Instead of using the holidays as an excuse to gain weight, utilize them as a time to LOSE weight. You heard me Write down 5 things you CAN DO to lose a little weight and gain a lot of emotional and physical strength over then next few weeks. A pound down is an open door to five pounds down and so on...

1) Cook at home more - evaluate how many meals you're eating out and COOK AT HOME MORE! Even once more this week is a GIANT step in the right direction. Studies show you consume more calories when you dine out.

2) Resist one treat a day - one treat a day times 30 days adds up to weight loss and a new habit you can stick with.

3) Increase your workout by 10 minutes a day. 10 minutes times 30 days is 5 hours! That's 5 whole extra days worth of workouts! You can burn and build a lot in five hours!

4) Challenge yourself to walk more steps - get a pedometer - they're cheap! Those baby steps really add up to weight loss.

Personalize this assignmnet to what you can and will realistically do. Extra credit: post your goals here so we can read and learn too!

quote:

Originally posted by Sheltieguy:

quote:

...get a pedometer - they're cheap!...

YAMAX (made in Japan) pedometers are said to be the most accurate. In the USA, they are sold under the New-Lifestyles Digi-Walker brand name.

http://www.new-lifestyles.com/index.html

(I got their SW-701 model at a local bricks-and-mortar retailer.)

Thanks, I was just going to ask for recommendations. This is one simple thing I've been wanting to do for a while but haven't. I'll use it as my next reward.

quote:

...get a pedometer - they're cheap!...

YAMAX (made in Japan) pedometers are said to be the most accurate. In the USA, they are sold under the New-Lifestyles Digi-Walker brand name.

http://www.new-lifestyles.com/index.html

(I got their SW-701 model at a local bricks-and-mortar retailer.)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sheltieguy,

[QUOTE]Originally posted by cobismom:

4. Concentrate on that water, if it's cold outside, water is a key for me.
QUOTE]

I have a great suggestion: do you like fruit herb teas? In cold winter months I don't reach for the water either, but I've found that natural, non-caffeinated (that's the key) fruit teas warm you and keep you hydrated at the same time.
Good luck on your goal! I'm rooting for you! )

Five things I can do before Christ mas to reach my goal of loosing over the holidays:

1. EXERCISE, top priority for many reasons

2. Portion control/ weighing my food to be more accurate.

3. Vary what I am eating, boring leads to grazing for me.

4. Concentrate on that water, if it's cold outside, water is a key for me.

5. Continue to attend meetings, come here often and get the support that I need and crave.

My goal is to NOT gain during the holidays and actually be at my 10% goal two weeks into the new year. That means I have to be vigilant and keep up with my plans.

{QUOTE) Small-Batch Baking[/URL]

I used to bake for the holidays... and if I made 5 different kinds of cookies (because maybe a platter of cookies all one kind isn't festive enough?), I ended up with 200 cookies (for my family of 3!)

There are "healthier" cookies, like oatmeal, in the book... but mostly the cookies are NOT low cal or low fat, but they are VERY good.

I really like being able to make 6 or 8 cookies. [/QUOTE]

Denise, thanks for the suggestion. I wasn't able to access the connection for the book, for some reason.
You are right when you say that a plate without several varieties somehow isn't festive enough. What I do to avoid the zillion-cookie problem is freeze half of the cookie dough. Comes in handy when I plan to bake for one of my nieces' or nephews' birthdays!

quote:

1) Cook at home more - evaluate how many meals you're eating out and COOK AT HOME MORE! Even once more this week is a GIANT step in the right direction. Studies show you consume more calories when you dine out.

I have to say we eat in more than ever. But, when we travel I am trying to get us to think ahead when we go out, even if that means doing salads and splitting an entree.

2) Resist one treat a day - one treat a day times 30 days adds up to weight loss and a new habit you can stick with.

Today I had 2 pepp. patties and one mint. I did pretty well and had my water.

3) Increase your workout by 10 minutes a day. 10 minutes times 30 days is 5 hours! That's 5 whole extra days worth of workouts! You can burn and build a lot in five hours!

I have totally changed my workout routine, it is MUCH more intense! I feel SO much better.

4) Challenge yourself to walk more steps - get a pedometer - they're cheap! Those baby steps really add up to weight loss.

I need to start wearing mine again. Thanks for the reminder.


I won't be making cookies, some sort of jam for holiday gifts. So I am excited about trying this out.

quote:

Originally posted by synesthesiac:
For me, the holidays are not the holidays without homemade cookies, and I am not willing to give them up...

I've had really good luck with the book Small-Batch Baking

I used to bake for the holidays... and if I made 5 different kinds of cookies (because maybe a platter of cookies all one kind isn't festive enough?), I ended up with 200 cookies (for my family of 3!)

There are "healthier" cookies, like oatmeal, in the book... but mostly the cookies are NOT low cal or low fat, but they are VERY good.

I really like being able to make 6 or 8 cookies.

Loved this topic and thought it's a good one to help us prepare for a healthy holiday season!

My Five Things are:

1) Give conscious thought to the nutrition in each meal, and be mindful of degree of fullness.

2) Never let myself get too hungry! Be prepared with emergency healthy food (take with me to work, shopping, etc.) such as sliced apple and 75% fat free cheddar, 2 PT bars, etc.
Keep a container of cooked barley in fridge at all times, and one of hearty soup such as lentil.

3) Enjoy the "exotic" items on the buffet table, i.e. the shrimp or smoked salmon and not the fried stuff. Choose mindfully and enjoy!

4) Walk every day. Look upon that distant parking spot as a blessing! Exercise indoors (set the video for Denise Austin, be prepared!) when it rains.

5) Make cookies that have some healthy ingredients (i.e. oatmeal, date bars, peanut butter with dried fruit). For me, the holidays are not the holidays without homemade cookies, and I am not willing to give them up, but I CAN choose healthier ones to bake!

It is amazing: just writing them out makes me feel very much in control and happily looking forward to the holidays! )

Wow....I don't want to do this one because I just don't want to be accountable!!! Okay Okay...it is GOOD for me so here it goes!

1. Give the cookies to the church for the cookie walk and put away the few that will be kept out of sight.

2. I am going to use the KD rule of thumb, 3 or 4 good bites for every not so good bite at any parties I attend. The Not so good bite must be homemade though, it can not be wasted on processed food item.

3. I have been bringing my lunch from home daily for a couple of weeks now. This has helped drop a couple of pounds right off the bat!

4. I have been bringing extra fruit to work to avoid the homemade goodies around the building.

5. I am going to stretch and do yoga at home 3 times a week. I am going to walk 2 times a week.

Okay - This is still doable for now! I will not gain through the New Year!

Beth

Holiday Can do's...

1. Making all meals at home, and eating lunch at the office.
2. Only having Hot Tea and plenty of water..(none of those yummy hot drinks at starbucks)
3. Walkiing more.
4. Decided not to bake this year..My friends are going to be so disappointed..(They love my butter tarts)
5. Make better choices when eating at friends house for Christmas and New Years

The boyfriend knows too many single males who like cookies and keep asking for them, if they stopped. . .I might stop making them.

Oh, heck, I'm gonna stop making them anyway. I already decided that.



D

Five things I can do:

1. Don't eat those cookies that are brought in.
2. Get moving, no excuses....get out those long warm leggings for after swimming.
3. Eat soup more often. Make soup more often
4. One new recipe a week -- hey, maybe soup!
5. Eat five vegetables and fruits a day.

quote:

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Originally posted by D in St Pete:
1. Stop making cookies "for gifts". You know you eat at least two from each batch, make something else.

---

D, This may sound like the voice of Scrooge, but...

I received two platters of gift cookies from students' mom's last year. I threw them away.

1. I need platters of cookies like another hole in the head.
2. Because there were kids in the family, I couldn't be sure that Little Johnny hadn't wiped his nose or licked the spoon while making cookies to share with my family and didn't want a cold or the flu.
3. My family has a couple of cookie recipes that we make and really enjoy. We have our own cookie tradition. We can barely cope with the calories from our own traditions, never mind someone else's .

My sister and mom have given me gift baskets with pasta and sauce or soup ingredients to make a healthy, fast dinner one night. I really appreciated that!

Once a friend of mine who was from England gave me a small jar of Lemon Curd. She gave me about 4 servings and I also appreciated that.

There are lots of food gifts - a spice rub and recipe, soup mix, etc. that don't require eating two cookies from every batch (or gifts that don't require the recipient to figure out how to burn 1500 calories!)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: GoingSkiing,

While I'm not looking to lose more weight, this is a challenging time of year to maintain.

1. Continue my usual workout schedule. This is harder then it sounds because I usually do the bulk of my exericising while dd is at school. She'll be off for 2 1/2 weeks starting 12/17. I've already made my first two appointments for the day care at the gym and I need to continue to remember making the appts. They have limited slots and are filling up fast so I need to do it first thing in the morning(you can only sign up up to two weeks in advance).

2. Avoid the dangerous parties. We've gotten two invitations already to dessert parties. This was a first for me and frankly I couldn't imagine being able to control myself in front of a buffet table filled with people's favorite desserts and cookies. Thankfully they were both scheduled for after my daughter's bedtime and no sitter so I had an easy out to both.

3. Have a heart healthy x-mas eve dinner. I'm hosting my family for that meal and thankfully, my Italian heritage makes it a fish only meal. I found some great, healthy recipes that should be festive, fussy looking, tasty but still waist line friendly.

4. Navigate the last few holiday get togethers without doing too much damage. The keys for me are minimizing the alcohol and sweets.

Alli
I'm sooooo jealous that you have Wegmans! That's one of the only things that I really miss from central NY!
Enjoy your marketing : )

Here's my plan:

1. Plan simple meals at home. When I'm too tired to cook, a can of soup or a quick sandwich is better than a pizza.

2. Freeze the gift cookies as I bake them. I'm not going to give them up--I love how so many people look forward to getting them! But I'm bagging them up and sticking them in the freezer, and I'll bring them out only as needed to make gift trays. I'm also bumping up the nutrition in the cookies by subing half the flour in each with whole wheat flour. (sorry, D, I can't stop making the cookies!)

3. Spend 15 minutes a day in Savassana (yoga relaxation pose). Giving myself time to relax reduces my stress level, which reduces my stress snacking.

4. Shopping online--takes less time away from my usual routines, so it will have less impact on my exercise time, and it keeps me away from the mall with all it's evil snacking temptations.

5. Park really far from the door when I do go shopping. I'm inspired by the new Wegman's that opened in my town--they choose a parking space really far from the road, near the entrance, and put a sign up saying that the space was reserved for customers who wanted to increase their health by adding some extra walking into their shopping trip. Every time I see it, I'm inspired to park really far from the door.

alli

5 Things I Can Do:

1. Stop making cookies "for gifts". You know you eat at least two from each batch, make something else.

2. Find a way to avoid Christmas dinner at a wonderful couple's house--because dinner the past few years has been a Honeybaked Ham, mashed potatoes, salad with bottled non-low-fat dressing, and 1800 different kinds of sweets. They're great friends. Just not great cooks.

3. Stop making cookies.

4. Stop making cookies.

5. Take the dog on a walk every day (that's about 20 minutes added to workout time).

And # 6:

STOP MAKING COOKIES.

D

I have to admit to feeling a little like a pouty little kid with this one! I feel like I'll be doing really good to hold this season but in the spirit of trying when KD asks me to...

1. Cook at home more: Did make a plan to celebrate w/one set of friends at home this week instead of going out to dinner. So I am making Italian at home. Should be pretty inocuous as holiday meals go. I am really making an effort to bring my lunches too because that is a struggle for me when it just seems easier to run out and grab something. I haven't been able to convince myself to get salads lately so I need to stay out of restaurants at lunch time.

2. I have definitely been doing this. I skipped the ice cream cake at the birthday party last night completely because my mom made dessert for dinner. Definitely a NSV for me! Didn't even feel like I was missing out...Mom's dessert was much better.

3. I will try and get back to my crunches this week. I have totally fallen off the weekly challenge thing so I will do that for my additional exercise. Probably won't take me quite 10 min but that's ok...don't feel like I have a spare 10 seconds right now!

4. I wear my pedometer every day. Will make an effort to go upstairs to the restroom at work and get off my duff here at work more often.

Peg

Movin', movin', movin'
keep that body movin'
Rawhide! (oops, need a different ending, don't I?)

Good, better, best choices in food and activities.

I want my Christmas tree up this year, so I have to get my den out of my living room - the end of the week is the goal.

Linda