Watching my mind change
 

Hi All,

I have been wanting to post about my upcoming trip for a while now, but I must admit that the "cheat" kerfuffle on the thread last week made me a bit cautious. I think this is the right place to post this, because it's really about Thanksgiving and birthdays combined, and could equally apply to Christmas, so relates to holidays and celebration occasions in general.

I've been thinking about the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday and following week for quite a long time. I'm going to visit my mom, and we will be celebrating my sister's, my mother's and my birthday all at the same time. My mom's bday is 3 days after mine, and both of us are hitting significant numbers this year.

The reason I called this post "watching my mind change," is because that is what has been happening as part of my weight release journey thus far. I have had help making the shift with the emotional component, but I also feel liberated by the lack of food cravings on this protocol, and have been watching my position regarding holiday eating shift over the weeks since starting the program.

The way it works out, Canadian Thanksgiving (and my bday) is in my week 10, and Christmas is in my week 20, so when I started I had decided that I would take planned off-protocol weeks for these holidays, breaking things up into 10 week chunks. I have so much weight to eliminate that this seemed like a sensible approach, so that I wouldn't go starkers and eat every sugary food in sight in rebellion if I didn't give myself a planned break. Not to be able to go out for dinner or have bday cake seemed like a huge hardship. (notice the past tense there:)) I even talked with my coach about it in our first meeting.

As the weeks have ticked by, however, I have noticed an increasing reluctance to shift out of ketosis, even though I'm one of those who needs to eat every 2-3 hours on this program, and have not experienced the euphoria or huge energy boost that many others have. My decision was also made before I knew how much variety I would find in this program, and things like WF products, which I had never heard of before. Discovering Low Carb Grocery (LCG) has made things much, much easier for me in planning for this week away from my normal routine. I have discussed my thoughts with my coach, and I want to share with you what I am planning for the holidays.

So this is how I'm intending to handle it now: I've decided to take an Atkins-ish approach to my week away. What I really miss are dairy products, cheese and nuts, so these are going to be my treats. I'm going to stay low carb, hopefully stay in ketosis, and still enjoy some celebration and a couple of nice restaurant meals. I'm bringing IP packets and on most days I am planning to eat pretty much like I do now.

Going out for a fancy brunch or afternoon tea (think little sandwiches, tea cakes and scones) can wait. It really is as others have said--there will still be birthday cakes, fruit pies, good restaurants when I'm done with weight release. I had lots of summer fruit before starting IP, and I find that the fruit drinks satisfy my desire for fruit flavours. There will be apples next year. For right now, I'm letting these things go in favour of low carb alternatives. I'm still having treats, but not with sugar/carbs which is a HUGE shift for me!

What is surprising is that I no longer even want to chomp on Twizzlers and Cheetos while I'm driving. For a couple of weeks, even though I didn't want them, I still wanted to want them, but that too has gone by the boards. I am astonished, but I really don't want them. They have simply lost their appeal. What I do want is to have radishes, and maybe a few cherry tomatoes with baby bocconcini, and a few nuts, and IP chips & protein bars to satisfy the desire for salty & sweet snacks--it's a 5 hour drive, so I do have to eat. I like to drink tea and water while I drive, so nothing needs to change there.

For Thanksgiving and the rest of the week I've stocked up from LCG on other low carb options like their special bread, low carb pancake mix to which I can add protein powder, and Carol's low carb cheesecake instead of birthday cake. I don't really miss potatoes or rice, so when we go out for dinner, I'll opt for additional veggies, preferably cauliflower which is a favourite. I might have one or two glasses of red wine during the week, but none of us are big drinkers, so I might not. I had been planning to bring a nice bottle of wine, but somehow it doesn't seem important anymore. But it does still feel important not to put up too many restrictions to push against, even though I'm not planning to stray far from the IP path. But I'm not obsessing about it. Astonishingly, I'm feeling really relaxed about the food part of my visit.

Wow, talk about a change! No guilt. No excuses, no justifications. Before IP, I had thought and spoken about how I would love to just be able to eat, without all the emotional baggage, anger, shame and resentment, and the ever present fear of weight gain that has governed every morsel for such a long, long time. Amazingly, I seem to be coming to that peaceful place now. These days it seems such a small sacrifice not to have some types of food for now, if the future is bringing the realization of my dream of enjoying food for its nourishment and delights, while being able to take it or leave it because it is just food after all and is only one part of my life and experience.

What seemed like such a big deal, a huge sacrifice, in August, is now just not that important. It is a sea change. As I have watched, my mind has changed and the tide of my thoughts has changed direction. Interesting. Empowering. And such a relief.

Jackie

As always, Jackie, you are a beautiful writer and I love your post. You express yourself so well -- words like kerfuffle and sea change -- thank you, very much, for the post & inspiration.

JC

Great post, Jackie! Congratulations on being at peace.

Jackie,
Bravo! Loved your post. I agree. Once upon a time I would dream of holiday dinners - endulging, nothing was off limits. Always had seconds. Amazingly, things are different. My favorite times of the years are the holidays. I ADORE cooking lots of food and having family over.
This year, I'm thinking of all the ways I can make my holidays IP friendly. I thought of some type of creative non-bread stuffing (mushrooms, a bit of ground meat, zucchini, celery, etc..), definitely mashed cauliflower, roasted turkey, and roasted IP veggies. Loved Carla's idea of using arrowroot to thicken the turkey juice (making it into "gravy"). Also off the menu (my fav) bread & butter, and I'll figure out some kind of IP dessert. I can't believe that I don't care about "giving my favorite foods up". Am I in the Twilight Zone? I sure feel like it. I have been a slave to food for so long - just seeing what I liked and eating it. Not considering calories, fat, carbs, etc.... Didn't care. Saw it, wanted it, ate it. Yet very much disliked what I saw in the mirror.
I thrive on the success of each one on this group and it just pushes me closer to my goal. (It sure helps looking in the mirror and saying - WHOSE thighs are those? NOT mine! Too small to be mine!) I'm not saying I haven't had to sacrifice, but my oh my, is it worth it!!!!!
I also agree this is a lifestyle change. I really can't see myself going back to the gourmet cupcake shop and eating two cupcakes ever again. All those times I thought I was "treating myself", I was actually robbing myself of being thin!
We can get through these holidays together. I love seeing everyone's idea of what their IP holiday will look like. :) I can't wait to hear all the success stories the day after Thanksgiving!

Jackie, what a great post. I so enjoyed reading it and am so glad I think to visit some of these other threads once in a while.
I think the mind shift thing is one of the greatest miracles on this program as well. I have been on so many diets and always in the back of my mind is "I can't wait until this is over". With IP I find myself planning for the future and a new way of life. I feel that sense of 'peace' with myself as well, instead of the guilt and angst. Of course, this forum helps A LOT!
:thanks:

Jackie--great post
 

What a great post!! You have summed my feelings about the Holiday Feasts to a "T" , I am hosting our Thanksgiving feast and have spent much more time planning IP friendly dishes. There are 4 family members on IP so it will be fun! Check out my menu on today's daily chat!
Have a great weekend with your Family:hug:

Jackie - I'll add my kudoes here. Your post shows me that it's not so strange after all, to actually feel at peace about the upcoming holidays. I feel exactly the same way. :clause:

Hey All,

I'm so glad you liked what I said in the post. Thank you so much for your kind words of appreciation.:hug: It really is interesting to watch how my approach to things is changing on this weight loss journey in a way it never has before. It definitely feels like the right road to be my "last diet."

Journeysend, you and others have posted some great menus for Thanksgiving, both here and on the daily chat. I think we'll be doing a small roast beef this year. My sister is a vegetarian, and I just don't like turkey enough to wrestle with one for just my mom and I. I'm bringing 2 nice cauliflowers (I always bring lots of the food when I visit so my mother doesn't exhaust herself with shopping before I get there). I'll be using one for a pureed cauliflower soup that tastes creamy but isn't for us to have on a few days, and the other for steaming, or chopping up in things, or making pseudo mash because there's going to be gravy! I can't believe how excited I am at the prospect of using a real onion with the roast after 9 weeks of leeks instead!:D I won't be eating it, but it's flavour will be welcome.

I'm taking a pile of IP packets with me 'cause I have a feeling my mom and sister are going to want to try a few things. I've also been thinking that introducing my elderly mother to protein powders, how easy they are to use and how yummy they can be might be a good thing, so I'm bringing some non-IP protein foods as well.

Have a great weekend, and happy feasting and festing to my fellow Canadians!
:happ3:

Jackie

Bump! :)

One suggestion for gravy... I noticed my first week when I didn't use enough water that the IP chicken soup reminded me A LOT of gravy - for Thanksgiving, that will be my gravy. :-)

Bump....Carla's opening post is great....and I was beginning my search for recipes for Turkey Day......need to find ones that I can have with the whole fam-damily!

Thank you for this very very good advice! I was planning on sticking it out. I am going to hunt through my recipe books for some sexy gourmet veggie dishes to take as sides to go with the turkey. I am however, going to freeze a plate of holiday dinner to eat when allowed. I think it will taste better without the guilt!

Happy Holidays!

one carrot for every 5lbs destroyed!
:carrot::carrot::carrot::carrot::carrot:

Just an observation--

After reading on this and other threads about holiday eating plans, I think this is really all about control, isn't it? Are we going to stay in control, each with our own plans, or are we going to let ourselves eat out of control again? I don't think any of us want to go there.....so it's all about planning, and being able to control our own bodies and weight.

My 2 cents.....:hug::hug:

Bump!

Thanks for all the great ideas. I guess the good side of cooking for 35 will enable me to make sure I have plenty of choices that are IP friendly!

Twitter through the Holidays!
 

Is anyone on twitter? we could twitter through the day.. get instant encouragement and "Will Power dust" right from our phones, no matter where we eat?
I am @susiemiller5

This could be a fun and sane way to navigate the events in real time!
ex:
tweet: my MIL is suspect of the "mashed potatoes" on my plate, can i move to the other end of the table?

tweet: why do families push food... oh come on just one bite..."
tweet" step away from the bite of pie... it ='s 3 days to get back to ketosis!

just an idea... anyone in?

Cheers, Susie

I'll follow you! I'm @jdiettrich

Let's see, should we have our own hashtag?

#IPinsanity? :-) #cauliflowernotpotato? #thinkskinny? #justsaynotopie?

Twitter hashtag
 

love the idea of a hash tag...
how about #IPsanity (i would be insame if i didn't try this- it is bringing sanity and health to me.
or just #IP so there is more space for tweets?

i will follow you too :)

Choose to be Well,
susie

I'm already thinking about Christmas dinner and struggling with the idea of it. This will be our first Christmas after my Opas (Grandpa) death and I know it's going to be sad, depressing and difficult for the whole family. The emotions part is what scares me, because I am an emotional eater. Not to mention holidays with everyone can get a little drama filled. And our food isn't very IP friendly at all. We are Austrian so schnitzel is huge and salads (cucumber, potato, bean). I know I can make it work. But the food alone is bloody torture, then adding the emotional aspect on top of it..... I'm just scared & nervous. I almost just wanna skip the whole holiday and avoid it all but that's not doable. Anyways, thanks for letting me express my worries.

Holidays really aren't just about food, are they? Undercurrents can be as staggering and energy-debilitating as the full-blown, calorie- and fat-laden meals.

Maybe you could take a laptop with you, or get someone else to bring one, and start a file where everyone contributed their nicest remembrances of your opa? and you could keep yourself busy monitoring and contributing to it -- especially if some members of your family aren't keyboard friendly? Or some other project? I hope this isn't too far off the wall. But I think you're correctly sympathetic to the potential to be derailed. And good for you. :hug:

Ok, I have decided to eat on plan but may have a glass of red wine with dinner. I'm ok with this...

Well it is the season to be Merry... I have a christmas staff party on Saturday another on the 10th and one more on the 12th. Arrg, I am sort of dreading it but since I am the one organizing then I have to go. All the drinking and eating. I figured that I would be good and stay on plan and like Mariann I may have a glass of wine with supper but I will stick with water for the rest of the evening. I am sort of nervous about it, I'm really happy that there are a few people that are going to be there that are on the plan as well so hopefully that will help.

HELLO!!! :)

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3.../thARRESL2.gif

Christmas is coming soon and as workplaces, desks, or reception counters are decorated with candy bowls, parties are hosted, cookie exchanges shared, vendors sweets left in lunch rooms and gifts passed from one to the next many of us may be faced with several temptations a day. How do you plan to get yourself to Christmas and then THRU Christmas?

Remember, this season and the meaning of the season has nothing to do with the food. Granted the food is a big part of the many traditions. HOWEVER, it wasn't always the case for everyone and doesn't have to be the focus for you this year.

We all have different approaches and different senses of the importance of this holiday. How are you planning to incorporate your new commitment and goals with your past love/importance of/ participation in this years holiday?


If I could wake up Christmas morning and look like the image below, I think my year would be made.
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...th7cf5b708.gif

Reality is that won't happen ever but, even something close won't happen if I don't maintain the perspective that food isn't what this holiday is about and the food isn't what makes me happy.

What is going to motivate you this season?

bump for holidays

Thanks
 

Perfect Timining. I just had this conversation with my coach yesterday. Halloween is a non-issue because I don't have a problem not eating candy. It is Thanksgiving that is going to be an issue. We decided to consider the various options this month and come up with a firm plan by October 31. I'll let you know if she has anything to add to the great information already posted.

I think it's important to remember that Thanksgiving is just ONE MEAL... Many people seem to start the holidays and really just throw everything out the window. It's easy to indulge once each week if you are on maintenance, and easy to tweak the plan to make meals more enjoyable if you are still on the plan.

Well, just had our Thanksgiving dinner. I loaded up on the turkey and allowed my first off plan conscious decision, I had a few TBLS of cranberry sauce made with splenda. I wish I had read back on this thread before I made dinner, the idea about using the chiken soup as gravy was a good one, I'll do that at Christmas
Now I'm ready to go back on plan. I really like that the Canadian Thanksgiving is not close in time to Christmas. In the US it must seem like one continuous celebration for a month. That would be harder.

Pat