Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Do you expect to gain weight over the festive period?

14 replies

TitaniasAss · 29/12/2023 15:39

I understand many people don't watch their weight because they either don't have to or don't want to, so this is really just a question for those who do.

I've lost quite a lot of weight this year and feel/felt great. I've thrown myself into eating and drinking pretty much what I want over Christmas etc with the notion that as soon as I'm back at work on Tuesday I'll get back to 'normal'. I'm starting to get a bit worried that I'll do what I've done in the past and struggle get back into eating better, especially if I've put on more weight that I would have liked. I know that sounds mad but I know what I'm like.

How to you get yourself back on track and how much do you reckon you'll have gained?

OP posts:
PuffyShirt · 29/12/2023 15:41

Definitely. I have drunk loads every day and eaten far more than usual. I haven’t been to the gym since last Saturday. I’ll easily have gained 4lbs.

I will get back on track next Tuesday and cut down a bit more than usual for a week or so. Dry Jan always helps too.

Quiregirl · 29/12/2023 15:41

A kilo maybe? I keep active over the holiday (especially with all the extra work guests bring!) but have indulged a little bit when it comes to Christmas pudding and mince pies and cream. It'll take a couple of weeks but it'll be gone by end of Jan.

Gliblet · 29/12/2023 15:42

I know I'm going to have gained a few pounds but I also know that getting back into my normal routine of exercise (classes start again next week), work, one big shop instead of having time to mooch around buying whatever looks nice etc will help me get back on track.

When I go on holiday I'm not as productive as I am in a work week but I'm damned if I'm going to keep setting a 6am alarm and targets for myself 😁

BrimfulOfMash · 29/12/2023 15:44

Yes, I am sure I will have put some weight on.

But I am just planning to return to my healthier easting habit, maybe with some deliberately 'light' days so that I get back on track.

I am maintaining now, 3 years after weight loss - but maintenance, like losing, is full of little up-spikes in the graph. It doesn't mean it has all gone to pot. Just get back to your healthier / lower calorie intake.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 29/12/2023 15:46

I gained 3lbs, back on track now. Have lost over 3.5 stone this year so know what to do.

PuffyShirt · 29/12/2023 15:48

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 29/12/2023 15:46

I gained 3lbs, back on track now. Have lost over 3.5 stone this year so know what to do.

3.5 stone? That’s amazing!

Paperbagsaremine · 29/12/2023 15:50

The slimming world weigh in said 0.9 kg!

But January is full of people keenly exercising and dieting, so it's the easiest time of the year to get back on the wagon. Staying on it in February and March takes a bit more focus!

TitaniasAss · 29/12/2023 15:52

I'm actually sick of rich food about now. 😂 I feel like I just want to eat light over the next few days so that's a good sign that I'll get back on track I suppose.

OP posts:
Ambi · 29/12/2023 15:52

I'll have gained a few pounds (not weighed for a bit) as I haven't been to the gym this week and have enjoyed some chocolate and wine that will not be allowed after today. I've kept my steps up and kept portions small to mitigate any gains. I was (prior to Xmas) 16lbs down from Oct and I still have another 4.5st to go.

OnSilverStars · 29/12/2023 15:54

Yes I've been drinking way too much. And eating everything. I always say this year I'm not going to do it and then it creeps in. However I feel so disgusted with myself in January I usually manage to undo it.

However this means I don't really lose weight like I want to because im constantly losing and gaining the same 5lbs. As I eat what I want too often like birthdays, holidays, stressful days.... ConfusedBlush

Marylou2 · 29/12/2023 15:55

Maybe a pound or 2. Back in the gym this morning. No alcohol. It'll be off by the middle of January.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 29/12/2023 16:05

PuffyShirt · 29/12/2023 15:48

3.5 stone? That’s amazing!

Thanks 😊

ImTiredBoss · 29/12/2023 16:17

I lost 2 stone as of Christmas eve. Since then I have been bingeing my way through chocolate, biscuits and Crisps. Wouldn't surprise me if I put on between 5-7lbs.
Do I hate myself? Nope. It's one week out of another 52 that's about to start.

I'm not going to reduce my already reduced calorie intake further to "make up" for enjoying the treats.
I'm not going to do intense workouts every day to "burn off" the Christmas indulgence.
I'm not going to pledge to not consume chocolate/Crisps/whatever as my new years resolution.

I'm simply going to enjoy the rest of the festivities, accept that I have had a temporary weight gain, and then get back to my normal routine next week.

It doesn't matter what you do between Christmas and New year. It's what you do between New Year and Christmas that matters most.

Sladuf · 29/12/2023 17:08

Yes I do!

I remember feeling this way the year I’d lost a lot of weight.
You’ve already developed the willpower with your success earlier in the year and can do it again. You’ve got this as the saying goes!

I was 17/18 when I had my big weight loss, mainly because I just cut all “crap” out of my diet apart from a takeaway every Saturday - usually a curry - and started swimming/walking daily. My mother and I had a battle of wills but I was eventually convinced to eat chocolate, crisps, cake etc at Christmas. I decided as soon as January came to revert back to being super strict again.

You probably won’t have put that much on. I think that first Christmas I was 3lbs heavier than I’d been on December 23rd going into the New Year. By end of January I weighted a 1b less!
Being super strict wasn’t something I could do in the long term. However, I have been able to find the willpower I developed back then to resist overindulging the rest of the year.

I’ve found the following helps me:

Set small and achievable exercise and food “challenges” to get back on track after Christmas. It’s a sort of “give up 1 thing and start doing 1 thing” approach.

I’ve been in the habit of going to the gym at least 4 times a week and plan on continuing this next year. At one point years ago I’d go 6 times a week - madness! I have gone once this week. I’m going tonight and plan to tomorrow as well, so not doing too badly on this score already (assuming I stick with the plan). A lot of the willpower I have gets used on making time for the gym to be honest. It seems to work for me.

Food wise I’ll start cutting out things I know don’t do me any good eg chocolate from the start of January. Easier if it’s not around and I purposely avoid the aisles when I go shopping. I’ll set myself a challenge of not eating any chocolate, for example, for a week. Then I’ll see if I can not eat any sweet treats at all for a fortnight etc.

Exercise wise I set small goals. In the past that’s been anything from gradually increasing how many lengths I can swim in 30 minutes to increasing using heavier weights for certain exercises/ starting a new workout plan.

By mid-January I’ll look to see if I can be stricter about meals during the week.
Around mid-February I’ll be a bit stricter on weekend meals too. I mentioned above my one constant treat when I first lost the weight was still having a takeaway on a Saturday. I still do this now. By middle of February or certainly start of “Lent” I’ll stop ordering chips with the takeaway curry and just have a curry and rice. Saturday would usually be the one day a week I’d eat chips.

Good luck!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page