Do you put your diet on hold during the holidays?
By gmakesmoney
@gmakesmoney (2923)
United States
December 4, 2007 3:44pm CST
I have been dieting for about a month now and have lost a little bit, which is fine with me, slow and steady and all that jazz. But while going through the sales flyers in the paper this weekend I decided no diet for the holiday season. I have stopped my diet for this month! My reason being that during the Christmas season there are so many yummy foods that are only available during the holidays and I really want to enjoy them and the season without feeling like I'm on punishment or ruin the season with nonstop guilt. Of course I won't go crazy as I've grown used to smaller portions and non-junky foods so overeating or eating really bad things will just make me literally sick. But I won't feel guilty about having 3 cookies or a brownie or heavy winter foods or things like egg nog and pie and umm... let's not forget the chocolate and coco. I'll still cook sensible and healthy, with a diabetic in the house I have to but I won't restrict myself to a bit of the things I really want.
Anyone else doing this?
4 people like this
12 responses
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
5 Dec 07
I always start my diet on Jan 1. I try to be careful during the holidays, but I am like you....I will eat that christmas cookie and have a drink I feel like it.
We just have to be careful not to go overboard. If you have a treat, don't go wild and you will do fine.
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
6 Dec 07
Wow~ chocolate martinis sound delicious.
What kind of diet program are you on? I really need to starts something that helps me feel full when I have hardly eaten. Any advice?
2 people like this
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
6 Dec 07
I went to glamour.com, the magazine and have been doing Body By Glamour and it's great. They give you an exercise program to follow and an online food journal as well as some ideas and tips. It's a lot more liberal which doesn't make me feel like I'm stuck. It's all free and it has a forum.
The biggest help for me has been using organic foods, locally grown produce and cooking things from scratch. That way I can control what's in everything, use olive oil instead of other oils or grease and with the fresher taste of organic I feel like I'm getting more not less.
2 people like this
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
6 Dec 07
I'm doing good to not go overboard so far, it's easier since I'm so used to eating next to nothing but air on a diet so anything heavier than water fills me right up, lol. Can't wait for the holiday drinks though, this year some friends and I have decided to have a dessert drinks bar for Christmas so we'll be making things like chocolate martini's and mint chocolate martini's... yumm.
1 person likes this
@xleslieanne (692)
• United States
4 Dec 07
i've been on-and-off dieting since about june. i lost 20lbs from june until about october and have kept it off until now. but for thanksgiving i know i definitely didn't hold back, haha. and i doubt i will on christmas either. i'll just have to watch what i eat after that. i'd rather eat good food and have a good time and then worry about my weight again later on.
3 people like this
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
6 Dec 07
Wow 20 lbs, congrats on that. I know what you mean, I feel the same way and would rather have a good worry-free time than have to pick at everything and count every calorie. 'Tis the season, right?
2 people like this
@beyonce03 (2331)
• Canada
4 Dec 07
I'm on a diet this year because I suffer from pregnancy diabetes, so I can't really decide to stop that even for the holiday season lol. It will be very hard this year having too watch what I'M eating, but I will do for it the baby :)
3 people like this
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
4 Dec 07
Awww, well it's for a good cause. I've found that a lot of the Splenda recipes are very good, however with diabetes sometimes Splenda will cause the blood sugar to rise but you can try the recipes using another sweetener if you'd like.
2 people like this
@happythoughts (4109)
• United States
4 Dec 07
I just started my diet. Well I restarted my diet. I feel like I have been on a diet forever. We went through some stressfull times and I gave up. Now I am at my top weight and really motivated. I am ready to try out my new resolution through the holidays. I figure if I can get through the holidays I can make it through any thing.
3 people like this
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
6 Dec 07
I know what the forever diet feels like, which is why I have to take a break every now and then and just relax. Good luck on keeping up with yours though, there really are a lot of ways to enjoy holiday food without the worry, try splenda.com and check out their recipes. I got some new faves from there.
2 people like this
@SHAMRACK (8576)
• India
5 Dec 07
Hi,
During holidays I do not diet I go to my relatives have fine foods and I do eat lot and burn it out through physical exercises. Mostly I am a vegetarian. I do exercise most of days and eat all vegetarian tasty foods. No dieting until I do not get any food.
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
6 Dec 07
Why is it that relatives always have the most tempting foods? Mine are the same way. Mostly vegetarian, surely that helps avoid a lot of the higher fat dishes around the holidays and at least you're getting your veggies in.
1 person likes this
@antoinette7777 (162)
• Philippines
5 Dec 07
I don't do dieting on holidays. It made me feel uncomfortable not to eat my Aunts delicious Chicken BBq and the desserts. It will just make me hungry if I don't eat. It makes me crave for more. But I do exercise everyday. I walk with my dog early in the morning. It is now a routine for me.
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
6 Dec 07
At least you're keeping up with your exercise, that will get you through the holidays with ease.
2 people like this
@keminem001 (779)
• Saint Lucia
5 Dec 07
never. my diet is never on hold because i participate in sports so i'm always fit and in shape. by maintaining a healthy lifestyle you can afford to eat whatever you want without gaining the weight.
2 people like this
@keminem001 (779)
• Saint Lucia
6 Dec 07
i guess you should. it really helps keep the weight off if you are doing some physical activity that you love. decide which sporting activity u like and stick to it. trust me it works.
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
6 Dec 07
Athletes don't count, lol. I have a friend that was a pro hockey player for years and he would eat like 5 huge meals a day that were like nothing but meat and carbs and yet he always looked like he'd just stepped out of the gym. I ate nothing but lettuce and looked like I'd never seen a gym, lol. Maybe I should take up a sport?
2 people like this
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
6 Dec 07
Thanks for the advice. I've always wanted to try kick boxing, I used to tae-bo and I loved it. It's nice to have a release like that.
1 person likes this
@ajithlal (14716)
• India
12 Dec 07
I also agree with you that it is hard to be diet in Christmas season especially with lots of good foods coming. I love Christmas cakes very much. I think smaller portion of good food is not harmful. Well one way is to eat in a sensible way and to increase lots of fruits and fruit juices and also to be on diet after Christmas. I also may not be able to go on diet during holiday season. I think Christmas season is for fun with lots of happiness and lots of good things and lots of good food.
@wiccania (3360)
• United States
6 Dec 07
I don't tend to put the diet on hold, but I also don't deny myself. I allow myself smaller amounts of the yummy yet sinful stuff (which is better than none). I also take extra walks (or park farther out at the mall) and I try to make everything else I eat a little healthier (less dressing on my salad for example).
The diets I do aren't so much about cutting out certain foods and is more about eating the "bad" stuff in moderation and focusing on more of the "good" stuff.
2 people like this
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
6 Dec 07
That's a great way to do it! I might try doing that instead of the all or nothing method if I find myself putting too much back on. The good thing is that with the really sinful stuff it's usually so rich that just a little will do.
2 people like this
@alamode (3071)
• United States
4 Dec 07
Hun is diabetic, so when we go to buffets or celebration feasts, we use the 'spoonful method'... we are allowed a small spoonful of everything. If its something we really like, and IF we are still hungry, we can go back and have another spoonful or two. We fill up faster, our plate looks more appetizing, we don't waste anything, and its amazing how our cravings are satisfied with a smaller amount. Since we can eat lots of raw veg from the relish tray, its not painful at all!
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
6 Dec 07
That sounds like a good rule of thumb. As you know with mom being diabetic now and on the naughty side we're having to really watch portion sizes. Which she's finally doing very good at keeping up with and connecting what she eats with the numbers on her poky machine thing (I'm sure it has a name, lol). We've not dared brave a buffet yet but maybe if she continues to be good then we'll go and try out your method.
2 people like this
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
6 Dec 07
Thanks, fingers crossed! It can be hard sometimes, we do the same thing where food is always the center of everything especially holidays. But we're learning to cook smarter and be more realistic about how much we eat. So far, so good.
@alamode (3071)
• United States
6 Dec 07
Keeping Hun healthy, and keeping my weight down because of my feet is sometimes hard to do... we're a 'food-oriented' family, which means every time we get together with anyone, there is food involved. This has been the only way I can deal with all that temptation... taste, and satisfy the craving.
It sounds like you and your Mom are both doing well... I'm glad to hear it! Fingers crossed that we will ALL be healthier and content soon!!
1 person likes this
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
9 Dec 07
That's my problem too, it's always so hard to start back up again.
1 person likes this
@lorelai (1558)
• Italy
9 Dec 07
Yeah I wonder what will this year bring. For xmas I go to 2 big meals. Lunch at my place with my family and then dinner at my boyfriend's house with his family. And again the same for New Year, so I must put my diet on hold. I just can't resist all that delicious food.
1 person likes this
@ruby04 (24)
• China
12 Dec 07
I think sport maybe can help you.
Swimming,jogging and dancing is very helpful to get rid of wheight.At the same time you can have some yummy food.Eating less food may help you lose weight,but it's not necessary to decline everything delicious.If you do that,you'll always feel wanting to eat much food.
