OK yall. I am at my first goal (150 lbs.) and plan to maintain over the holidays and start fresh on those last 10 lbs. in 2005! Today is the first day of my Christmas holiday. 12 days of being home, around food, thinking about what I need to cook for what special gathering, 7 days of my DH saying, when is breakfast, what are we having for lunch, time for supper yet, I'm hungry what do we have to snack on? Not 12 days of Christmas but 12 days of How Do I Get Through This Without Gaining Weight? Being home has always been my challenge. Routine is what I depend on--I fix my little survival kit of water, boiled egg, veggie/fruit and go to work. I come home at lunch and eat my soup or salad. I come home after work and eat my CORE meal planned well in advance. But when I am home, it's I'm getting dizzy, I need to eat (drink your water stupid you are getting dehydrated!) I will exercise later, I have all day (it now or never, once you sit down you are down for the count!) I'm hungry (no, you are just bored or tired, get busy, read a book, take a nap) I've given myself permission to eat cheese at the Chili supper I am hosting Friday night, eat anything I want at the family Christmas dinner Sunday, and whatever anyone else brings at the New Year's Eve party I am hosting. That's ok--because truth be told I can't really eat that much at one setting if I am also catching up with my best friend at the Chili supper and playing with the grandkids at the Christmas dinner and playing the perfect hostess with the mostest at the New Year's Eve celebration. But just thinking about it makes me want to eat NOW!

I will be strong, I will check in here very often over the next 2 weeks, I will spend my time cleaning and reading and resting and I will stay out of the kitchen unless I am cleaning or preparing a CORE meal.

There--a perfect plan. Any helpful suggestions and support will be appreciated!

Janette, you sound strong so I'm sure you'll be fine. Consider it practice for retirement! Planning is going to be your best defense. Keep planning all your meals. Why can't you stick to your routine just because you are home. That's what I've had to force myself to do since I retired.

My rule for exercise is that I can't get dressed or shower until I've exercised. I can't always stay in my pj's, so that helps me get going. As a matter of fact, I'm headed to the treadmill now. If I don't get ready by 10:30, strangers will be in my house while I'm in my pj's.

I'm also going to try to not let one bad meal ruin a whole day like I've done in the past. If I indulge, I'm just going to get right back on program. I'm NOT going to say "Oh Well, my day is ruined so I might as well go ahead and eat everything else". At least, that's my plan. We'll see how it goes!

Good Luck to us all.

Hey Ladies,

I will be good
I will be good
Yes I can
Yes I can

I too will not deny myself on Christmas Day nor New Years Day. They will be listed as special days. Usually we only have 1 meal. I will have my oatmeal and fruit for breakfast, then eat again around 2. I will make a veggie tray and and fruit tray and try and be as possibly good as I can. However, if I do have a treat, I will not be mad at myself, I will counteract it with an extra walk, or ride on the elliptical machine, or skis....... I will find a balance and not over indulge (too much !

I will check in 2 times a day for inspiration during the holiday break. You girls keep me moving in the proper direction. I will make it through the holiday season and maintain......there! A Goal!

Yes I can
Yes I can

have a great CORE day

Vicki, you are right. Why not just fix my mid-morning snack and water bottle first thing and stick to my routine! I did ok yesterday--stayed on core but didn't "exercise" except for cleaning the great room (a task in itself). I also took a 3-hour nap! Of course I got up at 3:00 in the morning. Have been up this morning since 4:00--I could sleep in but the animals like to keep to their routine - go figure.

Just as I expected DH came in around 1:30 after having eaten the lunch I sent him at morning break and the lunch the company provided and wanted a sandwich to eat while I ate my salad. Then at 5:00 he asked--are we going to have supper tonight? He is going to drive me crazy for this extended weekend. We are having the coldest weather all year (20s for us is COLD in Texas) so he can't go out to the shop and work off his nervous energy so he will do the next best thing---EAT!

I will stay strong--still have plenty of cleaning to do before our friends arrive tomorrow night. At least I did finally get the gift wrapping finished last night.

You have a great rule about the exercise--I am going to try to adopt that practice--I can't stay in PJs all day today (didn't have a problem yesterday!) so I will promise you I will exercise this morning--think I will do the Sweatn to the Oldies2 tape. That's always energizes me.

Just submitted an order to ColdWater Creek--bought a zillion dollars worth of jackets at 80% off--love bargain shopping. Plus I had a $30.00 off coupon to use. Guess I will have to wait until Valentine's Day to order the red plaid skirt and leather jacket I wanted. Oh well, I will be 10lbs. slimmer by then so that works out ok.

Thanks for the support. I will keep checking in!

Wow, I was going to start a new thread on what are you planning to do to get through the holidays, but I see this thread takes care of that question very well. I am so impressed with your weight losses and plan on making 2005 the year I actually get rid of my extra weight for once and for all.

During the days leading up to Christmas, I am making Core recipes to have on hand for appetizers and desserts. Then my dinners are Core with a few exceptions, but I'll have broccoli and FF cheese, etc. I got out my Core Turn Around Cookbook last night to see if there was anything good, and I found a few recipes I hadn't thought of. I also shopped last night. I've got plenty of foods in the house for my kids and dh , but I don't want to overindulge. I'm planning on using 35 points this week, so I'll have to choose them wisely. Planning and preparing always works for me--and making sure I get to a weekly WI also keeps me accountable.

Have a Happy Holiday, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
Judy
234.6/213.2/thinner on the way to onederland

Merry Christmas everyone! I just typed a long post and it just diappeared! Maybe it was too long HEE HEE. I just wanted to say that things are going well for me food wise. I used the Splenda Blend to make banana nut bread and Christmas cookies and everything turned out very well. I made a batch of cookies using straight Splenda for Baking and found that they have an aftertaste. So I will use the blend from now on--not that I will be doing any more baking until next Christmas.

I hope everyoned had a wonderful day with family and friends and that Santa was very good to everyone. We will have to report tomorrow on a special thread: What I Got for Christmas. Just like the old days in grade school!