Holidays (except Halloween) aren't too hard for me actually...not sure why.

Halloween ~ This is a tough one for me BUT I've decided to NOT give out candy anymore. I ordered some cool glow bracelets to give out instead and then maybe I'll give out like little packs of goldfish, or cereal bars...something other than the standard candy. I've wanted to do this for a long time and since at our current house, we don't get a lot of kids coming by - this will be perfect and not cost much! My kids trick or treat but they are still small so we only go up and down our street - 15 houses maybe - so they won't have much of a haul to worry about. In the past, it's been terrible for me, b/c I would buy all the candy to give out and then end up eating the leftovers (which was sometimes A LOT!). By, not giving out junk this year, I'm eliminating almost all of the problem!

Thanksgiving ~ I won't be within my calories - I'm going to eat what I want. BUT, my husband has to work this day so I'm not cooking. My mom and the kids and I are all going out to a buffet instead. So, no leftovers to worry about.

Christmas ~ Hubby has to work again so there won't be a big feast. My mom doesn't eat ANY sugar - and I don't really make a lot of sweets on Christmas anyway. I'll make probably just a normal dinner - maybe fish or something. Shouldn't be a big deal.

New Years ~ Hubby has to work (are you sensing a theme here ) and with two small children, it's not like I do anything exciting! LOL! I usually just rent a movie to watch after the kiddos are in bed - there may be popcorn involved.

Candy Making ~ Now, I do make cookies and candy to give away during the holidays (December). I give it to neighbors and hubby's work, etc. So, I'm going to make sure that nearly ALL of it gets given away (which usually it does anyway).

I just have to watch all the days in between since I get SUPER busy and I could see myself getting lax...

* Hubby works for the police department in public safety - that's why all the holiday work. <sigh>

Halloween: To be consistently exercising 1 hour a day, at least 6 days a week
Thanksgiving: To be consistently eating according to the new Pyramid guidelines
Christmas: To be able to continue my healthy eating habits and exercise throughout the season. I know I will have tons of parties and gatheries from the first of December through Jan. 1 and I hope to just be able to make it through the season.
New Year's Day: This one I actually do have two "number" goals. 1. I would like to be back in virgin fat, below 250. 2. I would like my BF% to be at or below 45%. I'm at 52% now so I think 20 pounds and 7% drop in BF isn't that far fetched in about 3 months.

How did everyone who already celebrated a holiday (Canadian Thanksgiving, Rosh Hashanah, for example) do with their holiday challenge so far??

Curious minds want to know. . .

Sheila, thanks for asking, Thanksgiving went off without a hitch. I cooked everything, and I find I am not as hungry when I have been cooking in the kitchen most of the day. I limited my nibbles as well, so it was really good. I was only up half a pound after last night's weigh in, which I consider water retention because of the amount of salt intake I had this week!

I stayed within my kcal allowance at Thanksgiving, although most of them were consumed in alcohol. I even got my exercise in too. Thing is, all that wine didn't leave enough space for water so I fell way short on that score. I had a 1 pound drop at the next WI, so I consider it a success.

Just bumping this up to remind us of our Halloween "goals."

Halloween: To be consistently exercising 1 hour a day, at least 6 days a week
With the exception of this weekend, I've been doing this. I had added more to this challenge but forgot to put it on here. It's been my goal to get in my protein and veggies each day and have been doing well at it too.

Just a reminder of my other holiday goals
Thanksgiving: To be consistently eating according to the new Pyramid guidelines
Christmas: To be able to continue my healthy eating habits and exercise throughout the season. I know I will have tons of parties and gatheries from the first of December through Jan. 1 and I hope to just be able to make it through the season.
New Year's Day: This one I actually do have two "number" goals. 1. I would like to be back in virgin fat, below 250. 2. I would like my BF% to be at or below 45%. I'm at 52% now so I think 20 pounds and 7% drop in BF isn't that far fetched in about 3 months.
I'll add in that I'm starting the couch to 5k program I saw on the exercise thread. It takes 9 weeks which would put me at the end of the year so I hope to be running/jogging a 5k by the end of the year.

I'm jumping in on this:

Halloween: I will eat halloween candy. I am going to eat one reese's peanutbutter cup - not those little mini things but a full size one. I am not giving out candy this year but have two kids. I will tell my oldest to hide the candy in his room and deny me any candy if I ask. The baby will be given a few pieces and the rest I will have dh hide. We are not giving any candy out this year.


Thanksgiving: We are eating at the inlaws. I normally have this holiday with my mom so I don't like their food as much. I plan on one serving of everything.My weakness will be the fudge our aunt makes. I will have one piece for desert and make myself stop- I will drink water the rest of the day.
I will write down every bite and every mouthful.

Christmas: Going to my mom's. SHe is a weight watcher also so hopefully there won't be anything bad- I'll request that she not make anything sweet unless it is weight watchers.

Okay, how did the Halloween challengers do?

I made my goal of not eating any Halloween candy yesterday, and the remainder is getting tossed this morning so that won't be a temptation.

I did great! (Or horribly, if we're going by Neighborhood Popularity ) We put a sign on our door that said, "Sorry! No candy!" and turned off the porch light. We had salad with grilled chicken for dinner, and I had a cup of tea then went to bed.

Of course, it does help that I don't like American chocolate. But I know myself, and I know that I'd eat it anyway if it were there!

Next challenge is Thanksgiving, which we're talkined about making reservations at a restaurant for. Hopefully won't be too bad!

I like your technique, mousie!

Well, there's Bonfire Night under my belt. I didn't make the chili but cooked up a big pot of thick broth instead. I stayed within my kcal allowance--no toasted marshmallows for me, but only because I don't like them! And there was no snow to dig out of the fire pit either!

That's my celebrations over with until Christmas. Hope our Stateside friends have a good Thanksgiving.

As we get closer to (American) Thanksgiving, I just wanted to remind everyone of their holiday plans. I know I need a reminder just about now.

I've been taking steps. I eliminated one dish we usually have (full of nuts and sugar). I had a conversation (actually two, one conversation and one reminder conversation ) with bf of portion control with any leftovers. I have it in my mind that this will be a holiday where I can enjoy myself but not a free- for-all eat-your-brains-out type of celebration.

I'm bumping this up because I wanted to refer back to it, and I figured other people might want to check their goals too!

Thanksgiving is in 3 days and we have NO plans so far--seriously. I'm not even certain if we're having dinner with my parents or if we're just winging it on our own! My gym is open and I'll be taking my regular morning class, but then we're at loose ends for the day.

I need to make cookies for Bah Humbug Day (Dec 1) but I can tell myself that they ALL need to be mailed out, and keep myself out of them that way. I hope! I'll have to be careful to get just enough "fixins" to make all the cookies, but none extra.

I'm getting a little nervous, because I don't know what ambushes I'm going to be facing in the coming few weeks. But I figure, get as many 'good' days under my belt as I can, and hopefully they'll 'protect' me!

So how's everyone else doing?

I make cookies as presents every year, so that will be a little tricky for me too.

I go to the gym on Friday, so don't have too much problem there.

Rob bought pannetone and eggnog that, I'm going to have to handle. I love eggnog but can keep it in moderation; we usually end up throwing away half of it.

I'm nervous too, but gotta keep at it. Posting here to keep reminding myself of the ultimate goal, too.