I have a crockpot of rutabaga cooking thru the night ( in WF pancake syrup and chicken broth) -- sounds weird, but it tastes terrific and it's going to be part of Christmas dinner tomorrow at my brother's house. Beef roast by him, to be accompanied by several diet friendly veggies (including my rutabaga, some roasted cauliflower, and a nice big salad).
The whole gang of us are on diets (me on IP and the others on Weight Watchers), so our holiday dinner should be pretty easy to navigate and stay on program. I will have a bar at the ready for dessert, and that should cover all my needs from 4pm on.
So glad to be on IP and so very grateful for this forum and all the support we bring to one another. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!!!
Just DH and the kids this year. Maybe the first time in 20yrs our house isn't full of relatives.
I am cooking a combo regular meal for the fam with turkey and cauliflower mash potatoes and roasted veggies for me. Should be easier to stay OP but our house is full of junk at the moment. Thought I had a handle on it when a Harry and David basket arrived in the mail and a neighbor dropped off cookies and Starbucks yesterday afternoon.
DH has to work Fri so he will be bringing leftover goodies with him.
Oh, MIL arriving on Fri. That woman drives me to drink. This should make IP interesting.
Last night was 7 fishes that I cooked....yummy I did all mine seperate without breadings or butter. We had lobster, clams, mussels, shrimp, crab legs & claws and then I made manicotti for the boys and I had a huge salad. Yummy. Then we played board games as a family. Although it was our first Christmas Eve alone, we spent I togther and had lots of fun. When you have an almost 17 year old boy those family game nights are rare! He has also been a huge help to me in cooking the treats and food for the holiday since he knows I can't taste them lol....he was the official taster.
Today the whole family will be here. DH & DS are still asleep, but I needed to get the sweet potatoes into the crock pot and get things ready for the day. I'll get the guys up soon to do presents and clean up before the family shows up.
I have my plan of food set for the day and I have not caved to temptation yet with all the holiday baking so today should be a breeze.....
Next year I WILL be in maintenance and then I can have a holiday treat....
Merry Christmas! Up early with the excited boy - everything is open and now we're on to breakfast and Lego-building
I'm cooking dinner so should have an OP day. Just made oatmeal biscuits for veggie stuffing. Made it through all the baking yesterday without eating a crumb, so I had an IP brownie for my evening snack. Yummo!
Merry Christmas, everyone! Thank you all for the support and advice and comraderie shared on this board. Best thing about IP. And congratulations on giving yourselves the best gifts you can ... health and happiness!
Merry Christmas from Hawaii. It's my last day on Kauai. Headed to Ohau to spend Christmas with Aunt, Uncle, and cousins before starting the long trip back to St Louis tomorrow. Wheels down in STL = P1.
Merry Christmas Eve! Working today But at least will have the next 4 days off.
Had a near cheat last night with some holiday cookies my kids had been on me to make. They totally tested my willpower. I literally had to go hide in a hot bath to get away from them. It was everything I could do not to cram my face. Whew, not doing that again.
What was interesting was I had received a Christmas card from someone I'd had a falling out with a few years ago and haven't spoken to in quite some time. It was a nice card but I was totally perplexed why she would be reaching out to me now.
Anyway, as I was climbing into my tub last night to hide from the cookies I had an epiphany! My therapist popped into my mind saying how I stuff my emotions down with food....holy crap! The urge to not eat that junk was SO strong. It wasn't about the cookies, it was about the upsetting emotion I'd had hours earlier. Thankfully, my revelation changed my craving just like that. Instead of obsessing about what was going on in the kitchen, I was able to enjoy my small victory over food!!
Going to be a trying next couple of days food wise but we can do it!! Stick with it IP peeps!!
Great job making the connection. Scary sometimes what our minds can do. I never seem to believe how I can self talk myself into the stupidest decisions. So far have been able to avoid this time.
Merry Christmas my fellow IP'rs! Hoping you all have a wonderful day with loved ones!
But at least will have the next 4 days off. 
