Did you/will you?

[ZerasPride]

In an effort to stir things up a bit, I'm going to try to be more proactive in posting new threads.

Here's a couple of questions for you guys: Did you "cheat" (whatever that means for you) on your eating plan over the T-day holiday? If you did, do you regret it? If you didn't, did it make you feel even more powerful and confident that will get to goal?

Do you plan to cheat over the X-mas holiday? If so, do you feel you'll get right back on the wagon after the holidays? If you don't believe you'll eat off plan, what steps are you taking to ensure your success?

I am struggling to get away from associating food with social/special occasions so I make a determined effort not to eat off plan. It's not that I have exceptional willpower or don't love to eat. I just know I need to make some changes in my thinking and to be prepared. To help myself be successful, I make sure I have yummy snacks handy and don't allow myself to get overly hungry. I also think about different scenarios and how I can politely but firmly refuse the foods people often try to push on you this time of year.

I'd love to hear from everyone else!

 

[thotfulspot]

Ooo, good questions! This is a topic that has been completely in the front of my mind since about October -- I was worried about striking a balance between enjoying the holidays, and not blowing all the progress I've made this year.

For Thanksgiving, I tweaked my menu to include more on-plan items. I made my mashed potatoes just the way I always do, with the thinking that they are really special, I would be eating them in the context of a larger meal, and they would count as a treat. I made a salad with pomegranate seeds and feta cheese that was a raving hit with everyone, and instead of glazed sweet potatoes, I roasted sweet potato wedges and sprinkled red wine vinegar and chopped fresh tarragon over them -- another hit. I ate stuffing (made with whole wheat bread) and mashed potatoes, and enjoyed them thoroughly. I nibbled at leftovers the next day, but then threw away anything that wasn't South Beach-friendly.

I put on an extra couple of pounds after Thanksgiving was over, but I went back to Phase 1 for a week and they disappeared.

Yikes, can you tell I thought about this a lot?

My plan is to stay a bit stricter with my eating until Christmas is over, except for the occasional very special treat, and then do Phase 1 again, like after Thanksgiving. I've already had several oven-fresh cookies, once when I made ginger snaps for a holiday party, and yesterday at my MIL's. I wasn't sure if I was going to count them as 'cheats' or 'treats', but I decided that what the hey, it's Christmas, and for things that are genuinely once-a-year special treats, I'm going to allow myself a little indulgence.

Mind, the difference from last year is that the indulgences come with a built-in headache and stomachache to remind me not to indulge too often!

 

[perfectmatch300]

I have been way off plan for the past couple of months. It started in late Oct with some "comfort foods" eaten after I had to put one of my furbabies to sleep very unexpectedly & it hasn't stopped yet. The good news is that I'm really starting to get disgusted with myself & I think the motivation may finally be starting to kick back in to get me back on plan with food. I'm exercising like crazy, then what do I do but go way off plan with my food! What the heck am I doing!
I'm not going to beat myself up over the off plan eating, I'm just going to use it as a tool to help me get back to doing what I'm supposed to do. My plan as of right now is to be as good as I can through Christmas day, then back to induction as of Dec 26. I know I can do it, & I'll feel much better when I do. Once I'm back on track it will be a lot easier for me to resist the temptations that do come up. Right now it's too easy to give in because I'm already cheating so much anyway that I can rationalize the cheats a lot easier than when I am staying on plan.

 

[Minniespal]

Wow Lisa ~ This is a great thread, really thought provoking. My plan for Christmas is to enjoy myself. For such a long time my idea of heaven would have something to do with food and I would associate ANY holiday as an excuse to stuff my face with as much food and calories as possible.

Over the last few months I have come to realise that food is really not that important to me but being fit and looking good is. I will probably have a few more calories than I usually do but I intend to visit the gym several times over the holidays.

Thanks again for a great thread.

 

[Zoesmama03]

I didn't eat on or off plan really but I was sick with tummy flu so I ate hardly anything.

For Christmas we have already had our first holiday food and I ate pretty well but too much. I'm not gonna worry too much this year.

 

[July]

Great Topic

ThanksgivingDidn't Cheat

ChristmasDon't Plan to Cheat

July

 

[ibouncetoo]

Well, my food issue is always SUGAR. So having real dessert on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day was in the plan. The challenge was avoiding it all those days inbetween. I was given several 'gifts' of chocolate and cookies at work and I just 'regifted' them to someone else. I just kept telling myself I'd wait for the Claim Jumper Chocolate Cake on Christmas.

Now, for the next two weeks, I'll just keep telling myself I'll wait for that Zebra Doma at Boma! (Although, it's acutally a Mickey Bar that I've been thinking about lately!)

 

[Zoesmama03]

(Although, it's acutally a Mickey Bar that I've been thinking about lately!)

ummmmm yummy I love those. I always get atlest one whenever I'm at Disney World.

 

[ZerasPride]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and plans everyone. I always get so encouraged when I read about other people being just as determined as I try to be. Even if you are allowing yourself a bit of an treat every now and again, on this journey, getting back on track right away is all that matters.

 

[ohMom]

ok ok ok ok ok ok i hear ya

i have eaten terribly horrible for about 4 days now -- 12 days to marathon time to eat like it!