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lovebeingamom
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| Posted: Dec 22 2009 at 5:43am | IP Logged
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How does one do it... ... ...Have discipline and will power to avoid the holiday sweets???
I need to lose 20 lbs. and am finding it so hard to turn away the yummy, yummy food this year.
Any suggestions on avoiding the food and/or jump starting my weight loss? TIA ladies, I feel stuck in a rut right now.
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my6angels
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Unfortunately, I am not very good at this, but I'm looking forward to reading all the responses you get 
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Paula in MN
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Everything I've ever read points to having a full stomach before being near any kind of goodies. So, I drink lots of water first.
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 Paula
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jenk
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| Posted: Dec 22 2009 at 8:39am | IP Logged
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Years ago when I was doing Weight Watchers during the whole holiday season (Thanksgiving, Christmas...) the advice was to allow yourself some goodies. Pick the one or two (or 3  )that you REALLY like and give yourself permission to indulge- NOT over-indulge but to enjoy it and not feel guilty.
A small portion of one or two "bad" foods won't put the weight on. It's consistent overeating that will do it.
Also, it depends on what your goals/expectations are for the season- do you want to lose or to maintain the weight and start losing when the goodies aren't so prolific??
Hang in there!!!
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DominaCaeli
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If you're really looking to lose weight: counting calories is what works for me. I have a major sweet tooth, but keeping myself to a particular calorie count for the day allows me to indulge a bit without feeling guilty. If I'm able to fit it into my quota, I can have it--without guilt!
For everything I personally make, I figure out the calories per portion (for example, my gingersnaps are 80 per cookie, my chocolate chip cookies are 110), and I keep them all on a handy spreadsheet in case I forget. I always use the same recipes, so I don't need to revisit them year after year--I just check the chart. At other people's houses, I estimate--and after doing this for over a year now, I'm getting more and more precise.
Actually, just knowing how many calories are in foods helps me limit them, even if I'm not working under a particular quota. For example, on Christmas Day, I'm taking a day off and not counting calories. But since I already know that chocolate chip cookies are 110 each, I'm not going to sit down and have five of them--my mind will immediately say, "Do I really want to eat over 500 calories of cookies at just one sitting?" It's a good habit to build.
And I think it's fine to let yourself go a day here or there, even if you're trying to lose weight. There's a reason, though, why the Church encourages fasting before feasting (Advent before Christmas)--too much over-indulgence isn't healthy. But a feast done properly definitely is! 
(Oh, and by the way, I'm pregnant and I don't want anyone to think I'm dieting based on my comments here! But I do still count calories--I just stay under a normal-for-a-pregnant-woman quota to stay healthy.)
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Maddie
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| Posted: Dec 22 2009 at 9:45am | IP Logged
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If I really, really can't resist, which is more often then not this time of year, I will first eat several raw veggies first. Usually carrot sticks, I love raw peas, shells and all when they are in season, celery, whatever, before indulging in the sweet so I'm already full and not up to eating more then one.
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: Dec 22 2009 at 9:53am | IP Logged
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::I pick my absolute favorite and totally SAVOR it! And, I really THINK about it....Hmmmm....which is my FAVORITE? What do I REALLY WANT right now?
::OR....I pick a FEW, cut off a small bit of each, and give the rest to my kids.
::I also try not to eat a sweet unless I can enjoy it with a couple sips of TEA or COFFEE...I tend to be more satisfied with a small amount if I'm enjoying it with a hot beverage. That also eliminates a lot of times when I could PICK at a dessert, cuz I don't have a cuppa-something-hot ready.
::I say a prayer to my guardian angel to help me be satisified with 'just that bit'. Cuz, really...what's the point of MORE??? I already tasted it, savored it, and enjoyed it!!!! Why do I need more? I should be moving on....  
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SusanJ
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| Posted: Dec 22 2009 at 10:51am | IP Logged
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This is so helpful. I have such a hard time being moderate with sweets around the holidays. I firmly believe in feasting on feasts and I wish I could do it in a more healthy way.
Something that is really important to dh is hospitality in this area. If we know we are going out somewhere or having guests then I'll try to really limit sweets the rest of the day or the day before so that I can enjoy whatever is being served. A major holiday pet peeve of mine is a particular relative who "won't touch that sugary stuff" in a very self-righteous way making everyone who has even a small piece of pie feel guilty.
I'll be lurking for more encouragement . . .
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Donna Marie
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| Posted: Dec 22 2009 at 11:09am | IP Logged
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SuzanneG wrote:
| Cuz, really...what's the point of MORE??? I already tasted it, savored it, and enjoyed it!!!! Why do I need more? I should be moving on.... |
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LOL...I should tattoo this on the back of my hand...
I REALLY need to avoid this kind of thing this year...I have to watch my weight like a hawk...and the sweets will make me too rather quickly, I might add. It always seems like a GREAT idea BEFORE I try it...
Thank you for all of the wonderful ideas!
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DominaCaeli
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| Posted: Dec 22 2009 at 11:27am | IP Logged
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SuzanneG wrote:
| ::I also try not to eat a sweet unless I can enjoy it with a couple sips of TEA or COFFEE...I tend to be more satisfied with a small amount if I'm enjoying it with a hot beverage. That also eliminates a lot of times when I could PICK at a dessert, cuz I don't have a cuppa-something-hot ready. |
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This totally works for me too.
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lovebeingamom
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| Posted: Dec 22 2009 at 12:57pm | IP Logged
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Maddie wrote:
If I really, really can't resist, which is more often then not this time of year, I will first eat several raw veggies first. Usually carrot sticks, I love raw peas, shells and all when they are in season, celery, whatever, before indulging in the sweet so I'm already full and not up to eating more then one.
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I love this idea ..... I should induldge in carrots/celery and hummus before I eat any sweets ... and see if I am still interested in those *extra* calories!!!!! Love it ... thanks!
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Sarah M
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| Posted: Dec 22 2009 at 2:28pm | IP Logged
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Oh shoot. I'm supposed to be avoiding sweets right now?! So those brownies I ate for breakfast this morning weren't such a good idea, then...
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: Dec 22 2009 at 2:41pm | IP Logged
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Sarah M wrote:
| Oh shoot. I'm supposed to be avoiding sweets right now?! So those brownies I ate for breakfast this morning weren't such a good idea, then... |
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NO!!!!! I eat goodies for breakfast all the time! Again, it's what I'm craving, what I enjoy and I'm satisfied...which generally transfers into not overeating later!
Repeat after me ....It's not WHAT you eat....but HOW MUCH you eat! How wonderful that God made us to ENJOY YUMMY FOOD....just in moderation!!!!!! 
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Suzanne in ID
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: Dec 22 2009 at 2:45pm | IP Logged
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And, I've been known to eat TEENY TINY amounts of "real food" at dinner, so that I can eat a very large piece of Tiramisu or Pecan Pie  , my absolute favorites!!!
I mean, REALLY....why on earth would I eat turkey or HAM or potatoes when I can indulge on Tiramisu???????
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stefoodie
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I take one little serving of EVERYTHING. I'm usually full by the time I finish that. If something's particularly good I'll take a second tiny serving of that one thing. But, oooh, as the years pass, I find it harder to "just have one". I don't know if it's my hubby's sweet tooth or all you gals that are bad influences on me. j/k 
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Mary G
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| Posted: Dec 22 2009 at 6:07pm | IP Logged
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First ... I don't! But then when the holidays are over, we don't have the treats around so I figure it evens out over a calendar year!
Second ... if you have kids ... they won't let you sample as they're so busy trying to eat everything I always end up doing one of two things:
1. I hide the treats and then can't remember where they are!
2. I let them eat what most of what I snitched -- it makes me feel virtuous and satisfies them at the same time ... a veritable win-win!
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stellamaris
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I'm only hoping here that no one notices that I have NOT posted a reply to this question...
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JodieLyn
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I guess no one really wants my solution Mine is - you eat them and then they're gone and not tempting you anymore.
Seriously, the things some of the ladies said, like drinking water and eating good for you foods before hand.. make doing like Suzanne suggests ~ eating treats in moderation, more doable.
And I totally agree that if you go with the notion that you CAN have some.. and you pick and choose, you'll be able to eat less than if you go with the idea of not having any.. because then you do have some and toss the whole thing to the wind and eat whatever.
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melanie
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Um...I wait until January. That's what God made New Year's resolutions for. 
No, seriously, my best advice is to eat before you go when you know there will be junk. Something very filling and healthy, like a huge salad with a chicken breast cut up in it. If I'm not hungry at all, it's so much easier to just taste a little and walk away.
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snowbabiesmom
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| Posted: Dec 28 2009 at 10:40pm | IP Logged
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I'll go with tiramisu too ... you can have ham and turkey any day of the year!...
I do LOVE the idea of having a hot cuppa something.. My dh won't have a slice of anything without a cup of coffee.
( Generally speaking though.. I usually try to serve the kids and then I just get the spoon.. I got a taste, but thats it.. I go and clean the kitchen) I suppose a cup of tea would allow me to sit more at the table with everyone) 
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4Real Forums : Our Lady of Good Remedy and Care
Topic: How do you avoid holiday goodies?
