Well, I usually don't start this chat (I usually don't start any chat) but it looked like it needed to be done so . . . .

Who's hoping for a great November? Anyone with any new plans, ideas on avoiding those holiday calories, a little tweaking or just continuing on their weight loss journey.

I myself just jumped back on the wagon a few weeks ago and my plan is to get down to 140 by Christmas. I had a really great day today (good food and exercise). I'm a little low on calories today (less than 1100) but I just might have a little treat later .

So lets hear what your plan is for November!

Like of lot of others I did well during the summer with food and exercise and dropped 10 pounds in 10 weeks. Then life became very busy, sleep decreased, food increased, exercise went by the wayside.

I have not dropped and ounce since the beginning of September and I know exactly why. I was doing calorie shifting between 1200-1500 and eating six small meals. Now I am up to 1600-1800. Way too much!!!

Now I am forced by my schedule to consume most of my daily calories between 10-11 am. Then of course my blood sugar drops and I overeat at dinner.

So. What will my November plan be? I know I need to cut back on food but I have lost my mojo.

One positive thing though--now that I have been at this for over four months my food choices have changed and I have nearly perfect nutrition every day. Just too much of all those healthy things!

Hi mermom & abbyin

I don't have any new plan, I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing. I had a really great October and expect November to be fantastic. If I could drop another 15 pounds by Christmas that would rock.

Mermom that's great that your nutrition has really improved. Eating right isn't easy all the time and you've got that down.

Abbyin, good luck with your 140 pounds by Christmas goal.

Hi ladies,

I don't have any real plan, except to be diligent on my tracking and try to keep the fact that I'm really working on this in the front of my mind. It's too easy when I get busy with work, being a mom and chauffeur, and a maid to let inappropriate things head down my throat without even being tasted.

Paying attention to it all really seems to make a difference for me. Plus coming out here daily and getting a reminder from all of you that you are in this with me really makes a difference for me as well. I know that when I stop tracking and cheking in here that I am in trouble...

How goes everyone's Wednesday. Freezing here in Minnesota - so depressing to pull out the winter coats and admit that winter is really here. But I put on a snuggy sweater and fixed myself some fat free cocoa - embrace it, right...

Have a good day all.

I'm not having such a good day today. I over slept, which for some reason seems to be making me over eat. I know that makes no sense .

I do know what you mean about tracking your food though, Skipper. When I don't track my food everyday, it seems like I eat everything. Why not, nothing has any calories or fat if you don't track it, right ? Wrong! Paying attention and tracking my food really helps keep me in check.

It's a little cool here in Indiana but otherwise a sunny, beautiful day. Hope everyone is having a great on plan day

Hi Everyone!

Those of you who don't know me, I was on here all the time until we moved in August (from California to Washington.) The move was rough, but we are settling in and I FINALLY feel I have the time to post again.

I've regained and lost and regained 3-4 pounds since we moved. I haven't been so good about drinking enough water, so that maybe part of it. I'm also looking at re-evaluating and possibly trying to lose more. It's disturbing how after only a few months of being smaller I feel fat again. Seriously, why do we do this to ourselves?

Anyway... I'm back now.

Hi all,
I am mostly a lurker, but am on my 5th week of calorie counting (at this level -- 155) so I thought I'd finally chime in.

My doctor is a bariatric (non-surgical) specialist (she recently became a specialist) so she is helping me figure things out. Every online calculator I consulted said I should be eating 2500 calories -- but I never lost that way. My doc has me at 1500 and I am losing.

My plan for Thanksgiving is that I have an appointment with her after Thanksgiving weekend and those always motivate me to stay on plan. I guess I should really plan for Thanksgiving day as well and the week before as I will have family from out of town. I think I can let my guest know that I will be eating healthily -- this guest does the same thing. On T-day, though, I'll need a special plan. Hmmm. I am going to have to read some other plans first.

Welcome back Zenor77!

I know what you mean about losing weight and then after a while at that weight, we start feeling fat again. Why do we do that?

Knitsforfive - I really have no plan for Thanksgiving either. My DH loves all the traditional foods (Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie) so my only plan is to try to eat smaller portions. I did that last year and avoided gaining weight, so I think that may be my plan again for this year.

We will get through these Holidays!

knitsforfive~ Personally I think it's okay to eat a bit more than usual on holidays. Moderation is the key, of course, but Life should be enjoyable during weight loss and beyond. If you are really concerned about your appointment you could shave a few cals off of other days during the week and add them to Thanksgiving. If you ate 1400 cals on Mon-Weds you could eat 1800 on Thanksgiving and still be on track for the week. Since your appoint is right after the holiday, I'd lay off the salt shaker and drink lots of water so the scale doesn't show more water weight then usual. This is my thought, at least.

The dark and cold this time of year make calorie reduction tough. Then on top of that we have the holidays. Starting with Halloween the temptations build with the added challenge of wanting to eat more to stay warm and cozy.

This is the time of year when tracking calories is most important for me. Between now and spring is the prime season for gaining.

I haven't been an active poster here but feel that support right now is critical.

Funny how we can lose weight and feel fat as ever. I have lost 30 pounds and kept it off for five years. I want to lose another 30. Maybe then I won't have so many days of feeling like a hefalump

zenor77 and knitsforfive hi *waving*

I'm actually looking forward to this holiday season. I get to test myself and see how it goes. Sort of like a test or challenge. I'm planning for this to be the first holiday season I come out on the other end thinner than when I started lol. I just moved, albeit only about 10 miles from where I used to live and managed to drop several pounds. It was more than likely stress! We still haven't finished unpacking a week later. Man, I hate moving...

The funny thing about holidays is that by the time I'm done cooking (I do most of it along with my MIL) I don't want to eat any of it. I think between the stress and bustle of the holidays I end up too tired to eat.

It's the rest of the year that I have my problems. Eating out too much and too much wine or beer are what cause me to gain.

Zenor , welcome back I wondered about you. How did the move go and how do you like Washington state ?

Thanks!

The move went pretty well. We ate out a lot during and after the move and although I've only gained a couple pounds I've felt icky in general because I haven't been eating as well. I'm sure those few pounds will come off quickly anyway.

The animals survived the trek (well drugged of course) and nothing was broken during the move either.

We like it here in Washington. It's not really all that different except for the fact that is does snow here and it's a smaller town. The only weird thing is how friendly people are. I've never lived in a town that was small and with no crime to speak of. I know this sounds silly, but it's taken awhile to get used to the friendliness that comes with a small town. It's a good thing though!

Glad the move went well. It will be fun exploring new areas and making new friends. You are looking great.