Well, one holiday down and another coming up in a month. I thought I'd say, "well how did you do yesterday"....but for those of us who didn't do well, why dwell on it, we all know what we have to do to change it.

So let's talk about changing somethings. What do you know now, that you might have known yesterday, but might have forgotten or chose to forget? In other words, what do you need to change to make the coming parties, eating events, and Christmas dinner better for you?
You don't have to have a list a mile long, may be two or three things that you noticed that you could change or maybe tweek to make better for you. I am sure we'll talk about this more during the month, anyway.

Maybe it's the people I am talking to, maybe it's God's way of telling me to take stock in the life I have, but this year I have met and talked with more people who have someone ill in their family or close friends. It is particularly difficult when that person doesn't see the hope of getting better, or worse, there is none.

Wouldn't it be wonderful, as with the 'Christmas cards we send each other, to have a RAK (Random Act of Kindness) board here, so send cheering up messages to each other through out the year, not just as Christmas? One group I belong to, sends two cards a month to a person on the list, they pick who gets the cards. That's 74 cents a month to cheer a person up....not too much to ask...huh?

What say you? I'd be happy to collect addys and names of those who want to participate.

If you are interested, let me know at lizzieb134@hotmail.com....hopefully we'll have enough interest to start by Jan 1.

It's still hard for me to avoid that pressure to be like everyone else. Still, on Thanksgiving, I did pretty well with prioritizing what I really wanted and staying away from the rest.

One of my issues with family meals is that my family always waits so long to actually eat that I'm picking at all the junk before dinner even starts. That is all part of the fun for most people but I find it very frustrating. So I think I'm going to start having something right before I leave my house that is healthy so that I don't get stuck with nothing but bad choices -- chips, pie, bread, candy -- when all I really want is real food.

Didn't do to badly..Since it was just my roomate and me..We decided to eat out this year..We went to Cracker Barrel..They had a Turkey Dinner speacial for 8.69 includes drink and dessert..I had unsweet tea and took the dessert home..and I even left food on my plate..

Yesterday really was more about the reason for the day, and not the food.

After dinner was done, we all called my friend who is in the hospital in Boston. We knew her family wouldn't do much, and she is practically a member of my family anyways. It really lifted her spirits to hear from the whole family.

Dad had a rough day, he wasn't feeling well, and in the end had to go to the hospital for a transfusion. But all seems well now and he should be home tomorrow.

All in all my focus was on giving thanks rather than eating yesterday.

Laurie

I was quite pleased with myself. I stuck to one plate of food, and only ate a small piece of pie. When I was done, I headed off for the living room to watch football while I continue to knit like crazy trying to finish off one of the two sweaters that I have to have finished in about 3 weeks. Nothing like a looming deadline to keep snacking off of the leftovers at bay.

I did a poor job of listening to my body when it was saying, no screaming, "you're full".

I felt quite sick for about an hour after eating and it wasn't a good feeling.

Next time, I need to stop before I'm stuffed to the guills.

I didn't eat horribly but I realized today that I wasn't attentive to the food as I ate it. I did not savor it. I guess that is ok...I was wrapped up in conversations and whatnot but it's probably not a good thing to be so mindless around so much food. I only had one plate of food though so I don't think I came anywhere near the 3000 calorie meal that so many say TG dinner can be. I know that I have been 'mindless' over holiday meals at other times too. I don't think the food is really the focus for me so much but still, I am indulging in food I should make a point to enjoy now that I don't eat that way all the time.

Peg

For me, I found myself fixing more and more item, even though they weren't on my menu in order to make the table looked filled. That should be my first step....make the menu and stick to it. As it was my last minute things didn't even get touched, and are waiting in the frig for leftover night.

My second thought would be to get out of the house for an hour. Walking isn't a good thing for me, but I could take a drive and enjoy being away from the kitchen and the wonderful smells. Temptation loomed in the carrots and the olives.

My final thought for yesterday, would be to enjoy the reasons for the holiday, not just the food. The reason isn't just to eat, but to be with family and friends....enjoy them as much as you think you'll enjoy the food and I'll be on the right path.

Next?????