anyone else struggling...
 

with the onset of the holidays?

I started my Christmas baking and one lick, two licks, three licks of the melted chocolate.... I could have ate the whole bowl I'm afraid!

just having a hard time staying on plan lately. :(

This is a tough one. I've chosen not to bake this year, although I've done baking while on IP.

On the few occasions I have baked, I've kept gum on hand and kept chewing like a fiend. I think one little lick could easily turn into a whole lot of cheating.

I hear ya! It is a toughy! I would love to have some shortbread cookies, fudge, all the goodies. But I'm being tough and avoiding any baking, cookie exchange parties, christmas parties...etc. I have baked 2 cakes in the last 4 months with no cheating success :) I'll be on phase two soon and a week off work in January. Stay Strong :)

ideal protein restarting
 

@mom3luvsbugs, I agree its so hard to start and to maintain during the holidays. I was on it for 2 wks and I kept cheating and I still lost weight, but have full restarted again. I feel much better when I am on the plan. I feel lighter, I feel less craving for white flour foods etc etc. Maybe you will want to start after the holidays? Just a thought, however some will say to keep with it.
I know there are a lot of foods to choose from, but I sort of wish there were more. Do not like any of the drinks, and pretty much stic to the soups and the chocolate pancake mix :) Good luck with the holidays! ~L:D

It's not so much an individual item as the attitude that comes with the holidays...everyone is always like "youre not gonna DIET that day, are you?" (my hubby being the worse offender) and I have to stand my ground and look like a nut or feel guilty for taking a bite of something delicious that I literally wont have for another year...makes me so angry, but I guess I can deal with it.

It's rough...I think I'm a little cranky because of it (lol)...but I'm sticking to plan. I've been on it too long to cheat and push my end date forward. I promised myself 110% until the bitter end. So if I buckle now, that means I'm longer on the diet...as much as I love what this diet it, I'm starting to be ready to be in maintenance.

I wasn't going to bake, but then made 10 batches of poppycock (cause that's what I give away at work and I'm not changing THAT part...people ask for it months in advance. lol) and didn't have one lick/taste/bite...not that I didn't want too, I just decided I wanted to say I did it and stayed OP. It's sitting in my office, half of it given away the other half waiting to give away.

Just think at the end of the month...everyone will be joining a gym and making resolutions to lose weight. We're already there, we don't have to make that resolution we can make other ones (be nicer to ourselves etc.) In fact, I plan on losing weight over the holidays! :D

The little bits here and there could bounce you out of ketosis and that definately won't keep the cravings away.

Keep your eye on the prize, the deeper I'm into ketosis the easier it seems to get.

Yes, it's definitely a tough time of the year. I do love to bake the holiday treats. It was hard to go over to my sister's this weekend and have her sit a big batch of cookies in front of me (yes me) and then say "don't eat any of those". Do people really not get it. Guess not. That's one reason I don't like telling anyone that I am on a diet. I feel like I am always being watched or tested; especially when it comes to family.

Thanks for the reminder, Ishbel about keeping your eye on the prize and staying deep in ketosis. It's good to retreat to this forum for support.

I agree, it is so hard even thinking about it! I started P2 last Saturday and will be starting P3 this Saturday a pre-vacation phase off! I am going to try really hard to be good on Christmas as I know I will not be good while on vacation!

I am a little worried about my first post phase 1 WI this week...so far, the scale hasn't moved. :-( I have to be honest...getting off P1 scares the heck out of me!!!

It is hard, for sure! You have done so incredibly well! Don't doubt yourself now! If you slip up, you'll get back OP! Look how far you've come!

For me, this early on, I simply can't cheat - no bites, licks or tastes here, because if I do... I don't trust myself to stop! Also, I'm terrified of breaking out of ketosis and having those cravings again. I made 100 cake pops - 25 for a party tonight, 25 to put in xmas gifts, 27 for my sons class and 23 for my husbands potluck. I even experimented with some new flavors but did not have one taste. This NEVER would've happened in the past, on ANY other program.

You're doing amazing... keep up the great work! Just look at your results. I had zero pounds lost this past weigh-in.... that was tough. No cheating, but maybe not quite enough water & veggies. Frustrating though! In the past, I would've gone on a binge, for sure! Thanks to IP and this website... I turned it into motivation to lose that much more this week! We can do this!!! :hug:

I'm sorry Sara that you are having such a difficult time. Definitely not an easy time of the year to be on a diet. I have made the decision not to cook/bake for the holidays this year. Like I told myself at the start of going on IP in September, "I can do anything for a year," For me that means letting everyone else do the work instead just for this year. I usually make the potato pancakes for our family Hanukkah party, but this year I told everyone that someone else will have to do it make them. This is my time to take care of me.

I wish I had some magic pill to make it easier for you, but you have to want it more than the food. And as you know, once in ketosis the cravings really do weaken. I've gotten to the point that I honestly couldn't cheat if I wanted to and of course I don't. The remorse would be far greater than how good some foods would taste. Hang in there, you can do it, I know it.:hug:

I don't really mind not having the goodies myself, I've gotten used to it. But what I do mind is when I have to make something to take somewhere or when people come in for a meal. I hate serving food to others that I didn't taste myself. I am always sure there is something really wrong with it and they are too polite to say anything.
I usually get hubby to taste stuff for me but he always thinks everything id fine.

But oh my, if I licked the melted chocolate I'd be done for!

Pat

thanks everyone... I think my biggest problem is that I am feeling 'comfortable' at the weight I am at currently, know what I mean??

everyone is full of compliments on how good I look and I feel great with my new body BUT I feel myself falling into that trap of "I have done so well, I deserve it".

tomorrow I will be 100% OP and I will go from there.

thanks again for all of the kind words! :hug:

When I'm near it I have moments or pangs so I'm avoiding places! I don't have obligations to bake so that's good and I'll be at work on Christmas Day where they put on a huge spread, but I can be selective with my choices. So, yea it is bugging me sometimes, but overall I'm doing ok. Not as much resolve as I had on Thanksgiving but still hanging in there.

Hang tight Sara. And no licking!!! :)

awe :/ I believe we all have those thoughts Sara. I especially had inklings of those thoughts when I hit the 100 lbs mark....they were just whispers in the back of my head. It shocked me...I was like "WHAT THE HECK is THAT thought! GIT OUT OF MY HEAD!" So I really actually analysed it (I'm a girl after all) and decided I needed some preventative measures. So now instead of saying I've lost 106 lbs (WI in later today)....I say "I have 34 to go". So that my verbal acknowledgment is where I have go to not where I've gone.

I discussed this with my support (sisters/mama/VIP). My sister was especially impressed with my thought process. She said from the outside looking in, it was interesting that I figured it out and put something into place that will help me continue to my goal.

I know you can do it. :) You've done fantastic!!!

Ishbel, thanks for sharing this with us! I love it! I'm going to use it! 69 pounds to go! Thanks again!

There is something important about finishing what you started. I know for me when I have lost a lot of weight in the past I would start hearing the compliments, and I never would actually finish what I started. You're getting so close Sara. Get to your goal, and then listen to the compliments.

I agree. You have already gone too far to just have to start over... and focus on something other than losing weight for a new years resolution...

I tend to not take a compliments well... but This has whats gotten me before when I have lost weight. I would hear how good I look and I would get comfortable hearing it, Then I would take a nibble hear and there... then before you know it you've gained back everything you tried so hard to lose!

I just try to tell myself I am doing this for ME. and I don't want to please anyone else at this time... This is probably I stay with my crappy boyfriend, because doing something new could mess me up!

Great idea!! I keep gum on-hand at all times, but usually chew it when I'm running errands or what-not. Never thought of chewing it while cooking! Thanks! :)

This is how I feel sometimes, too. It's not just one thing with me, it's the whole time of year. Cannot wait for it to be January already!! :stress:

I feel ya!! I always feel like everyone is eating and then they are watching to see if I stick to what I've said I'm going to do or not.

Great advice!! Thanks!! :)

thank you for the wonderful advice everyone.

perhaps it's because I am closer to my goal then I have ever been and weigh less then I have ever weighed as an adult.... I feel really good BUT I would love to get to my goal and feel really GREAT!

Mom... I know what you are feeling, I am struggling lately just because I am not used to having this many slow weeks in a row, but that's because I am so close to being done.
You just have to push through, you know what your goal is, and as you said you have never made it this far before, just remember each day is an accomplishment.
It will be over before we know it.

This is the worst time of year for trying to not only stay on track eating wise, but to maintain some sort of regular schedule with sleeping, water, etc.

I have 3 holiday parties to go to this week, the first being tonight. ...I'm a super social person, and alcohol is ALWAYS involved in these situations. Where as before, I would be the encouraging everyone to drink, it's going to be SO hard to stay away from even "one drink".

I love this time of year. Where as this holiday season might be a little less jolly sans the cookies, alcohol and other food, I know in the long run, staying on track will make me happy. You just have to keep the end goal in mind. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can incorporate a more 'normal' lifestyle!

I'm struggling too, although not cheating, I miss the goodies.
We are having our office xmas party tomorrow and it's gonna be hard. Wish now I had waited until Jan to start lol.

I haven't cheated but I do miss the goodies. I plan to bake this year and I plan to stay OP. I have 4 children one of which is still at the age to believe in Santa and such. I'm not going to alter our traditions because I can't enjoy the treats. Next year I will be able to and my little one will most likely no longer be a believer in Santa and such. Of course all is easier said than done. I baked at thanksgiving without a problem so hopefully it will carry over into the Christmas baking. I'll maybe have a chocolate drink to sip on while I'm baking to help curb the desire to lick the spoon and such.

I miss fruit the most. Christmas oranges at this time of year. Next year.

Hi all, I postponed my first weigh in until tomorrow so that my daughter and I can go in together. I expect a good loss, as during this week I had my TOM, and I always drop after that. The next weigh in will be a iffy- I am not giving myself permission to cheat, but this long awaited weekend getaway will be hard to keep OP. anybody know of some IP friendly restaurants in downtown Denver? We are staying downtown, and do not intend to drive once we get there, so any suggestions on how to have that elegant dinner with your number 1?

Cheers


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