going to eat 2 big meals every day right? Or once a week? or once a month, right? No, this is a once a year situation. So you have moderated how often this will happen.

Now, like PP post said, plan. Plan what you "have to have" plan what you can "just taste" and plan on what the bulk of your meal will be. for example: I HAVE TO HAVE pumpkin pie - it is a must!! I am not skimping and I am not just tasting. I am having a piece. But, I can eat white meat turkey, no gravy, lots of salad and veggies and a small portion of potatoes. In fact I will fill 1/2 my plate with salad, so I am not tempted to take anything else, my plate is already full.

Last weekend I was faced with a challenge of going to a football game out of town. We drank a lot of alcohol and ate in restaurants. I approched it the same way. I changed what I was drinking. I incorporated water. I LOVE Chili's burgers and we do not have one in our town, so when we went to Chili's I had one, but with a salad. I still had a loss of 1 lb for the week overall. Not great, but it was still a loss. Now I know that this is a once a year trip and I do not drink very often, so this is not going to happen every day. I will do this in moderation.

Go easy on yourself. Celebrate the small wins, and relax. Remember this is for life not just one month, one season or one year.

Good Luck!!

Amy

 

[Raenstoirm]

We used to go to a buffet for a few years. It is actually easier than a home cooked meal. They have all sorts of salads and steamed foods that you don't get at home. So I would personally eat the healthy stuff you wont get at home and eat the fattening "Thanksgiving" stuff at your in laws.

 

[tiggerlover]

As said before, planning is key. My suggestion would be to eat the salad and vegetables at the buffet, with maybe a small serving of turkey. For dessert I would stick with fruit. And as a "reward" for making good choices at the buffet I would allow myself a nice turkey dinner (with small portions) in the evening for the home cooked meal. Personally, I would also choose one splurge, one thing that I absolutely just "had to have" and then I would allow myself a small portion of the splurge.

 

[FireDancer]

Have you though about walking/jogging/running a Turkey Trot in the morning? I don’t know how it is by you but here we have about 3 within a reasonable driving distance and they range from 1 mile to 5. Most are planned early because they know that families get together.

Another option might be to forgo the whole buffet for just salad and soup. You could then treat the buffet as an appetizer to the later meal.

Telling your husband your plan and asking him to remind you if you overdo the buffet is also an option if you feel yourself getting weak.

 

[mom2faith]

You will have to keep us posted on what you do and the results.

Amy

 

[Guy Incognito]

my wife and I did the 2 thanksgivings (one at my parents, one at her parents) for the first couple years after we got married...... as we were driving back home after the second meal, we started talking and figured that we probably spent more time in the car that day than we did at either of our parents houses....

so we decided that we wouldn't be doing that split/two-meal thing anymore. We told both sides that we'd be rotating holidays, so if we did thanksgiving with one side this year, we'd do thanksgiving with the other side the next year.

neither one was pleased with it, but we decided it wasn't any fun for us to be driving around all day either; and they've come to accept it.


just something to consider....

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

Have you though about walking/jogging/running a Turkey Trot in the morning?

I wish..it's just not possible with DH's schedule. He'll be working VERY late the night before and I'll need to be up so I can take care of DS while he sleeps in a bit.

I think what I'm going to do is make sure my MP3 player is charged up and then, after we get to the in-laws house, change into some workout gear and just walk my fat behind up and down their driveway (which is quite long)for awhile. I don't care if they think I'm weird..I need to exercise that day to offset all the calories I"ll be ingesting.

 

[pjlla]

Good for you for planning ahead! My first response is to tell you to skip the soda and drink water. Soda is such a waste of calories (IMHO, of course).

You've gotten lots of good advise here, so I won't repeat it. But I share your problem (sort of).... my DH's family celebrates T.giving on Thursday and we spend the day with them. MY family celebrate T.giving on Friday, so that we can all be together and everyone with "another" family can be with them on Thursday. (We do the same with Easter... my family on Saturday, his on Sunday.) So every holiday it seems I have two days in a row of "eat-a-thons"!! It is so hard.. especially at DH's brother's house... his wife is a fabulous cook and there are usually TWO HOURS of drinks and appetizers and starters before we even get down to the turkey, and sides (sometimes as many as 12 - 15 sides!!!). IT IS SO HARD! And it seems like NO ONE can make a plain vegetable.... everything is coated in gravy/butter/sauce/crumbs/EVOO, etc. Not to mention the overwhelming amount of desserts (DMIL is known for her cookies, squares, etc). I don't have a concrete plan yet, but I will by next Thursday. I'm NOT going to undo all of my hardwork over one meal.

My family's meal (on Friday) tends to be a bit more traditional and modest (although still fattening), and the lack of appetizers is a big help. We have the usual (Turkey, gravy, mashed pot, green bean casserole, onion casserole, peas, cranberry sauce) and usually just a few desserts (pumpkin pie, apple pie, indian pudding). Much more controlled and easier for me to control myself (except with the onion casserole.... love, love, love it!!)

I do plan on finding a family member to walk with me both days (assuming the weather is okay). Even just a brisk walk around the neighborhood with help!

So attack your day with a solid plan.... but be sure to incorporate a treat so you don't feel deprived. Get some exercise and drink water. You should be okay! Good luck........................P

 

[pjlla]

One more suggestion to add.... wear snug pants! This would NOT be a good day for stretchy pants! With something snug around your middle you will be reminded with every bite to keep things under control.....................P