Are you planning to lose weight this season, or are you working to maintain?
Me, I'm gonna keep working the eating and exercising, but I know there'll be a few pieces of Belgian chocolate involved. I'll enjoy them but keep moving. One season I parked myself in front of a 2 pound box of See's chocolates. It was NOT a pretty sight. This season my mouth is in a "no parking" zone!
i plan on losing until i finish work and then maintain till i go back. I finish on the 23rd and dont go back till the 6th so it might be a bit hard to resist ALL that time.
My gym is also closed over the season so ill have to be inventive with the exercising - luckily my man will be here so there's an option.
I am planning on keeping the momentum going. I messed up big time around Christmas last time I lost this much weight 7 years ago and it snowballed on me. A chocolate here, a chip there. Next thing I knew, I was a big fat snowball! I really am a sugarholic and I know if I allow just one of something , it won't stop there and I don't want those cravings anymore. I know myself all too well.
I plan on losing. I plan on indulging lightly and within my daily calories. I plan on continued planning throughout the season.
If I don't, I won't be able to stay on track. I am not able to intuitively indulge yet. It just doesn't work for me. Each holiday meal will have to estimated and planned for as carefully as I can (but not so carefully that I go nuts).
I don't mind this, though. I actually have a better time if I've successfully planned for my food. Call me crazy, but it's true.
I plan on still working towards losing. We are hosting thanksgiving, so I have planned out foods that are healthy and that I like for both before the meal and during. Desserts are going to be harder but I have been good so far with limiting myself that I think I will be okay, plus I have my hubby who I will ask to just remind me if I reach for more than I should. As for the other days of the season, I should be okay as we won't have any extra goodies around the house to tempt me. As for Xmas, we go to family gatherings which I normally don't eat a lot at anyways due to allergies, so I should be fine for then as well.
I suppose I'm the only "cheater" here. I plan on totally going off plan for one week for thanksgiving week but then stay on plan through the rest of the holidays. I did this the last time I was actively trying to lose weight a few years ago and it actually worked for me. I was able to enjoy myself without guilt but I stayed very active and then I was able to easily start up again. I lost everything I gained in one week. (i was doing medifast at that time and now I am doing wonderslim) The little break helped me to keep going through Christmas and New Year's.
This is the first time I've tried to lose weight, so it is also my first holiday season while dieting. I was a little nervous, but I think I am feeling good about it now. I am planning on going to maintence calories on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and maybe have a few extra treats here and there (all logged but I may go over a little sometimes). For the rest of the time, I will be actively trying for my normal 1000 calorie deficit each day. Good luck to everyone!
Rosestara, I will be having a cheat day for Thanksgiving as well. I am not going to pig out, but I will allow myself one plate heavy on protein and veggies with a small helping of my other favorites, pie (no crust) with ff cool whip, and I will not be skimping on gravy. I am doing a program just like Wonderslim, and using their products too. I plant the same for Christmas Day as well.
Like Jaimie and rosestara, I'm going have cheat days. I'm going to stay on plan every day except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day (my birthday). I may have to add one more cheat day since we usually gather with aunts, uncles and cousins from my mom's side of the family the Saturday before or after Christmas. No way I can resist my aunt's butterscotch pretzel mix and Oreo cookie balls. On the cheat days, I'm going to eat whatever I want, guilt free (within reason, I'm not going to pig out - one small serving of everything I want to try, don't continue to eat anything I don't really like and seconds only for stuff I loved). I'll probably gain on those three or four days I'm off plan but I'm confident I'll come out with a loss at the end of the holiday season if I stay on plan the rest of the time. I would like to get into the lower 190's by the end of December.
I do a 16:8 intermittent fast every day apart from heavy flow days on my cycle (body wants breakfast those days!), and I try to stay away from too many wheat products. I don't eat sugar at all, and I don't plan to change that one for the holiday season. I found a specialist cheese shop in my town so I'm going to splurge on a cheese platter rather than candies and chocolates, yum. I am American but I live in the UK, so we don't really do a big Thanksgiving. I'll probably bake a couple of pumpkin pies - normal ones and a sugar-free, gluten-free one as an experiment. I won't force the family to eat it!
I need to find ways to celebrate the holidays that don't revolve around sugar. This year should be interesting.
I love hearing all the different things that people are doing to stay healthy during the holidays. I know I don't have to explain but I wanted to say that the reason I am going off for a week is because I will have guests with me and we will eat all our meals out. It would be more stressful and probably not successful if i tried to stay on wonderslim while eating all my meals out for a week. Since all meals are out, I won't really be snacking between meals and there won't be any second helpings. For Christmas, I will have a healthy meal that is on plan.
I am LOVING the replies.
There's no right or wrong answer to the question.
What's important is to have a plan and STICK to it.
I'll keep a mop and bucket nearby for those of us who go off plan.
Hmmm... maybe a squeegee, too.
I lost 22# about 8 years ago & haven't regained it, because when I see my favorite temptations I got myself into a routine of putting on my dish just half as much, of what looks delicious. No 2nd helpings unless it's plain veggies.
I also use half the salt recipes ask for & 3/4 of the fats or substitute fruit or a healthy fat. Everyone still enjoys the food & doesn't know it's healthier
Increasing our Protein & Fiber w having a glass of water before snacks & meals genuinely decreases salt & sugar cravings.
If I don't make & follow some rules/routines, then I'll gain pounds again & lose my energy. Sooo I gotta treat myself like my car & take care of me
We can stay at a Wonderful weight during the Holidays
I like Raisin5's fasting plan too. My Dh skips lunch/fasts each Wednesdays @ work & meets guys for their weekly Worship & Prayer time for co-workers families.
This season's plans
, it won't stop there and I don't want those cravings anymore. I know myself all too well. 
