What do we do during the Holidays????

[Brook]

Re: What do we do during the Holidays????

What Sally said.

[shari_dawn]

Re: What do we do during the Holidays????

I'm just grateful for this board and the people who take the time to respond with their advice.... I guess thats the "world peace" answer. I've got a lot of thinking to do and research to see if staying on the diet would still be satisfying on the holidays. I'm going to look up different receipes and see how easy it will be to stay on. Thanks everyone!!!

[Evermind]

Re: What do we do during the Holidays????

It's not about guilt trips. It's about respect.

A lot of us are really focussed and determined, with a deep and abiding commitment to ourselves and getting healthy, and that focus and commitment has been hard to accomplish.

While we've struggled to obtain it and maintain it, we've responded to anyone and everyone who reaches out for support and encouragement. I know a ton of people here who have devoted a lot of time in private messages, email, and on public threads helping others get to the place where they can commit and stick to this woe.

To then see a thread about how someone is planning to cheat makes some of us very resentful. I think anyone can understand that. What will happen when a planned cheat turns into a stall or an inability to get back on, or a post about how lousy a person feels? And how are we to respond?

[shari_dawn]

Re: What do we do during the Holidays????

I certainly hope you are not chewing me out in that last post. I'm realtively new to this diet and was reaching out for ideas. that is why the title of the thread was "what do we do for the holidays". NOT I'm going to cheat on my diet. Futhermore I've heard a lot of conflicting information on here. One thing being that to go off the diet for two or three days and then go back into induction actually speeds up weight loss. Other say it may stall. I appreciate everyones advice and I'm currently searching the web for many low carb alternatives to some of my favorite dishes. it will take a lot of effort but I think its worth it. I also think that rather than chewing me out on this it would have been a lot more productive if you had offered hints on staying on the diet during the holidays, which is really what I'm looking for. I'm committed to this woe. I've seen it works. I've already lost 26 1/2 lbs in one month. I spend a lot of time on these message boards looking for support and to offer support to people. I've come to respect a few of these people greatly.. not just for their commitment and support but for their cheery attitudes and positive outlook. For all of you who have posted in replys to this thread, thank you so much I'll take the time to look into everything you all have said. Its helped me make a good decision regarding a potentially scary season for dieters... God bless

[Evermind]

Re: What do we do during the Holidays????

Not chewing you out. Just refusing to enable.

[tulsanurse1]

Re: What do we do during the Holidays????

Maybe you could tell us what your favorite dishes are on Thanksgiving and we could see if we could help you get some really yummy ones just like it or close to it. Im glad you posted this. There are gonna be alot of people who are going to be considering it but would dream of posting for fear of being chastised. Lets see if we can approach without an all or nothing approach. How bout a yummy low carb variation to your favorite Thanksgiving foods. Let us know.

[Hoping]

Re: What do we do during the Holidays????

We're not accusing you of planning a cheat, but we're just saying if you choose to cheat this is why we are discouraging you (insert each of the responses). As for the three days off and whatever, it depends on the person.
Some lose at the same rate, others stall, or they don't lose as quickly. It all depends on your metabolism.
But it's like yo-yo dieting, it's bad for your metabolism and your health in general.
I hope you stay low-carb.
I wish that I would have never cheated in the first place, because it's hard to gain that momentum back. So try to stay low carb and strong
And just so we're clear, my posts weren't meant to be lectures or accusations.

[Richt]

Re: What do we do during the Holidays????

I certainly hope you are not chewing me out in that last post. I'm realtively new to this diet and was reaching out for ideas. that is why the title of the thread was "what do we do for the holidays". NOT I'm going to cheat on my diet. Futhermore I've heard a lot of conflicting information on here. One thing being that to go off the diet for two or three days and then go back into induction actually speeds up weight loss. Other say it may stall. I appreciate everyones advice and I'm currently searching the web for many low carb alternatives to some of my favorite dishes. it will take a lot of effort but I think its worth it. I also think that rather than chewing me out on this it would have been a lot more productive if you had offered hints on staying on the diet during the holidays, which is really what I'm looking for. I'm committed to this woe. I've seen it works. I've already lost 26 1/2 lbs in one month. I spend a lot of time on these message boards looking for support and to offer support to people. I've come to respect a few of these people greatly.. not just for their commitment and support but for their cheery attitudes and positive outlook. For all of you who have posted in replys to this thread, thank you so much I'll take the time to look into everything you all have said. Its helped me make a good decision regarding a potentially scary season for dieters... God bless

Definitely not chewing you out. Its not something we tend to do here. But our advice can often be taken as accusing. You have a mature attitude about it all, and I can tell you are keen to learn. You will be very successfull with an attitude like that.

All the best.,

Rich

[SunnySmile501]

Re: What do we do during the Holidays????

I started in the middle of September my first year. I started off very strong and planned to reward myself with cheats if I made my mini-goals. First one was a big family reunion in October. I made my goal several days before the reunion and was so excited, I didn't want to cheat by even a bite, so I didn't. I set my next mini-goal for the week of Thanksgiving and the same thing happened. By then, I had found some yummy recipes and had a wonderful legal Thanksgiving.

I set my next goal for the date of the family Christmas dinner, never thinking I would actually be down by more than 50 pounds in three months, but I was. There was no turning back--I had no desire to cheat. I started really looking at good recipes for legal foods, and enjoy my food so much more than I ever did the high carb stuff. I now crave healthy Atkins food.

I don't think you truly make it a lifestyle choice until you wrap your head around the fact that to go back to your old way of eating is self-sabatage.

Best of luck!


Sunny!

[shari_dawn]

Re: What do we do during the Holidays????

I honestly can say that I have not cheated at all in the month that I have been on this diet. It has not always been easy but I've made it through. I really like veggies at holidays like turnip or rutabega. Also butternut squash... things like that. Someone mentioned green bean casserole that is a necessity at my house at the holidays. That does not mean I need to eat it though. My biggest hurdle will be pumpkin pie though. Its a staple at our house... That and cream cheese cherry pie, made with lemon juice and sweetened condensed milk. I am convinced that I will not go off the diet but I'm going to have to plan very carefully. And I do tend to get very defensive when someone scolds me like that. Maybe it was not ment that way but thats how I took it and that is my own issue. Not anyone elses. thanks for all the help and support.

[SunnySmile501]

Re: What do we do during the Holidays????

You can make a crustless pumpkin pie that is to die for. Just substitute the canned milk with heavy cream and some water and Splenda for the sugar. Pumpkin is induction legal. I make it for my holiday meals and even the non-dieting family scarfs it up.

I really don't think the comments were meant for you at all. To me they were addressed to the person accusing us of giving a guilt trip. You have done too well to mess your own self up. Keep strong. This is so doable.

Sunny!

[SunnySmile501]

Re: What do we do during the Holidays????

I read in the book to plan on eating like you are in the maintence stage for holidays and/or special events. The holiday meals are not a big deal to me as I can eat legal and still enjoy (except I will miss stuffing a whole lot, but I have decided not to indulge). My hubby however, will be going to maintence style eating. He has asked his mother to make legal veggies, whole wheat stuffing, and to try to do a xanythm gum gravy, and a legal pumpkin pie. He is ok with gaining a bit, but feels by making wise decisions he can enjoy his eating and go right back to OWL after. I am sure he will go right back because I will have never left so the meals at home will be legal and since we eat at his parents we never have any leftovers at home.

I made a really tasty stuffing last year by seasoning flax bread with herbs, sage and garlic. Then I cubed it and toasted them. I then cut up some celery and onions and added a can of mushrooms and moistened it with turkey broth, then baked until brown. It was a real treat.

[Evermind]

Re: What do we do during the Holidays????

Turnips are legal.

Butternut squash isn't until you get to the starchy veggies rung. But how about spaghetti squash?

I make crustless pumpkin pie EVERY WEEK to eat in the mid-morning break of my day. It's to die for. Just substitute heavy cream for the evaporated or condensed milk, and use splenda. Awesome. For the holiday, put whipped cream on top.

There are some fabulous legal cheesecakes. You should start experimenting with recipes now!

I'm sorry you took offense at our responses. Imagine, however, how you'd react if an alcoholic friend of yours announced he was going to stay sober until Thanksgiving, then go on a binge for a few days, then stay sober until Christmas.

[ttdriver]

Re: What do we do during the Holidays????

I've been on Atkins for nearly 6 years and have never once gone off plan for holidays. You can easily do a low-carb Thanksgiving and Christmas. Brook is right; research the recipes. I'd be happy to provide you my Thanksgiving LC meal complete with recipes if you'd like. You can PM me for details.

THERE IS NO HOLIDAY FROM EATING ON PLAN.

Betty

[Brook]

Re: What do we do during the Holidays????

Sidenote: Betty- You look HAWT in that picture!!

One thing being that to go off the diet for two or three days and then go back into induction actually speeds up weight loss. Other say it may stall.

Shari- point me to a thread where this idiocy was stated and I'm on my way there to . There is a distinct difference between carb cycling (which DOES work and is VERY specific) and looking for an excuse for a 2 or 3 day binge (which is what 99.9% who spout this nonsense are looking for). I just wanted to point that out.

I don't think the responses you felt might be chewing you out were directed at you. I know for me the post that I'd have been responding to like that in this thread was *not* yours. I chose not to respond to it, but others did. I really don't think they were directed at you.

I'm really glad you're taking the time to do some digging!! I promise you it'll be worth it - and the pumpkin pie really is awesome!