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Original poster

6am Quality Street diet

166 replies

Helenahandkart · 27/12/2023 06:36

Perimenopausal insomnia means I’m sitting in the couch at 6am eating Quality Street musing about all the people who say that they’re starting their diets today.
How is it possible to start a diet on the 27th? Do these people not have any Christmas chocolate?
I have a fridge full of cream and Baileys, there are peanuts and Twiglets everywhere, and mountains and mountains of chocolate and sweets and gingerbread houses - most of which were given to us as presents. Any plans to diet are postponed until we’ve worked our way through it all.
Do the dieters just throw it all in the bin? And not go to any new year parties?

OP posts:
nutster · 27/12/2023 06:38

I am having a coffee and about to go out for a run. And i haven’t had a a chocolate all christmas (not keen on chocolate!)

OP - we are all different. No need to “understand” anyone but yourself

nutster · 27/12/2023 06:39

Are you happy eating QS on the sofa at 6am? If so, crack on.

If not, put the box down

Cassie71 · 27/12/2023 06:40

Exactly, this is the week when we're allowed to pour double cream on our cornflakes.

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Catsknowbest · 27/12/2023 06:51

Good morning fellow peri insomniac. Haven't hit the chocolate yet but hoping it'll all be gone by Jan 2nd as it is not helping with the weight gain! Partner will hopefully eat most of it

Catsknowbest · 27/12/2023 06:51

Cassie71 · 27/12/2023 06:40

Exactly, this is the week when we're allowed to pour double cream on our cornflakes.

😂

Moredarkchocolateplease · 27/12/2023 06:56

I bought a Xmas cake which didn't get touched on Xmas day. So I sent 3/4 home with my parents yesterday, had a small slice last night and then chucked the rest in the bin so I wouldn't eat it today! Which yes is a bit wasteful, but I'm the only person who likes it and I didn't want it hanging around for me to just eat it.

I made a trifle no-one wanted, I've binned that.

The chocolates are milk and I prefer dark so I'm fine there.

I might still have a bit of cheese though.

So yes, we have a house full of chocolate and biscuits but I might put some away for later in the year, the teenagers will eat the milk chocolate.

After two days of eating without restraint, I'm done and looking forward to my normal oats and Flax for brekkie after I do a workout.

Am also peri menopausal! I'm not a saint, but I'm chunky enough already around the middle 😁

ProfessorPeppy · 27/12/2023 06:57

I gave up chocolate, cake, biscuits and sweets in April and haven’t touched them since. I am still addicted to sugar, so I just don’t eat it. If I ever fancy a Quality Street, I just tell myself it’s the dopamine talking and that it doesn’t even taste that good.

I’ve lost two stone since then. Tbh, I didn’t even give myself permission to eat any of it over Christmas, and I wasn’t too sad about it.

AuntieMarys · 27/12/2023 07:00

And that's why I don't do presents with friends and relatives! I don't want shit loads of chocolate/biscuits in the house. Dh has gone back to work and taken an unopened tub of heroes, and the remaining mince pies .

Beezknees · 27/12/2023 07:02

I start on the second of January.

Mummyoflittledragon · 27/12/2023 07:03

I just think you’re lucky to have got quality street. Mine were substituted for celebrations in the delivery. Just sayin’.

As for indulgence, dd and dh will eat a fair bit. I will eat some too but it’s mostly mince pies and Christmas cake. Neither agree with me so I will eat the occasional one. I am just over 2 stones down but a long way to go. Winter isn’t the time for me to diet though due to my ailing health. Just trying to tread water here, which isn’t easy at Christmas

CatMadam · 27/12/2023 07:08

I find diet culture to be really toxic, I’m quite happy with my chocolates! I’m finding it harder to eat them in moderation now that I’m pregnant and roaming around the house inhaling what I can find, though….

Original poster
Helenahandkart · 27/12/2023 07:08

nutster · 27/12/2023 06:39

Are you happy eating QS on the sofa at 6am? If so, crack on.

If not, put the box down

To be honest, I’m not happy being awake at 6am. But if I am awake, I’d rather be awake eating chocolate under a blanket in the light of the Christmas tree, than awake with nothing to look forward to but low carb steamed fish and broccoli in 6 hours time.

This isn’t really about people who don’t indulge at Christmas anyway. I’ve just noticed that there are a few threads where people are planning to start their diets today and thought it seemed too soon! I didn’t start eating any festive food until the 24th though, so perhaps others started earlier than me and have already had their fill.

OP posts:
Hollyhead · 27/12/2023 07:11

When I diet I still eat all foods, but just at a lesser volume, and I fast until midday, so no need to get rid of stuff out the house. Things like quality street would be perfect actually as I’d have one or two as a ‘treat’.

TwilightSkies · 27/12/2023 07:13

I’d rather be awake eating chocolate under a blanket in the light of the Christmas tree, than awake with nothing to look forward to but low carb steamed fish and broccoli in 6 hours time.

You are aware of the concept of balance?

Eating shit loads of sugar and processed shite will be making your meno symptoms worse. Just sayin.

Mammma91 · 27/12/2023 07:14

I was awake at 4:40 (pregnancy insomnia!) eating one of DS’s many, many chocolate selection boxes at my dining table. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one! Hope you enjoyed and had a lovely Christmas OP! 😊

Original poster
Helenahandkart · 27/12/2023 07:18

24/12 - mince pies and clotted cream
25/12 - breakfast panettone and chocolate orange, Christmas dinner, Christmas pudding with all the cream, cheese
Boxing Day - cheese, luxury chocolate
27th - 30th - cheese, mid range chocolate
30th until please make it stop now - random cheap biscuit selection boxes, peculiar foreign chocolate selection boxes, nasty chocolate coins, sugar candy canes

So basically it’s all good until at least the 30th, at which point I will start to consider reigning it in due to scurvy/massive weight gain/toothache.

OP posts:
Original poster
Helenahandkart · 27/12/2023 07:24

TwilightSkies · 27/12/2023 07:13

I’d rather be awake eating chocolate under a blanket in the light of the Christmas tree, than awake with nothing to look forward to but low carb steamed fish and broccoli in 6 hours time.

You are aware of the concept of balance?

Eating shit loads of sugar and processed shite will be making your meno symptoms worse. Just sayin.

My meno symptoms are equally miserable whether I’m eating a wholesome Mediterranean diet or whether I’m having a little festive food frenzy.
Every other time of the year I wake up at 4am with no joy to be had. For one week at Christmas I eat refined carbohydrates in the glow of the Christmas tree. Stop trying to steal my fun 😂

OP posts:
baubletits · 27/12/2023 07:27

I'm surrounded by loads of delicious Christmas food, but after another day of struggling finding anything nice to wear and everything being too tight, I am starting to change my ways today. I just feel sick of the thought of it all because I've over indulged, at this point I'm not even tempted by the Quality Street! I will probably try to force any treats onto unsuspecting guests 😁

Whoonearthevenareyou · 27/12/2023 07:35

I normally wake at around 5am and this morning I've eaten 3 big shortbread biscuits, half a tray of toffifee and several Christmas Pudding chocolates. So what? I don't do it regularly - I've lost 2 stone recently and 2 stone a couple of years ago so am 4 stone less than a while ago, so who cares about a Christmas blow out? I'm not wasting money by chucking anything out . Enjoy ! January comes soon enough for getting back on the "diet" bus and a lot of goodies to eat before then 😂

Sleeplessinseattle234 · 27/12/2023 07:47

I have not changed my eating this Xmas. I have been dieting since August and I wasn’t un doing all my very long hard to work to stuff myself with chocolate and cakes and regret it instantly.

christmaspawpaws · 27/12/2023 07:54

I've just had a piece of stollen. Back to work today, logged into my emails and people have been emailing and messaging since 6am. The stollen was needed

LaChienneDesFromages · 27/12/2023 07:55

I’m also perimenopausal and I’m surprised you feel exactly the same eating wholesome food compared to ultra processed crap as diet makes a huge difference to me.

I don’t overbuy chocolates etc. at Christmas, and wouldn’t buy stuff like Quality Street anyway. So our treats are pretty much gone by now. Any we are brought and don’t fancy will either go to the food bank (they have long use-by dates and will be a treat for someone.)

We have a vast homemade Christmas cake but that’ll last for months- plus some can go to MIL/BIL. I have half a box of Turkish delight and am enjoying one a day with my evening decaf coffee.

Much as I dislike food wastage, there’s nothing wrong with giving away food you don’t want or need. Or binning it if it’s not good food. You don’t need to gobble it all and I really can vouch for the huge difference a wholesome, fresh diet (as opposed to a ‘losing weight’ diet) can make during perimenopause. Good luck!

warmmfeet · 27/12/2023 07:58

Yikes this thread is making me realise how off piste I have gone. Started eating badly around my son's birthday 2 weeks ago and planning to continue until 2nd Jan.

It seems I am the worst, I thought this was fairly normal! Looking forward to reigning it in tbh.

pharmachameleon · 27/12/2023 07:59

OK I know this is completely missing the point of the thread but walking at 4am each morning must be killing you! Have you tried HRT? It should help. If not magnesium is good too.

NoWordForFluffy · 27/12/2023 08:03

You don’t need to gobble it all and I really can vouch for the huge difference a wholesome, fresh diet (as opposed to a ‘losing weight’ diet) can make during perimenopause.

That's entirely you. I have no difference in how I feel, no matter what I eat. You are aware that peri / menopause is a totally personal experience, @LaChienneDesFromages? You sound rather smug tbh, and using the word 'gobble' has so much scathing judgment behind it. Unpleasant tone.

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