[hepmelly]

on tuseday my husband and i are going to visit my parents in ohio. my parents eat horribly,as do my siblings. i will be there almost a week, and i am really nervous about being able to find good alternatives. my hubby and i are staying at a hotel and bringing our own breakfast food, just so that we dont have to make them buy soymilk that they will never drink...anyway, does anyone have any tips on getting through the holidays while maintaining weightloss? at this point i'd be glad to just maintain my current weight rahter than setting myself back weeks on end by overeating a few days...*nervous sigh*

[pamatga]

I am sure that you will get as many different suggestions as there are people.

This is one idea but I am sure you will get flooded with other great ideas too!

If it were me; I would try to minimize the exposure that I had to "bad" food. Eat the meal with your family and enjoy the company. Try to choose the foods that will fill you up that are the least damaging. I once heard that from an OA sponsor long ago. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we can't always stay on plan. Next best thing: do the best you can in the given circumstances. Drink lots of water, take smaller portions and chew really slow. If you have the self-control, either refuse dessert or take the smallest possible piece you can and then eat small pieces slowly so you won't wolf it down and then wonder where it went. Remember those days?

The next next best thing: do "damage control". Add more exercise while you are there. Go for a walk right after the meal is cleared from the table. Of course, if it is expected of you to help do the dishes do those first before your walk but the main thing is to get away from the food and all the good smells that linger.

Since you have the advantage of staying in a hotel you can do a couple of different things: schedule workouts at the hotel if it has a small work out center (most of the chains do), go for a swim or a walk around the property if you can.

Keep your expectations realistic. I think, if you have been following a plan long enough, some of this will be second-nature. The main thing is do your best. If you can't do your best, do your second best. And, whatever you do, don't beat yourself up about it. One week out of 52 will not undo your hard work up to this point. It may set you back if you throw everything out the window, but even that isn't a "do or die" scenario. Leave your perfectionism at home. Think of who you are seeing and why you are there.

The holidays are much more than pumpkin pie. It is also a time of giving thanks for so many things we all possess in our lives.

[Smiling_Sara]

I am very nervous about Thanksgiving too. Like you, my family eats horribly, and there is tons of food out as well as tons of desserts ( a table full!! ) I'm thinking eat a little more turkey, try to fill up on that and then only indulge in one dessert, or cut two in half so I can taste 2. I'm also gonna try and stick to my water instead of all the booze that will be out, maybe throw a couple peices of fruit in my grandparents fridge to snack on those when everyone else is eating their 3rd, 4th and 5th desserts.

[jar1965]

I'm very nervous too! Good Luck everyone! Big Hugs!

[artsnsmarts]

For me, Thanksgiving is an INCREDIBLY important holiday, so I'm letting myself enjoy it. There's no "oh I'll take this week off" -- it's just the day itself, but it's really important to me to be able to sit around with my family and eat the food that we've eaten forever.

I feel comfortable in being able to have enough self control to give myself that freebie.

My only thing is that I'm going to pay more attention to when I'm full. Usually after the meal is over, I'm left with a huge feeling of over-stuffedness, so next week I'm going to try and just put a little of everything on the plate first so that I can give myself a chance to taste everything and see if I feel satisfied, and if I don't, then I'll take seconds of healthier stuff first. And I'm just going to try and stay conscious of the food that I'm eating, but I'm not limiting myself. It's one day. The scales may not be as happy that week, but I'm okay with that

[Ready2ShedLBS]

a week is a long time to me too.. and I understand your concern. I take food everywhere I go. Even to work and I work in a restaurant!!! lol. I carry trail mix in my apron, that why I dont eat a 400 cal loaf of bread Thanksgiving, I say " let your hair down" Im going to. I get full so easy, these days that, i know I wont be able to load the calories. I think I might feel more comfortable because I am cooking. Anyways.. point being.. BRING FOOD to their house. My boyfriends mother, is so funny because she knows that I dont eat red meat or pork so she would all was have me a chicken breast ready but now that I am veg, it will save her the hassle because I only eat side dishes now. Also.. maybe if you *announce* that you are trying to lose weight, you will be more concious of your decisions, because other people are "watching you".. maybe I am weird but thats how it makes me feel, and it really helps me. Good Luck! May the force be with you! Ha