Those who are slim - How do you stay slim over Xmas?

[sarahso]

I've lost a good amount of weight this year, im not quite at my target yet and I'm DESPERATE not to pile a load back on next month. I have 2 x work Xmas dos, DH's work's Xmas do, friends night out, Christmas dinner, Boxing Day dinner.. probably more.

Does anyone have some tips to help gain less!?

I’ve just posted before I read this but yes I do similar.

I try and drop a few kg and up my exercise before so I can pig out

I carry on eating well between meals out, only eat stuff I really genuinely want rather than picking or eating for the sake of it, try and remain active. To be honest a balanced diet is so much part of my life now that it doesn't feel like going without or whatever.

I'll eat and drink more than normal on eg Christmas Day, but as a result, I'll not feel hungry on Boxing Day, so it all evens out in the end

i eat same amount as usual.
it's easy for me as i can't swallow another mouthful once I'm full.
I can't drink alcohol (which is highly calorific), I drink sparkling water instead.
I love dancing at the disco.
Obviously I love puddings, but only cute little delectable ones.

Go easy on the carbs & alcohol, that would be my tip.

Lost my sweet tooth after 41/2 years so chocolate holds no fear!! Might just get some quality chocolate though and eat sparingly.
Don't like cake, pudding or mince pies so can resist those...
Cheese will be my undoing and the wine to go with it!
I'll be extremely careful leading up to it and ditto after!
I have lost the urge to gorge myself on all the UHP stuff now and 41/2 stone lighter for giving it all up.

Oh yes, dislike stollen and panetonne too but would dive head first into boozy trifle! I'll pace myself and do some extra long walks after ...

I think you stick to those events and enjoy them.

Avoid the temptation to eat all the Christmas crap in between (something I've just to master 😂🫣)

You've done extremely well and should be proud of yourself but don't punish your success by not enjoying the food for a few events.

I try to reduce portions when I'm out by only eating half of what I'm given

Don’t eat mince pies, keep off the booze as much as possible. Don’t eat crisps and nuts. I’m just going to have a nice meal on Xmas day and that’s it . I don’t eat loads of chocolate and just won’t buy all that stuff.

It's obvious but just eat less.

I allow myself one or two mince pies across the season, one slice of Xmas cake, a bit of cheese on Xmas day and boxing day etc. I've already had two mince pies, I felt sick afterwards and they gave me a bad stomach because of the sulphites in the fruit, so that's put me off eating any more.

I don't eat sweet chocolate as it makes me feel sick, I stick to meat and veg and fish. Roast potatoes are never worth the calories and the full feeling after.

I don't stop exercising, make it a priority to get up and out v early on boxing day so it doesn't impact on the family.

If Xmas day brekkie is eggs benedict, I don't have the muffin and a tiny spoonful of sauce.

Tbf, I don't enjoy the feeling of gluttony so it's easy really!

I realise this sounds like one of those 'massive salad' posts, but honestly, it's up to you what goes in your body and how you react to a excess of food. No one will do it for you. Good luck and well done on the weight loss!

Exercise more than you usually would (shouldn't be too hard when on holiday) and don't indulge on more than one vice at a time. Ie. Excess alcohol and light on food or excess food and light on alcohol.

Oh and don't be deluded that a few long walks will stop the weight gain. They make bugger all difference.

Track your calories and do some weights PLUS walks.

I make excuses. "I ate my body weight in mince pies last night so I won't have that extra piece of cake now". If I know I'm having a big meal at lunchtime I'll eat light for breakfast and have a salad for dinner. Another good one is to only eat at mealtimes. Continual snacking really messes up my appetite. Keeping up exercise also helps to regulate exercise.

Stay active. Be the one who rushes to answer the door to visitors, carries their cases upstairs,, takes the dog for a walk, fetches stuff from the garage, puts up the lights and the tree. Be the one who suggests a frosty hill walk after lunch or a wander around the streets to look at the lights once the moon is up. Don't slump in front of the TV with a tin of Quality Street on your lap every night.

If the family want extra treats and snacks, buy ones they love that you hate. Nothing would induce me to eat salted caramel anything or cheese flavoured crisps, so if I stock up on those, I am safe.

Champagne and G&T with slimline tonic are low-ish calorie drinks.

Get yourself loads of non food seasonal treats - herbal or spiced bath oils/salts/bubbles, scented candles, beauty treatments, a couple of new outfits that really flatter your new shape.

Ask for fitness gear for Christmas presents - weights, trainers, yoga mats etc so you have an excuse to get out there and try them.

But enjoy the day. It's fine to indulge for a couple of days over Christmas. The problem is if that indulgence starts with advent.

Christmas is massively busy and I spend the whole season running around like a headless chicken. Work retail. When I have time off I’ll be hosting, cooking, cleaning, bedding changing, going out. But also I have some leave so I’ll be able to do longer hikes than normal, get out for some long runs.

I disagree with the above though, going out for long walks absolutely makes a difference to my metabolism. Why would several hours of exercise make bugger all difference? Or do we have a different definition of long walks?

Exactly this here too. I do deffo overindulge on the odd celebration day here or there but otherwise eat normally and it's not enough to put weight on. Also I find often with celebratory events the eating is later in the evening than I would normally eat at home, so it sort of evens out for me a bit as I often go longer without eating in the lead up to it that day than I would usually.

This is my motto.

I stick to the new year to Christmas theme of healthy eating but I do agree it's difficult as Christmas goes on so long. I find having minty chewing gum handy stops me eating lots of chocolate

I get my weight down a few kilos in November, enjoy Christmas, then deal with it in January.

I treat Christmas as Christmas Day and Boxing Day and don't indulge the whole of December. I give away treats we are gifted. I go for walks to keep motivated.

I agree that a long walk makes a difference but for me that would be 5 or 6 miles of power walk or brisk step with heart rate up. I think a lot of people poddle along at snail’s pace (when they could go faster) and think a mile or two shifts loads of calories (which it does not). Obviously anything (even a poddle) is better than nothing though!

I just don’t over eat.

I won't drink alcohol now until Christmas Eve, only homemade treats ( so I have to make them) soup for lunch at least 3 times a week and for dinner one night. I try to do daily yoga mon- fri and move ( a walk or a run) everyday.