Thought it may be a great idea to share any tips, ideas and suggestions to help those who might be facing food challenges during the next week of Holidays.

I am always open to new ideas of helping myself stay in control and focused.

Here is a suggestion from me: Don't feel you have to eat everything in sight fearing you may never have that specific food again.

Also for those who may be starting a new healthy life style come January 1st. Don't feel the need to plow through so much food until then making yourself sick and adding that much more weight to lose.

Let's share.....

gail

I kind of just posted this on another question, but it really applies here too!

Don't eat just to be social. I used to eat a lot to make people feel comfortable or to make them think I like their food (whether I did or didn't). No more for me! My body is not a garbage can and I won't put any food inside of it that I don't think belongs there!

Remember that the first bite always tastes the best, and the enjoyment is basically gone after the third. A tiny sliver of each dessert variety is just as good as a whole slice of each.

Wow, you have come up with some great ideas! Remembering that I will get to have that specific food again is a good one. So true about the first bite always being the best, too. Thank you! I'd just add that what helps me is to remember how good I feel when I stay eating on plan and then step on the scale or go to the gym in my snug gym clothes vs. eating off plan and feeling bloated and fat and then have to weigh and see that I've gone backwards or push myself through a workout when I feel lousy after overeating.

Pam

I've been making a lot of sweets for the holiday. I'm taking them to share to my bf's family's house for Christmas Eve dinner but I'm pretty sure there will be leftovers.

I already have plans for any leftover sweets. That way they don't sit in the house for us to eat. I have a few friends that will welcome the surprise, but aren't expecting them - just in case they're aren't leftovers after all.

Tiny, tiny servings and tiny, tiny bites. That's my best advice.

I also like to eat real light prior to the outing so that i have a calorie deficit when I arrive at the outing. But others suggest being full before arriving so you don't overindulge. Whichever works best for you I think is the way to go.

Definitely don't go somewhere starving- that always sets me up for a binge. I used to not eat all day then pig out like mad on thanksgiving and christmas... I plan on eating a filling breakfast and a light lunch before we go to our in-laws for christmas dinner

I also eat slow now- so that when people look over and see my plate still has food on it they don't say "aren't you eating?" they most likely will assume it's my second plate lol. I find when I eat a small portion and am done first I get the "is that all you are eating" comments.

I second the really small portions of dessert idea. I do that and it keeps me from feeling deprived and from feeling "off plan".

Also, take really small portions of "non healthy fare" for dinner. I Focus on larger portions with the healthier stuff. so I do actually get full.

I also know the majority of my calories are coming from the dinner, so I eat light foods, but alot of them before I go.

It would be awesome if I lost weight over the holidays, but I'm not going to hold my breath! I'm not going hog wild, but I am eating fun stuff; just not nearly as much as I did last year! Maintaining is my goal until Jan 2, then it's on like Donkey Kong