Autumn 2006 Forum Roll Call!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[not2late]

Okay who's here? Come out, come out, I know you're lurking!!!!!

Autumn is upon us. The holidays are on our doorstep (along with those little Trick or Treaters!). This is a dangerous time for alot of dieters!

How are you planning to handle the holiday season at this point in your diet?

Weather's getting colder (at least in this hemisphere). It's getting too cold to exercise outdoors in some places. So what are your winter exercise plans?

Food issues:
Now is the time to buy those fall fruits and veg for use now or later:
Cranberries can be frozen or dried (unsweetened of course). Buy them now so you can use them later in the year.

Nuts are in season too. They freeze well. So run to the baking aisle of the market and stock up if you see a good sale. Roasting your own nuts is easy to do. Likewise, you can grind them down for other recipes.

Pumpkin and celeriac/celery root is coming in season. You can make veggie snack chips from them (recipe is in the Cooking Lessons forum).

[not2late]

Re: Autumn 2006 Forum Roll Call!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I planned to post this thread next week, but I figured that's cutting it too close to Halloween (and the big bowl of Halloween candy!)

Speaking of Halloween candy, at one of my supermarkets they have a non-food alternative: a bowl filled with little globes of Silly Putty or Play Dough (it's something doughy!) I did a price check and it's comparable to buying a bag of candy.

[changing]

Re: Autumn 2006 Forum Roll Call!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm here!

We live in an apartment where we don't get any trick or treaters so thankfully, we don't have to deal with that issue.

We are, however, going to a huge halloween party. Dinner is provided, but we've checked ahead and the hosts are making acceptable foods in addition to the other junk. There's an open bar at the party, but there are no-sugar choices available (rum and diet coke, spiked crystal light, etc.) because the hostess is a low-carber.

I just hope everybody likes my costume.

[floydgirl]

Re: Autumn 2006 Forum Roll Call!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm here! I am just one of the lurkers, I rarely if ever post here.

Halloween is a nonissue with me. My kiddies are all grown up, one of them is on Atkins with me.

I have more problems with Thanksgiving Dinner and Christmas celebrations. I have always remained cheat through these times by always making sure that I bring a legal dessert with me. That way I don't feel deprived when everybody else is eating dessert.

Exercise -- easy. I am the indoor exercise Queen. Although I must admit, winter time my entire body just wants to hibernate and snuggle under a blanket.

[not2late]

Re: Autumn 2006 Forum Roll Call!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Changing: what are you going as?

Floydgirl: I think that's the hardest part about winter exercise----the cold weather encourages piling on blankets and hibernating until Spring! It's so easy to make excuses: "It looks like it will snow today." "It's way tooo cold today!"

Anyhow, do you live in a neighborhood with trick or treaters? My neighborhood throws a big Halloween party at the local park or elementary school---safety measure for the kids. So I don't have to give out 'treats' at my door.

[kkat55]

Re: Autumn 2006 Forum Roll Call!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just checking in with the OWL group. Here and ready!

I recently found a stuffing recipe on Linda's site and I'm thinking of trying that out soon to see if we can add it to our Thanksgiving dinner. Christmas will be at Matt's family and I will bring several low-carb foods with me because the last time I went to a family gathering all I could eat was a few cubes of cheese and some raw veggies.

We live in a very rural area and we've never had kiddies come by Trick or Treating...so we're safe there. I don't need to buy candy or have it around me.

If anyone has ideas for these holidays, please post so we can all add to our collections.

[not2late]

Re: Autumn 2006 Forum Roll Call!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you're bringing low carb food, be sure to bring enough for you and others. I've found that my full fat, low carb stuff disappears quickly at family gatherings.

Call those relatives ahead and get the menu, so you will know what's going to end up on the table.

[Elizellen]

Re: Autumn 2006 Forum Roll Call!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Still here in premaintenance, Megs!

Halloween isn't such a hyped-up thing here, as it is only reecently that 'trick or treat'ing has been common - all those USA TV programmes have a big influence on daily life nowadays!

As we live 'above the shop' and our front door is behind locked gates we never get visited by the few groups of children locally, so having sweets around is not an issue.

My problem the first Christmas I was on induction was the boxes of chocolates that students and customers brought me, but I solved that by rewrapping them once they had left and deciding who to give them to!

The waitresses in our local cafe and the girls at the hairdresser were most surprised to be given gifts of chocs as well as tips at Christmas, but as they are all of the 'stick insect' build I thought it wouldnt hurt them!

And every time we visit non-slimming friends or family over the festive season we manage to get rid of any surplus boxes.

[kkat55]

Re: Autumn 2006 Forum Roll Call!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you're bringing low carb food, be sure to bring enough for you and others. I've found that my full fat, low carb stuff disappears quickly at family gatherings.

Call those relatives ahead and get the menu, so you will know what's going to end up on the table.

Thanks for the tips!

[Atkid]

Re: Autumn 2006 Forum Roll Call!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Autumn everyone! It is hard to believe the holidays are almost here. I don't think that Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner will give me a tough time, I think once you kind of set with what you are allowed you just kind of go with the flow. Turkey, cauliflower with cheese, stewed eggplant, being in the upper level of OWL I feel like a small scoop of Oyster dressing would be okay but gonna try that stuffing quiche that Changing posted about. Dessert with either be low carb cheese cake or l.c. pumpkin pie.

As far as those cold nights at home, a hot cup of tea with heavy cream or a cup of decaff coffee with a spash of vanilla and heavy cream is always great to curl up with!

[not2late]

Re: Autumn 2006 Forum Roll Call!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eliz, when I worked at the hospital....holidays = food. Baskets of cookies, chocolates, etc. I work at a smallish doctor's office and we still get plenty of "goodies": chocolates, cookies, candies. The one bright spot is that we have one person who sends us a huge basket of fruit!

I forgot all about the office holiday gifts...thanks for reminding me.

As far as those cold nights at home, a hot cup of tea with heavy cream or a cup of decaff coffee with a spash of vanilla and heavy cream is always great to curl up with!

I think something in the neighborhood of 6 ft tall, about 180 pounds, naturally muscular build, dark hair, good hair and teeth with a steady job and not alot of emotional baggage from previous relationships would be nice to curl up to in addition to that coffee or tea!

PS: if anyone has an spare of that (not the coffee or tea) or know of an extra one, send him my way.

[Atkid]

Re: Autumn 2006 Forum Roll Call!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think something in the neighborhood of 6 ft tall, about 180 pounds, naturally muscular build, dark hair, good hair and teeth with a steady job and not alot of emotional baggage from previous relationships would be nice to curl up to in addition to that coffee or tea!

.

LOL! I agree!

[kkat55]

Re: Autumn 2006 Forum Roll Call!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think something in the neighborhood of 6 ft tall, about 180 pounds, naturally muscular build, dark hair, good hair and teeth with a steady job and not alot of emotional baggage from previous relationships would be nice to curl up to in addition to that coffee or tea!

PS: if anyone has an spare of that (not the coffee or tea) or know of an extra one, send him my way.

(giggle) A singles section of the board may be nice...?

[dreamof145]

Re: Autumn 2006 Forum Roll Call!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't think Halloween will be a problem for me. I won't be home. lolol I'm going to a party so don't think I'll even buy any candy this year. I sent my grandkids gift certificates with their cards, so they can buy something. I'm taking meatballs disguised as eyeballs to the party, and I'll carry water with me while at the party to keep me full.

Thanksgiving menu is already figured out and it will be easy for me to maintain and not be tempted with the wrong foods. I've volunteered to work with the mission serving food later Thanksgiving afternoon, so that will keep me busy and won't be tempted to go back for 'leftover snacking'. For Christmas, I have a lot of activities planned that are offered around the community. I am going to try to keep as busy as possible so I won't be sitting around. For me, when I am not doing, I think about food. Staying involved and around other people gives me motivation to stick to my WOE and not think about any of the goodies that are always about.

[ttdriver]

Re: Autumn 2006 Forum Roll Call!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My strategy for successfully getting through the holidays has always been to think how I want to look and feel come January. After all, the holidays come and go; the weight comes and well .. you know the rest...

Halloween doesn't tempt me at all. Sugar is evil, plain and simple.

Thanksgiving is a breeze. Here's my standard menu which lowcarbers and nonlowcarbers all enjoy:

(I start my Thanksgiving by running a 10k Turkey Trot..6.2 miles...its an annual event...)

AND THEN:

Turkey (of course)
Homemade stuffing .. yes, I take LC bread, cube it, toss it in the oven to dry, then mix in the broth, the celery, onions, butter., etc ., just like the regular stuff.
Homemade cranberry sauce .. Real berries cooked with a cup of splenda and water .. the recipe is on the bag of berries...just sub the Splenda for the sugar. Tastes great!
Dotties green bean casserole (see Linda Sue's recipes for details).
Mashed turnips .. nobody can ever tell they aren't potatoes .. HONEST!
Crustless pumpkin pie with whipped cream. 39 carbs for the entire pie. (and no, you shouldn't eat the entire pie).

Betty