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

@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

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!

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!!!

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.

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!

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!