Please help me not to put on a stupid amount of weight this Christmas

[Spicychickentenders]

I need tips please.

I seem to lose all control as it approaches Christmas. I struggle with cravings/temptations anyway, and it's a constant battle trying to stay a healthy weight for most of the year. However, as Christmas approaches..all self-control flies out the window!

The combination of massively increased levels of temptation...every single place you go(worst culprit is the staff room!) is filled with delicious Christmas themed goodies/increased amounts of social events and dark, cold nights/sprinkling of seasonal affective disorder....

I always, always put on a silly amount of weight at this time of the year. I then get increasingly sadder as my clothes get tighter(whilst still feeling powerless against the lure of lebuckchen), and my self confidence plummets, then I spend a good proportion of the year trying to lose the weight I put on in those few weeks...

Does anyone manage to avoid the seasonal weight gain? How? Tips please. Thanks in advance.

Decide how long Christmas will last in your house. We don't actually get loads more food in. Just more if we're having guests.
Don't stock up on biscuits and cakes just for yourself.

My way is probably very boring sounding but I treat it the same as rhe rest of the year.

I track track track everything and stick to my workout routine. I do ease up on Christmas day itself 😂😂😂

How much weight are you putting on and over what time period.

Decide that Christmas starts on 23/12 and ends on 26/12. Cut down 27/12 until NYE and then stop over indulging on 2 Jan.

How much do you put on? And when do you start rhe eating?

I try to eat more, at meals etc, so I’m full of healthy savoury stuff and can’t fit as much chocolate in. Whereas if I try a December diet I just eat all the biscuits as it’s impossible to avoid being around them.

One treat a day the 2 weeks before Christmas. Including work... so I decide, do I want a chocolate enrobed cherry in kirsch... or a sweet claggy roses choc from the tin at work... make your treat worth the calories to you and it is an easy choice. And the anticipation makes me say no more easily too.

From breakfast on Christmas Eve to dinner on Boxing Day, I will eat whatever I want. There's only so much damage that can be done in three days!

For any other occasions (Xmas meal out, NYE etc) treat them as you would any other time of year. Eat a bit less the few days before or after, or fasting, or whatever.

If you eat a lot one day skip breakfast the next. I have found this works after the weekend. And keep up with exercise.

And tracking in advance. Then you know how much you are planning to eat and how much extras would take you over what you are planning.

As a rule I only buy a few "treats" and don't open them until Christmas Eve.

I also continue to meal plan so that we're making the most of the food we buy.

DH already knows what shifts he will be working so I've planned for us to get out as much as possible, so we will be going out for a walk on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, DD and I will go swimming when he's at work.

We tend to eat very simply for breakfast and lunch, as we would normally and have slightly more "celebratory" meals in the evening.

We're not big drinkers so that helps with not going OTT, and as always the fruit bowl is well stocked so when it comes to snacking that's the first option.

Having said all that, there will be times when I lay on the sofa with a huge tin of Quality Street and cheese its, I just don't do it every day of the holiday.

How do you resist all the staff room treats though?!! I think that tends to be the biggest issue for me.

I probably start binging around mid November, this continues till around the 1st week in Jan, at which point I've gorged so much, and my clothes are so tight, that I can't face anymore rich food. I then start the 'healthy eating' kick. It takes absolute ages to lose the weight, and I spend the whole time depressed with self esteem in my boots, cause I feel and look so grotty.

I usually put on a stone at least.

I work mostly from home!
Seriously, keep the extra treats to just a few days and not weeks on end. The pleasure isn't worth the pain afterwards.

Sorry if this is an annoying answer but have you tried intuitive eating? I think it's the only real way to combat a binge-diet cycle.

So all the "treats" that are around, you begin to see them as just another food you can eat, just like you could eat a banana or a yoghurt etc. Food is food. So if you fancy eating 2 chocolate bars that's fine, but then really listen to your body the rest of the day/the next day and lean into cravings (healthy and non).

The idea of needing to "control" your eating means things feel naughty and you eat loads. But as soon as nothing is naughty & you trust yourself to not go out of control, it's less appealing to binge as you could just eat that thing every day if you wanted.

Sorry if this sounds patronising and hasn't worked for you - I know it doesn't for everyone!

I eat what I want when I want on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and refuse to let myself feel guilty about any choices (giving myself permission somehow actually means I probably eat less than if I was feeling crap about what I was eating) and then that’s it in terms of indulgence food.
Other than that I track my calories on my fitness pal and if I want something Christmassy (lebkuchen I’m looking at you!) then I have it - but I’d be more likely to just have one and make it fit in with my daily calories goal or sometimes just a tiny bit over.
Works for me as i would pig out from now until new year if I could! Lol

To some extent if this is the cycle you get into every year and it takes months to lose with a side order of self loathing, then you need to remember those feeling and that struggle every time you're faced with a "treat".

I'm not saying don't indulge, not at all, but every single thing you put in your mouth will result in hard work and regret next year. So make sure everything you eat is absolutely worth it! Don't just eat because its on offer, don't go back for more (unless its really really good ) and always keep in the back of your mind how easy it is to eat, but how hard it is to work off.

Could you plan some nice walks? Even if it’s round the houses of an evening to see the lights.
Make a list of nice food that’s also reasonably virtuous. Smoked salmon, satsumas and sable grapes are already on mine. Drinks too, fragrant tea, nice coffee, sparkling waters etc.
We used to have hat we called a Boxing Day tea, which was cold meats, salads etc. A refreshing change from the richness of Christmas Day.
Be fastidious. If you are having biscuits or chocolate, have a little of the best, rather than the cheap stuff.

Stay out of the staff room.

Designate two or three silly days where you can literally eat what you want. The rest of the time, have the occasional treat if you can burn it off / eat less later etc.
I do eat extra things for a couple of weeks in Dec, but I also increase my exercise. The weather often makes it difficult to start, but once you do it's such an amazing feeling to get out and do some exercise, even in the rain/snow, then to head home to get cosy and enjoy your snack knowing you earned it!

If staff room treats are tricky allow yourself one day a week where you can have a staff room treat and hold off the rest of the week. Compensate in other ways that day with less calorific choice at meal times.
The rest of the week go to the staff room armed with a healthy snack so at least you’re not left with nothing at all.

are you allowed/able to chew gum at your work place?

it's such a good "trick".
you already have something in your mouth so
a, you look like you are eating and so less likely to be offered food
b, you can always point to your mouth as say "it's occupied, maybe later"
c, you feel like you are eating (oral stimulation) so your brain might not crave stuff!

"I'll eat/buy/drink one tomorrow" mantra.
It's brilliant. you are not saying no to yourself, you are just saying "not yet".
That delay will give you time to assess if you actually really want one (then have it) or it's just a filler because of boredom, stress, being tired, sad, happy etc.

Maybe set a goal to lose a few lbs and get a bit healthier by Christmas. If you aren't overweight then not a large amount but it might still keep your mindset on being sensible and healthy.

Write all this down in your phone. How disgusted the overeating will make you feel. How long it will take you to lose the weight. How awful it makes you feel when your clothes are too tight. How disappointed you feel. And how its not worth it for the 30 seconds of pleasure when its in your mouth. Then read it any time you are considering taking a treat at work.

I also have rules. I enjoy a daily treat at home when relaxing. But I never snack at work-ever: start that now so its a habit before the snacks are out at work. If i snack in both places ill put on weight fact.

How do you resist all the staff room treats though?!! I think that tends to be the biggest issue for me.
Only eat the ones you will actually enjoy, not the sickly rubbish like Roses. Unless your workplace only has amazing treats?

My workplace rarely has anything that good though, I'll eat homemade Christmas cake but that's about it!