Quote:
Originally Posted by rainbowmom
So, we're going away for 2 weeks for Thanksgiving to visit family. During part of our time away my husband and I actually get to get away by ourselves for the first time in three years.
I'd like to be able to enjoy a glass of wine and not eat out of packets for the entire time we're away, but now I'm getting anxious about gaining weight.
How do I make this work? Part of me has been toying with the idea of just phasing off in the next month or so, but I'm really too afraid to even seriously contemplate that.
Any recommendations?
This is just my take; I'm sure others may see it differently.
Overarching everything is the fact that you've done
really well over the past two months. Anything to stop the momentum or, worst scenario, make you back slid would be a crying shame. Of course, most people, in the same circumstances you are (my observation) bring out their very best rationalizations and, ultimately, screw things up. Then come back here wring their hands or even whining; wondering why they did it; marvelling that it wasn't as good as they thought it would be; and asking for the sympathetic platitudes that trip so easily off some people's tongues. You know what I mean --
pick yourself up, dust yourself off or
today's the first day of your new life or
don't beat yourself up, you deserve a "cheat". Balderdash. What you deserve is to look and be healthier by Thanksgiving and, even better by Christmas. Isn't it possible that that might be as good a treat as a measly glass of wine. Isn't long term self-satisfaction more fun than instant gratification?
What's she going on about? you're asking yourself.
It's only a bloody glass of wine. Except, of course, it isn't.
On the other hand, if you do prefer to eat and drink moderately over Thanksgiving, definitely phase off absolutely correctly. Everyone's different, but you may likely continue to lose, but very slowly. I'd maintain to the New Year and start back, January 2, full bore. But I'd only do this once, remembering that the object of this program is to reset the pancreas and in the process stabilize insulin, metabolic rate and a whole host of other things. If you end up roller coasting it like some people, cheat/hop back on; cheat/hop back on, you can lose weight but you can also lose the most important benefits of the program. "Planned cheat" have to be the two most disgusting words on this forum -- because of what they imply. They cheat the cheater, they cheat (and cheapen) the program, and they cheat the reader who thinks it's OK to cheat because others do it.
So that's my honest opinion. I wouldn't have offered it if I hadn't thought you were sincere in asking.
Edit: It occurs to me that I've given good abstract advice (I hope) but nothing much concrete. So here goes: go back to October through December 2010 and read the posts about how to stay on plan over Thanksgiving and Christmas. There were far fewer posts per day and a lot of them deal with the holidays. For instance combine Raspberry Jelly with rhubarb as a (delicious) substitute for cranberry sauce. Dip celery in Walden Farms blue cheese dressing for an appetizer. Eat turkey unadorned -- both dark and white meat as a treat. Make yourself one unrestricted vegetable that you really like if the only alternatives are corn, peas, green beans, sweet potatoes gloped up with butter and marshmallows, oysters in cream and butter topped off with butter crackers. For desert, vanilla pudding with pumpkin pie seasonings. A little heavy on protein, but that's it. Anyway, I'm sure you get the picture. I wish you the best whatever you decide.