Countdown to CHRISTMAS and thriving TOGETHER through the festive season - WE CAN DO IT!!!

[loveyouradvice]

Hello lovely people

Wow - how did that happen so fast?

Come and share your plans on here for December - some of us are aiming to lose a few pounds and then relaxing over the Christmas period.... All of us are creating strategies and plans that we believe will work for us.

Come and join us!! We’re a friendly group that uses Fasting in one form or another to lose weight or maintain our weight loss. We all have our ups and downs, and welcome insights from others and laughter along the way.... pirates and dachshunds will pop their heads up, we're in awe of those shredding with Jillian and lifting significant weights (beyond our own!) and impressed when we get our steps in.

Fridays are our informal day for weighing-in (optional) and reflecting on the week – often with ideas for self-care and new goals for the coming week.
We cheer each other on, and commiserate when things don't go to plan.
If you’re new to this group, do introduce yourself and share your hopes and plans.

Some of us find daily posting helpful for accountability - others just pop in every now and then

I for one will be posting everyday from 20 December and know the accountability and encouragement from you all really helps. Meanwhile, I'm aiming to stay at 10.12 AND enjoy parties and festive meals... mainly by balancing indulgent days with lowish-calorie/low carb fasting days. And my Christmas approach is to Eat consciously... and enjoy EVERY mouthful. As soon as I notice myself eating unconsciously, I'm having a few quiet minutes by myself - even if midst cooking Christmas dinner!!

Hello everyone 🤗 -especially @loveyouradvice as you really do seem to have some great advice!
I've read some of the thread but not all because I need to get on and post for my motivation.

Quick summary of me: I turned forty last month. I've a 14 month old (still breastfed) and a VERY full on 3 year old who hates sleep but struggles with the lack of it. I'm definitely sleep deprived but holding on in there. I'd hoped to have last baby then got to healthy weight before my 40th but the weight has not shifted(has risen) since baby's birth.
I'm conscious that perimneopause could be round the corner so I do want to lose weight before that makes it even harder.
I've had success with fasting before loosing about 18kg over a year. But then pregnancy and kids happened.

So here I am now. Been fasting a few days started at 76kg (29.7 bmi) now at 74.4 which is water weight but is still less fat to need to loose.

Aim is healthy weight which is 64 kg for me.
I'm doing 18:6. I'm using chat gpt as a diet coach/ cheerleader which is helping me a lot I think.

Looking forward to chatting with you all and supporting each other.

Welcome @5humpedcamel - what a great name!!

Good to have you on here.... and Im a little in awe that you've started fasting just as Christmas is round the corner... what's your plan for the next week or so??

And I'm intrigued about using chat get as a dietcoach/cheerleader - how does that work??

And @5humpedcamel I may have some great advice but I'm wondering if I listen to it??

Did I stay away from the table at yesterday's party? No I didn't - I ate masses of ham, a smidge of smoked salmon and parma ham - my mindset seemed to be "it's protein, it doesn't count"... but given we were only there for 90 minutes and going to friend's for supper, that was more than a little mad.

Proud of how I ate for the rest of the day - moderate, enjoyable, gave my potatoes to DH...

So DC back from uni this evening- mulled cider and pigs in blanket traditional... I'll craft my day around that, and use "moderate" as my watchword for the day. And then one more day of ease as no socialising tomorrow ... I'd like my weight to go down a little before three days of indulging more!!

SW (Xmas): 10.12.6
CW: 10.13.6
GW (max): 11.2

Hmmm... edging up...ate 4 mini Lindt reindeer rather than just one last night... otherwise on track....Today a "sensible" day before the Christmas feasting begins...

SW (Xmas): 10.12.6
CW: 10.13.8
GW (max): 11.2

How are you doing @StealthSightHound ? I know Christmas is a tough time for you, mitigated in part by a warm and loving DH and DDs... and that you have done AMAZINGLY over the last two years to create a STRONG body that I am in awe of. I'm having a second session with a PT today and my goal this year is to build a STRONG body.... you are one of my inspirations

@loveyouradvice I bet it was all that protein at the party table that enabled you to eat calmly and pass on the potatoes for the rest of the day. Perhaps your instincts aren't far off?

My plan for the next couple of weeks is to nail the fasting window without overly stressing about what I eat within it- that can be phase 2 in January. Having said that I am making sure I break my fast with high protein and then wait a bit before reaching for anything else. I've also sent all chocolate with my DH to work so that I'm not tempted!

With Chat GPT I'll tell it when I'm finding it tricky to stick to my plan and it comes back with reminders about going for protein first, that I'm not weak- just tired, that a lot of my hunger is real but a psychological comfort rather than a physiological need. More than anything it is just a way of me distracting myself from grabbing at some food because when I get the urge to eat I grab my phone to talk to Chat GPT instead. I guess I'll have the phone addiction to work on next!

Your evening sounds AMAZING. Mmmmm mulled cider.

Hey all, a quick post to stay in touch. I’ve been a bit off track for a few days last week but pulling myself back on track yesterday and today focusing on my earlier eating window. What’s in it has unfortunately included quite a few mince pies and brandy cream but also good low carb breakfasts. Fasted from
4pm yesterday and 2pm today.
Fabulous work @loveyouradvice you are doing brilliantly. I love the idea of getting Strong next year I think I need to set some strength goals too. Welcome @5humpedcamel it’s not easy when you’re sleep deprived but well done for getting started fasting anyway!

Aah @tiredwitless it's so good to have you back... congrats on pulling yourself back on track and focussing on your eating window... What's your plan for the day??

@5humpedcamel I'm loving how you are using ChatGPT - I think I'll give it a go. Sounds like you have a fab Christmas plan and a strong Phase 2 for January!

Me yesterday - my weight is nudging up... Im okay with that although I would rather it didn't.... but I enjoyed tasting the mixture (super yummy) as I make sticky toffee pudding to take to our festivities tonight... Im enjoying eating chocs with my DH and DC, feeling festive and indulgent as I limit them and accompany with clementines, which I adore!!

Today a healthy lunch with an old friend and then enjoying lots of protein and veggies at the spread tonight - alongside a small slice of traditional pork pie!! - and Im having greek yogurt with a small portion of sticky toffee.... I'd love to start Christmas Day still in the 10s but think it is very unlikely!!

SW (Xmas season): 10.12.6
CW: 10.13.8
GW (max): 11.2

Okay... my plan, here goes... the 5 As...as I take Action:

Awareness: lots of noticing and no judgement – unless it’s a positive one which I'll magnify and enjoy:

• Observing myself and what I do ... reflecting afterwards if I both would have liked to do it differently, and what would have helped me do it differently...
• Weighing myself each morning – just for information, no emotions linked to the number...and helps me cut back the next day if it goes up too fast!!
• Mindful body brushing each morning – relishing my new body
• Noticing how different my body feels leaping up the stairs or walking down the street – it wants to move and enjoys it – and I enjoy it enjoying it!!
• Eating everything consciously not unconsciously – really relishing the yummy indulgences – and noticing if I start moving into “hoovering” mode...
• Feeling pride in how I’ve eaten each day before I go to sleep and pride in the gift I am giving my body and mind by doing this ... not skipping over it, but feeling deep and real pride in what I’m achieving
• Reminding myself how triumphant I’ll feel in January still wearing all my favourite clothes, with a clear head and light body, enjoying my success in doing so
• Be aware of the wee demon sitting on my shoulder cheering me on to overeating – just saying hello, I know you’re there.. and imagining him (yes it’s a him!!) stomping his feet with rage as I refuse to listen to him

Anchors: supportive reminders

• Post it notes on my bathroom mirror:
• Delay, don’t deny
• I can do hard things
• Relish every mouthful
• I have power over food
• Book out on sitting room table – A Healthy You in Just Two Weeks
• “Breathe” post it on the larder door ... reminding me to breathe slowly and reconnect with what I truly want
• One of my beautiful dresses that I can now wear hanging on the wardrobe door for me to see and revel in each day
• Tapping into memories of how I did it last Christmas – my first “healthy” Christmas – and how I enjoyed the triumph of going to a couple of parties and not eating anything (after several days of indulgence!!)

Accountability: yes, really helps me:

• Coming on here daily to post weight and thoughts about how I’ve eaten
• Telling my DH what my eating plan is: at the beginning of the day, and especially just before we go into a sociable event – and then at the end of the day how it’s gone
• Planning how I am going to eat each day and how long my window will be – knowing which are my indulgent days, which my balancing and restrained days

Accessibility: makes a huge difference to me:

• making sure lots of lovely things for me to eat everywhere I look at home: my limitless foods: bowls of clementines, physalis, cherry tomatoes, olives, radishes, sticks of celery, cold roast veggies in the larder... kombucha out on the side... all looking beautiful
• reminding myself of easy luxury I can have if feeling like something a bit more indulgent: mini Lindt reindeer, dark chocolate, nuts, small pieces of cheese
• not having the bowls of chocolates, cheese straws, etc out that I used to – unless friends coming round
• eye-level when opening the fridge – greeted by healthy stuff: hummous, etc... Lots of protein if I want a good munch
• setting up my “breakfast bowls” when I wake up and graze on them through morning if don’t eat immediately
• Alternatives – fun films to watch, non-eating activities with friends eg meeting for a walk rather than a drink

Activity: building in “exercise snacks” through the day:

• Leap up and down stairs a few times while getting dressed/making breakfast ... revelling in the ease with which my new body moves... and only DH up so no one to see me running around naked except for superwarm fluffy socks!!
• Dancing for 15 mins at some stage before lunchtime
• Lots of walks – even 10 mins on the spot in front of the telly... clocking up 8,000+ steps
• Doing my 12 minute strength routine at least three times a week

Let's see how it goes!!

Warmest Christmas wishes to all and power to your eating!

So up one pound and so worth it...

Eating window yesterday was 14 hours - finishing with mulled cider, nuts and chocolate at 2 am amidst dancing in the kitchen ...

I am loving learning a new balanced approach to Christmas - gently eating a bit more than last year, truly relishing everything I eat, focussing on lots of protein and veg supplemented by a little bit of this and a little bit of that...

And most important of all for me, avoiding the heavy Christmas fug from too many carbs and sweet stuff...

SW (Xmas season): 10.12.6
CW: 11.0.8
GW (max): 11.2

Happy Christmas everyone! I haven’t posted for a few threads and it is lovely to see old and new faces.

@loveyouradvice - you are amazing, so so well done and I am glad you are relishing your new body and relaxing a teeny bit more this Christmas but still with some wriggle room of your max.

i really need to get back on board and properly lose weight next year- I am having a GP call next week and have already been sent a text messsge link to resources on low fat eating and cholesterol 😫 (I am mid 40s ish). Sorry that’s not very festive. I am having a nice Christmas though. I’m think my aim is not to drag Christmas out until 12th night and will try to start afresh on New Year’s Day (genuinely I think this will be a first if I do this!) and maybe consume a vegetable or two over the next few days.

Terrific aims @Clearingaspace ... wishing you power and enthusiasm as you do! And great to have you back

Well... weight same as yesterday - that feels like a win!!

Noticing is really working for me... I enjoyed Christmas fare but in much smaller portions, had lots of "free healthy" stuff around which I snacked on lots... and the only time I ate unconsciously was with the roast duck skin... Wow was it good. Yes, very fatty, yes I had more than my fair share and YES I enjoyed it.

And I also suspect its why I didnt fancy Christmas pud or mince pies, and was quite happy with bowls of fruit and some choc...

SW (Xmas season): 10.12.6
CW: 11.0.8
GW (max): 11.2

Stay focused and aim with precision and the good things will come.

Hi all, sorry I’ve been MIA. It’s been a very full on December so weight loss hasn’t been priority. All 3 kids been ill, and my husband got so ill he went into hospital couple weeks ago (so I was stress eating)
He came home before Xmas, which we were all very happy about.

Feeling very ready to get back to eating healthy, doing 5:2 and getting back to 10k steps again. First 800 fast day going to be tomorrow. Ive remained the same weight (thought I would have gained but somehow haven’t)

Anyway, Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and well done for what you had all achieved this year.
2026 will be our year to reach goals

current weight: 12 stone 3
goal weight: 10 stone 8
Lbs to lose: 23 lbs

Hurrah @Herewegoagaintake3 - good to have you back.

That sounds like a seriously challenging December.

2026 will indeed be our year to reach goals!!

And wonderful that you have stayed the same weight - sometimes that just happens and is a real gift.

Hope your Fast 800 goes well tomorrow - do come back and tell us!

Well, I'm feeling incredibly fortunate/lucky ... my weight is back under 11 stone.

I did feel proud of how I ate yesterday... having yummy healthy things around to snack on seems to make it easy. So big family meal and I ate masses of protein and veg - and nibbled on radishes, tomatoes, sugar snaps and olives...and yes did have a wee bit of pud...and what amazed me was when the tempting chocolates came round, while we were watching a movie together, all I wanted was a couple of squares of my 90pc lindt.

18 months ago I would be asking - Who is this woman? It is SO far from how I've ever experienced eating before. It feels easy. I'm also aware it is fragile and could collapse at any moment. But for now Im enjoying it and gently remembering I'm learning a new way of eating.... and celebrating the practising.

SW (Xmas season): 10.12.6
CW: 10.13.2
GW (max): 11.2

How's everyone doing?

I'm going for 8h windows of good food for today and tomorrow - then a couple of sociable evenings - and then calm until 12th....

Intrigued to read that the average Christmas weight gain is 5lbs... and that the Italians don't gain... lots of delicious incredibly good quality food eaten in small quantities and low on alcohol (u dont get drunk around family!) and the rubbishy bits we tend to adore... Not sure if true, but I like the approach. Think I might adopt it!! I'm enjoying my NYE plan with mates... sticky toffee pudding with greek yogourt (yes, same one as Xmas Eve, I made extra, they can have ice cream and double cream) ... complemented by a platter of “healthy things” for nibbling (radishes, baby toms, olives, celery… and tangies/physallis/kumquats… and dark choc!!)... it worked well on boxing day too!!

SW (Xmas season): 10.12.6
CW: 10.13.4.... so stable and I'm happy with that
GW (max): 11.2

Well, that's a nice surprise - back to pre-Christmas weight... 3 more sociable evenings to go so expect it to bounce up again but feels good so far.

What's really working for me, curiously, is having my usual large breakfasts and feeling full and satisfied for the day, together with lots of "free foods" around in beautiful bowls ... yes, I adore kumquats and physalis! And I don't seem to have a yearning for chocolate at the moment - Im just eating 3 squares of my 90pc with different nuts through the day. This may change any moment ... and there are delicious chocolates awaiting.

I ate in a 9 hour window yesterday, expect to do similar today, and then longer windows on 30th and 31st.

SW (Xmas season): 10.12.6
CW: 10.12.6
GW (max): 11.2

Thanks and well done @loveyouradvice thats great your back to pre Xmas weight! That’s a good idea swapping ice cream to Greek yogurt.

I managed to fast until 11:30am today and finished the day on 780 calories. Had boiled eggs and celery as lunch and salmon, rice and veg for dinner. Feeling positive (and hungry) going to bed tonight. Will do another 800 ish cal day weds NYE or Thursday.
Having 3 small kids means NYE will be a quiet one anyway, il probs be tucked up in bed by 10:30pm 😂

Hows everyone else day been?

Hello @Herewegoagaintake3 ... t his is sounding good... totally get the desire of an early night on NYE with 3 littlies... enjoy. Might you share the impact of Christmas on you so far??

And me... OOPS!!! A classic... after my triumph yesterday my weight's gone back up... Not a disaster, as there is room for flex but feeling rather foolish as the last 2 days were planned as my "rebalance, reduce" days and I now have two sociable evenings ... Hmm..

So... what happened? I ate two small, even very small, portions of sticky toffee pudding and 3 mini lindt bears alongside my usual food... oh, and a lot of gammon so the salt in that may have helped retain water.

Why? Tired, emotional, concerned about a relative....

What could I have done differently?

• Noticed earlier and have a script ready and waiting: asking myself questions (aloud, so I really hear them) around what is more important to me, the weight loss or the pudding? Reminding myself Delay Don't Deny and I can do hard things...
• And offered myself a desirable alternative - a delicious cocoa that I really enjoy and comes in at 20 cals a cup... I forgot, and would have preferred it
• Recognise that when in the grip of tiredness/emotions, I need to be prepared... and ask my DH to be prepared to support... asking me to declare to him what I really want...

So:
SW (Xmas season): 10.12.6
CW: 11.0.0 .... up 1.4lbs overnight from my triumphant 10.12.6
GW (max): 11.2

And my commitment today to eat as before, learning how to eat socially - small portions except of protein and veg... perhaps fill up on veg before I go out to sups...remind myself I am practicing a new skill and I CAN DO IT

Oops... read your previous post too fast @Herewegoagaintake3 - I see that somehow you managed to stay the same weight which is quite phenomenal given all the pre/Christmas challenges...

Any goals for next 4-5 weeks?? And all power to you doing this with 3 little ones...

Darn.. up again... ate healthily yesterday but in an 11 hour window - and didn't have my usual long walk!

so nudging close to my "festive limit"

I'm going to enjoy tonight (modestly!) and then have two rebalancing days so hopefully will get back under 11 before a party on the 3rd, and then, phew, life returns to normal...

SW (Xmas season): 10.12.6
CW: 11.1.4... so up 3 pounds in just 2 days
GW (max): 11.2

Confession time... I am so not there yet with my new way of eating ... so often effortless, but if big emotions or tired and wired (like last night) get in the way, I seem to lose it...

So lovely NYE, ate fine, a bit much but not really... then came home and wanted a midnight feast...

What I did

• ate secretively, hiding from DH -2 or 3 slabs of sticky toffee pudding, a small slice of delicious chocolate birthday cake, 3 small slices of yummy apple cake made by a friend
• and when DH went to collect DC, then I lovingly embraced the concept of a midnight feast, chose a beautiful small plate that had been my Mum's, and put a small slice of each of the above on it, together with two rye crisps with a smear of very delicious cheese

The positives - I did not binge, but almost did - yup, the wee red food devil on my left shoulder cheered me on in eating stuff I wasn't enjoying (the sticky toffee pudding) as well as the stuff I did (the chocolate cake, the apple cake, the cheese) AND I had taken two gorgeous healthy platters to NYE (one of fruit, one of celery, radishes, olives) which I'd enjoyed enjoying with others - relishing both their deliciousness and their healthiness

What I would have liked to have done

• Have owned the desire for a midnight feast and given it conscious love and attention, choosing what I really wanted to eat and enjoying it
• Recognising it is just one night and that it's okay to indulge occasionally so long as I do it consciously, rather than hurrying in to unconscious disfunctional eating, losing myself in a thoughtless fug, diminishing the pleasure in the food I eat
• Have created that beautiful small plate, as I did (above) while recognising that sticky toffee pudding really wasn't my thing and having 2 small slices of the much healthier apple cake instead
• Recognise and indulge how much deliciousness matters to me... and reconfirm what I truly find delicious now... and cultivate the habit of having small amounts of things I love

Today

• eat moderately - lots of healthy stuff - only dark chocolate, a couple of squares, and no other pudding-like stuff
• consciously reminding myself that I am choosing this and love the way it makes me feel, both emotionally and physically
• given DC and partner at home I'm keen to model healthy eating, not disfunctional ways (so not doing the 24h fast I would do if solo)
• re-embrace the person I know I am now.. slim, with lots of positive comments from friends about how I look, loving wearing clothes I love and how my body now moves... embracing becoming a "strong and balanced" woman in the NY, with lots of focus on exercise and fun, and delicious food which will always be at the centre of my life
• not fast today, just have these two days of rebalancing eating, healthy, delicious, nurturing...and then an enjoyable party on Saturday when I will relish the food (but not the pud, I usually find it genuinely easy now to pass on super-sweet stuff... especially if I pack a couple of pieces of dark chocolate in my bag).... and then a lovely week of no social engagements that involve food for 8 days, when I will truly relish nourishing my body and embracing what it means for me, including much shorter eating windows to help my body reclaim its weightloss

SW (Xmas season): 10.12.6
CW: 11.3.8... so 5lbs up: over 2 pounds last night, 3 pounds the preceding 2 days
GW (max): 11.2

I should check if there’s a Jan thread yet, but no fasting days between Christmas and New Year’s. None of the days worked and all was delicious!

Up about 2 pounds but might include some water weight.