This was a homework assignment about this time last year and it was REALLY helpful to me.

Make a calendar for November and December and the first week of January. Mark down days where eating may be more of a challenge - holidays, family dinners, days you’ll be out of town, days friends and family might come to town, meals in restaurants, birthdays, office parties, vacation days, holiday potlucks.

I always thought that I had a pretty slow social life and don’t go to a lot of events… but I had some kind of eating challenge day almost half the days in November and December. It made me realize that I had to be really thoughtful and careful if I wanted to maintain (which was my goal).

Well, they don't all have firm dates but I did sit down tonight and give this a shot. I see a weekend I might be able to block out and dodge scheduling much on (besides my niece's birthday party but food there isn't usually much of a challenge besides a piece of cake. Last year my SIL didn't make it so I didn't even feel bad skipping it. She's a great baker but I could turn down store bought ice cream cake). Other than that it is pretty much an every weekend food fest.

It's funny...can't remember what I did last year. I guess I was just eating super clean on the non-event days. Seems like a reasonable solution.

Only a couple of weeknight events so that's not too bad. One of them is our office holiday party and I am the chair of the committee. I can't drink too much (liquor, a microphone and I are not a good combo ) and I am usually lucky to get a plate of food at all. Another one, I'm sure I'll cook it and it's for my 2 girlfriends who both need/want to eat healthier so I'll have lots of control over that (maybe even make what I made tonight).

I need to think about exercise so that I can get at least a little extra in occasionally. Maybe I'll shop for a new DVD or actually pull the trigger on some sort of gym membership. Coworker told me about a new gym she is going to. Price sounds right but not really too keen on the location. May check it out though.

I also need to think about weekday dinners/lunches and plan ahead a bit on that. If I could get some stuff in the freezer, that would really pay off for me I bet. Maybe it's time I actually made Denise's curry for the freezer instead of just reading and printing the recipe for the 15th time.

Ok, I'm rambling...

Peg

PS) Ugh...just remembered I probably will go back to Puerto Rico in this time frame too. Didn't do horribly last time but still a big calorie bump...

quote:

Originally posted by GoingSkiing:

quote:

Originally posted by skedwards:
Unfortunately, my calendar is filled to the brim with question marks...Not just because of dates which are not definite but also because of confused feelings.....

Sending hugs your way. I know that it has been a hard year for you and others on the board.

Thank you Denise and HUGS back to you!! I'd also like to send my thoughts, hugs and prayers to others on this board who have had difficulties this year!!!!!!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by skedwards:
Unfortunately, my calendar is filled to the brim with question marks...Not just because of dates which are not definite but also because of confused feelings.....

Sending hugs your way. I know that it has been a hard year for you and others on the board.

I don't think this will exactly complete today's homework but I will have some "issues" with the holidays this year.....

First of all, this will be the first Holiday season without DH's mother. None of the family members have really discussed definite plans but DH's oldest sister may (or may not) be hosting "a" Thanksgiving at her home. Christmas will "possibly" be hosted by us.....

Also, DH has pitched an idea that he would like to just take a vacation for Thanksgiving.....I haven't really discussed or pressed this issue with him because I'm not sure if it is because he just wants to get away for a while or because he is trying to run away from the fact that his mother will not be here for Thanksgiving.

Some of you know this and some don't, but DH has been working on the Mississippi coast on the Katrina clean-up. He hasn't been able to come home much so it may just be that he would like to take advantage of a holiday break to take a vacation since we won't have a chance to take one ....for who knows whenever

I've had my own losses this year also (some of you also know about this and some don't). My situation is MUCH different from DH's but there is a feeling in my heart that what hasn't been will never come to be now....and I do feel a deep loss for that.

DH's company Christmas party - Heck if I know about that either. Since the hurricanes, his company is spread here & there. They may try to go ahead and have one big one like always or they may try to have small ones which are located closer to where certain job sites are.

Unfortunately, my calendar is filled to the brim with question marks...Not just because of dates which are not definite but also because of confused feelings.....

quote:

I'm with you Sandy. I was also thinking about going below range for "wiggle room" but what I really want to do is maintain in range.

Well, that was the initial motivation for the Halloween Challenge for me but that didn't happen. I keep reminding myself that I actually lost a couple of pounds during those months last year so it's not impossible. It feels more difficult this year but I think that is just a function of where I'm at on the loss/maintain cycle. I'm more in maintenance than loss headed in so it feels a little scary.
I think you both are right that I need to approach this as yet another opportunity to learn maintenance skills vs. giving myself room to gain.

Peg

quote:

Originally posted by Sandy:
My goal is to maintain. I want to do that over the next 3 months. I think I will have more success posting here a lot and setting up a good week by week plan. Basically, I nned to eat very clean at home and plan and post my meals out so that I keep them in check.

I'm with you Sandy. I was also thinking about going below range for "wiggle room" but what I really want to do is maintain in range.

Seeing all the outings/events/holidays in my future, I will also need to eat very cleanly whenever I'm home and do my best to do well with portion sizes when out.

quote:

Originally posted by Sandy:
Basically, I nned to eat very clean at home...

This is really important to me, also.

I don't keep cookies and stuff at home anyway... and I have to watch that they don't sneak into my house during the holidays. I'm REALLY sure that 25 days of celebrating is enough without having cookies for a snack instead of an apple.

After lots of thinking I decided that going to the low end of my maint. range will not work well for me IF it is for the purpose of being able to gain a few pounds.
My goal is to maintain. I want to do that over the next 3 months. I think I will have more success posting here a lot and setting up a good week by week plan. Basically, I nned to eat very clean at home and plan and post my meals out so that I keep them in check.

I really need to do this. I'm going right now to print them out so I can work on this tonight. Feel free to pester me if I don't report back.

Peg

PS) Here's a site to print the calendars if you are looking for one: Print Free

Things I know so far:

Thanksgiving at friends and a day or two with family. That is at least 3 days of outside eating. That is a month's worth in one weekend. Yikes!

We have a party on December 18th that will involve at least 2 meals out as freinds live out of town and we travel 2 hours to get there.

I know we go to at least 2 other parties in town. Not sure of the dates- all within 2 weeks of Christmas.

I am at the top of me maint. range and am feeling comfortable there. I am considering a push to go down to the lower end of range-- dropping 3-5 pounds. This would be a big challenge for me over the next 6 weeks. Frankly, I tend to lose weight slower than that especially when I am already at goal. I am also considering a huge effort to maintain over the next 2-3 months.
I am also considering a 2 pound loss (still a push) over the next month to give me a little wiggle room.
I am considering a lot. I am feeling totally unprepared for the parties, the food, the huge cashews that are so salty, the Diet Coke to wash them down. Sigh.

I am off to our yard to pull weeds and mulch. (We have 1200+ square feet of beds that need to be cleaned up. Then I am spreading 20 yards of mulch. This will be good exercise and time to clear me head and think and plan and settle.)

Thanks for listening to the ramble. Thanks, Denise for bringing this up before I was seated next to the heaping bowl of cashews or M and M's. I need time to plan and process.

My parents are coming to town next weekend - Sat. dinner out, possibly lunch out Sunday.

10/31 Halloween

11/6 Dinner at fancy restaurant with dinner co-op

11/18 I have a concert and a group of us usually go out.

Week of Thanksgiving - out of town, dinner in restaurant nearly every night.

Dec 2. - dinner in SF with friends
Dec 3 - TubaFest (Christmas songs as they are meant to be played... by 200 tubas) which is ALL day... from 8am - 7pm

Dec ? - community band potluck

Family may come for out of town for two/three days
Xmas eve and Xmas day

Last week of Dec. - Out of town to mil's for 3 days

New years eve
New years day
1/2 my birthday.

So that is somewhere between 22 to 25 days...

Last year, it worked really well to eat 20 ww points any day that wasn't a party or I wasn't in a restaurant. This year, the plan is to stick to the DASH plan, since I'm full on it and lose weight really easily on it.

Wow! What have I got myself into! There is not a weekend in November or December where something is not planned. My sister is coming in from England with her new baby for the entire month of December begining of January so that means a baby shower (she missed out in England) the christening, ten Christmas, New Years eve and day not to count the endless parties and get togethers with friends and families. I am going to try out the three healthy bites for every sinful bite approach as well as a glass of water in between coctails.

Best of luck to everybody!

I'm going to do this. I know it will help. I will report my finding later this week.

We will hopefully be away all of next week on vacation (we're going to FL so we have to wait and see when they get the power back and how much damage was sustained).

Then we're back a week and we go to Chicago for a couple of days. The weekend we get back, we have a dinner party to attend.

Then of course there is Thanksgiving.

In December, we have a brunch x-mas party and then an overnight at a 5 star hotel with an amazing dinner. Then of course, x-mas eve and x-mas day plus new years eve and day!

YIKES!!!!

The key for me this holiday season will be portion control, portion control, portion control.

I have one pre-planned splurge day planned in December for our 5 star overnight. Other than that, I want to be reasonable.

And you are right Denise, it never seems like a lot until you put it down on paper!
We have

Good homework, Denise!

I was struck by the thought over the weekend that Thanksgiving is only 4 weeks away and Christmas only 8. Tempus Fugit!