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Maptab 10/26/10
I think this will be a good way to keep a lot of random topics appearing on our team. In this section you can discuss what is on your mind right now, something you have read or a question you might want answered.

So let me start.

I am curious. I just finished reading a study in the New England Journal of Medicine about maintaining weight loss. One of the major things it mentions is making sure you regularly weigh yourself so your weight does not creep back on without you knowing.

For the past month or so I have purposely been avoiding the scale (only weighing once a week) to see if I can eat mindfully without weighing. The article implied that this is very dangerous for people in our condition (successful weight losers).

So I am starting a survey of my own. Now that you have lost a substantial about of weight do you think weighing yourself is important?

Esra_oz 10/27/10
Definitely. especially at first.

I find it very easy to stop thinking of myself as someone who has to watch what they eat, but the fact is everyone does.

After a few months, then i think you can decrease how often you weigh, but at first you need to keep it up.

Kamdis 10/27/10 replied to Esra_oz
I agree. I only weigh once a week, sometimes every other, but I can't see not weighing at all. I think for me, by the time my clothes would feel tight, I'd have gained enough for it to spiral me. That said, I am not too worried about gaining since I am running like a fiend -- 30 miles last week!

Kamdis 10/27/10
My question of moment is, what are everyone's strategies for getting through the holidays without feeling like we have to start all over again at New Year?

Thankfully, candy is not really my thing so Halloween is not an issue for me (though I'm sure it is for some of you, so it should be part of the discussion). Traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, though, and alcohol consumption, however, are issues.

My plan so far is to try to eat my meals at home -- including Thanksgiving for which I've been collecting light recipes to sub for traditional ones. I also plan to eat before parties, and take a healthy dish to potlucks and gatherings so I know I have something I can eat without feeling guilty.

Any other ideas or strategies that have worked for you?

Airedalegal 10/27/10
Haven't been through the holiday's yet while trying to loose or maintain my weight. Have gone through a week of parties. I did pretty much what you laid out. I snacked on healthily food about an hour before eating time. I made sure I had something healthy there to eat instead of all the goodies.

I also ate light for breakfast and lunch that day. I didn't skip I just kept the calorie count down. I also logged everything I ate to the best of my ability. This showed me I really didn't do as bad as I had thought. So, no excuse to keep eating bad. Then I made sure to do all my exercise.

While I was full and had no desire to keep any of it I packaged up all the extra food. Then I gave it away. I was taking it to the local soup kitchen when my nephew's said they would take it all. It worked like a charm.

Jodie 10/27/10
My holiday strategy, (we have been through Thanksgiving here already and I have had a few parties as I was in a wedding party), I am currently maintaining my weight, so my plan is to make sure I have worked my butt off to "afford" to eat my Christmas meals and to tackle the Christmas parties. If I have to shave calories off and excercise a few more calories away that is my plan. I am going to look at it, as a weekly thing, I will sacrifice a three day calorie deficit to have a few more glasses of wine. I do know that life is different for me, than last year I dont think I could even think of eating the amounts I did then. It is working for me so far!

Kamdis 10/27/10
Thanks Airedalegal and Jodie! I just signed up for a Thanksgiving Day 5k "turkey trot" run. Hopefully, that will earn me a piece of pumpkin pie. :)

Maptab 10/27/10
This will be a tough year for me. Last year I was the dirty bad guy with the sour face while everyone else "Porked"!

I don't exercise a great deal, so I won't be able to have that in my back pocket. So I think I am going to try moderation....What an interesting concept. We will see how it works.

Also I like what you said Jodie about "afford" to eat my Christmas meals. If I have a little more than I should on a day or two, I will see it for that a day or two. I think my key will be to remember where I've been, where I am now and where I want to stay.

Kpfen 11/01/10 replied to Maptab
I also weigh myself regularly - mainly twice a week Monday & Fridays and I measure my waist every Monday. Sometimes I weigh myself more but don't record it. If I do not weigh myself then I seem to get "scared" of the scale and am too afraid to see what the number is so avoid it.
I am very glad Halloween is behind me as I have 3 trick or treaters in my house. I am not a big candy eater but love chocolate and am used to indulging in those horrible high calorie little chocolate bars that trick you into thinking you can eat lots of them. I made sure I had a filling dinner beforehand but when all that candy was covering my table I sure wanted just one. But I had a NSA chocolate pudding with a tbsp of peanut butter instead and that was really good!

Carrtje 11/01/10 replied to Kpfen
This will be my fifth holiday season being "nice" rather that "naughty". My best tricks are these. Bring a really healthy dish you can eat a ton of and fill about 1/3 your plate with it. Also, bring your own plate to use. My family has switched to beautiful salad plates for our main dishes. There is something culturally appealing about a full plate...so make yours smaller! Lastly, my family gets together all day for holidays. That means lots of snacking. To curb this, my wife and I plan activities with all the nieces and nephews. We snack WAY less when we're busy building relationships with the kids. Finally, start a new tradition of a family walk. Most of the family has welcomed it. And whoever stays does the dishes!

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