Upcoming Holidays, How Do You Fight The Temptations?

[angelawillbethinagain]

Ok, I want to know what YOU personally do to fight the upcoming holiday temptations. You know for halloween there is the candy all around us, Thanksgiving there are all kinds of deserts and other foods we cannot eat, Christmas same thing... I know a lot of us will struggle during the next few months.

Any advice or suggestions to help us out?? Please share!!!

[LuckyD]

Re: Upcoming Holidays, How Do You Fight The Temptations?

This is a hard time of year for sure, but this is how I look at it. Without being on this WOE I would probably gain at least ten pounds by years end. So I can either embrace this WOE and come out thinner and healthier, or I can chuck it and gain even more weight during the 'eating' months. My biggest temptations will be holiday parties. I dont have any idea how I will get through those, the lush that I am. I will come up with a game plan of eating before hand and always keep a glass of water in my hand..maybe I will use a wineglass for my water.

[Outback Jess]

Re: Upcoming Holidays, How Do You Fight The Temptations?

#1 I set a goal to be cheat free on Jan 1.
#2 I usually enter some form of challenge to occupy my thinking
#3 I fix foods I really love and enjoy
#4 I create legal desserts to enjoy on that special day
$5 I pre-eat if need be, always have water, and don't eat to please a single person.

This Thanksgiving I'm traveling up to W. Virginia to be with my DH family. I will bring a nice cooler full of my very own foods and I will fix them and enjoy myself. I will happily fix and bring the family's very most favorite thing in the whole world, my mother in-law's cookies. If need be I will have friend over while I cook them, just to help me through, because they were my very favorite cookies in the whole world too...But I dont' eat things like that any more in my life. I live differently now.

[dreamof145]

Re: Upcoming Holidays, How Do You Fight The Temptations?

Great thread. Reminder that we should all be making our lists of what might tempt us in the holiday season!

There will always be temptations...but as our life-style becomes a habit, our attitude changes and it gets easier.

The first year I did this WOE, I carried my before photo with me in my purse. I had copies made and put them on the cupboards in my kitchen and on my frig. I had one on my desk and one in the glovebox in my car. It was hideous and I was determined to change the way I looked. I also kept a journal and made my plans weekly as to where I was going, what I'd take for food and I found a lot of substitute foods to eat so I wouldnt fall off my WOE.

The second year, and 90 pounds gone...I didn't have trouble keeping on the WOE...I was thrilled with my progress and my eating had/has become a habit.

I'd suggest making holiday plans and finding out now WHO and WHAT might tempt you. Make solutions to get throught the dinners, parties, treats, and people who might jeopardize your goals. If you've already thought it out and made up ways to avoid the obstacles..its a whole lot easier.

[angelawillbethinagain]

Re: Upcoming Holidays, How Do You Fight The Temptations?

GREAT ideas and suggestions. It will make getting through the holidays easier for many of us I am sure!! And you're right Jess, never eat to please someone else. We should never let anyone push us to do something we don't want to do. My grandma is that way "Oh come on one won't hurt, oh how silly just try one"... We just need to be well prepared, bring a long some of our own foods as Jess said. And discuss before hand our Atkins WOE with our friends and family and be sure to address how important it is to us. That way when the holidays come around, they will know of our eating style and goals and hopefully respect our decisions. I wish the best of luck to everyone in these situations.

[Evermind]

Re: Upcoming Holidays, How Do You Fight The Temptations?

I make sure to work out every day during the holidays.

I also make sure to have tons and tons of yummy food (legal food) available to me whenever I want.

I don't feel deprived in the least, when I can make my own chocolate candy and other desserts, and have yummy substitutes for chips and potatoes.

[hmf]

Re: Upcoming Holidays, How Do You Fight The Temptations?

I know this may sound stupid...but when I am tempted by the sweets...I will chew a piece of sugarfree gum. I know it probably is not the right thing to do because of the sugar sub., but it helps me and I don't eat the junk I am not suppose to, nor do I gain the weight that comes with the sweets.

[spirittalker]

Re: Upcoming Holidays, How Do You Fight The Temptations?

i eat high fat before i put myself in front of the temptation. Therefore i am less tempted to eat. Also wearing something slightly tight and uncomfortable reminds me what i am trying to achieve. Drinking lots and lots of water helps. The fact that people are starting to notice the weight loss helps too. All the comments and compliments put my goals in the front of my mind

[ThinSoon]

Re: Upcoming Holidays, How Do You Fight The Temptations?

Search out those LC recipes, there are things you can make to have if you feel tempted during the holiday season. It's hard not to get caught up in the whole thing but eating things that throw your body off doesn't have to be part of the holidays! (I keep telling myself! )

I'm making beachgirl's white chocolate pumpkin cheesecake this weekend - minus the white chocolate - it is great and very LC/induction friendly! It is made with an almost crust.

I'd love to hear more suggestions and ideas!!

Tracey

[partytrouble]

Re: Upcoming Holidays, How Do You Fight The Temptations?

as i just had an incident where i felt 'trapped' and ate the food prepared for me at the dinner party even though it was not legal, i think the key is PLAN AHEAD. i could have fully resisted the actual food had it not been a surprise and such a socially charged situation. i always eat 'first' unless i know for sure what is on the menu. just eat in advance, or else make your own delicious low carb food.

[dreamof145]

Re: Upcoming Holidays, How Do You Fight The Temptations?

Partytrouble you are so right!! Planning ahead IS the key element in succeeding. My purse and car ALWAYS have something legal in them so that I can always have backup food for myself. Even if it isn't a meal, it is something that will hold me over till I get home. Its become a habit to always be prepared. I never leave home without my purse, my keys and my plan.

[SandyL2002]

Re: Upcoming Holidays, How Do You Fight The Temptations?

Well for me I am not worried about Halloween...my kids don't trick or treat anymore...and I am NOT buying them candy since they still have candy from Christmas... Thanksgiving..I only go to my mils at 5...so its not an all day affair.. I am going to plan ahead... I am going to make me legal pumpkin pie... I know that we will have Turkey, Ham, probably Kale, Probably deviled eggs.. I am sure I can full off of those... Christmas is an all day affair but again..we have the same kinds of things... Just keep telling yourself YOU CAN DO IT...

[cheribaby]

Re: Upcoming Holidays, How Do You Fight The Temptations?

Wow - awesome thread! Thanksgiving and Christmas are actually not too bad for me. I love ham and turkey, deviled eggs, and green beans. (Kale sounds good, too. Thanks Sandy!) I've gotten to the point that I don't like potatoes much anymore. The last time I was doing this WOE, I faltered because of pumpkin pie. Well, that was many, many moons ago before I realized I could have a better kind of pumpkin pie. Now, I can make the legal kind - or the pumpkin cheesecake - and have no problems!

There are some awesome ideas in this thread, too. I will definitely use them!