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 generally eat what I would normally eat. I found I was throwing away loads of "treat" foods every year like nuts and dates because nobody was actually eating them. Same with chocolates.

I still have chocolate eggs here from last Easter!

This a million per cent.

I don’t actually eat that much over Christmas as it’s not my preferred kind of food. Also we don’t tend to have lots of chocolates and things hanging around, a few but not just a free for all.

Agree about the parties though, they are a problem. I tend to drink lots and not eat much but I can’t recommend that 😳

I was slim in the past 😅
I tended to just eat normally. I didn't drink alcohol, which helped. So have a "normal" portion, not a huge one. You don't have to eat starters and dessert at the events. Avoid picking etc

When I was slimmer I would eat 3 "normal sized" meals a day (e.g. cereal for breakfast, sandwich for lunch, a normal dinner). No sides, snacks, alcohol, chocolate - or hardly any, once a month maybe. And I was active daily. I did this regardless of the time of year or if I went out for dinner, I wasn't particularly interested in food.

Can to do something like that? Enjoy the meal, but don't overindulge. Keep snacks, pudding, sweets alcohol to minimum to none?

Don't let the "feasting" of Christmas day last all week (or all winter). Keep your exercise up.

No, what I meant is that long walks do not offset a load of crap eating. They just don't.

I no longer run due to achilles issue (boxing day run on my own used to be my favourite of the year) or I'd be joining you in spirit, so walks are my bag. But even 5miles of power walking won't really help if I spent the rest of the day mainlining quality street.

They are brilliant for mental health, work up an appetite for the right kind of food and getting the blood flowing.

But watching the food intake will make the most difference.

Acknowledge your weakness. Mine is mince pies, I can eat half a dozen at a time (and feel a bit sick). Enjoy eating your fave food but stop before you feel sick.

If you don't love it, don't eat it. Are "Roses" really worth it, they're yucky.

Remember to eat loads of veg.

If you have to lose 4lb in Jan, so what!

I have lost 3st this year and have maintained for 3 months. What I have been doing so far after a heavy weekend or meal is cutting down until I am back to my goal range.

In previous years my festive feasting has started mid December and lasted way into January.

This year I have plenty of nights out and things planned so aim to take it easy on days I am not doing anything.

I will carry on the exercise and although a walk after eating won't undo the calories it looks to be good for blood sugar regulation.

However there will be no calorie counting or restrictions on Christmas and Boxing Day .

I usually lose weight before it, so that afterwards I'm back up to my maintenance weight, or not much over. This may be difficult this year though, as I'm 2kg above said maintenance now!!

I go for a 5K run everyday during the festive period, I enjoy it so that helps. I know it doesn't cancel out all the excess calories but I eat what I want to eat and deal with the excess weight gain in Jan.

You can eat a little bit of everything. Watch your portion sizes and it shouldn't be an issue.
After all, once you've had a few bites of something the pleasure of eating it is all downhill from there.

When you make Christmas dinner, concentrate mostly on veggie dishes. Also, don't use so much butter or margarine. For example, mashed potatoes don't need nearly as much butter as people normally put in them.

Try going sugar free with desserts. Monk fruit/erythritol sweetener is good stuff. I use it in all my baking and nobody can tell the difference. I do use a bit of honey just to add that lovely flavour honey gives.

Avoid the empty calories of alcohol as well. People don't tend to realize how many calories they consume in booze because it's not filling.

Dont do xmas.
Mind you i basically live on instant noodles and boiled eggs.

by having a gallbladder that protests if I overeat... so I don't.

Work it off at the gym, if you know you've been bad - extra workout time. Then in between meals out, eat less - I always eat less before eating out (or not at all sometimes). Some bodies seem better at self-regulation than others. I notice I'm less hungry the next day if I've overindulged the day before. Not true for everyone, just lucky in that. Lol, having said all that, I'm in a feeling frumpy state as been having a few treats and slack at the gym for last couple of weeks. Felt good after a workout today - despite the grim guy who was dropping constant eggy fart bombs - thanks for that mate 😷

Don't eat much at parties as the food isn't usually that great. Have a big blow out on Xmas day and eat loads, then just try and get back to normal a few days later. Give away any extra mince pies, chocs etc to a food bank.

Food does weird stuff to me so I don't have to think about it. I just eat normally over Christmas.

I’m weird in that if there is loads of lovely food sitting around I tend to restrict my intake and portions as the sight of lots of food overwhelms me. I probably eat more than I usually would for a couple of days over Christmas but am regimented about my exercise routine which is spin/run/weights daily. For me it’s less about the food but more about the family time. I’m hosting this year so probably won’t be much chance to sit around and eat!

Don’t punish yourself by restricting what you eat on special days but don’t over indulge just because it’s what we’re conditioned to believe we must do because it’s Christmas.

Enjoy your meals but don’t keep eating just because it’s on your plate.

Don’t buy mountains of crap like big tubs of crappy chocolates, instead buy a smaller amount of really good ones.

There’s no need to eat multiples of anything, one mince pie is plenty!

If you’re at a buffet, take one plate of food that you really want to eat and enjoy it.

Basically, if it’s not really good and you’re not hungry, don’t eat it. If it is really good and you’re hungry, enjoy it and don’t beat yourself up about it.

Oh and most importantly, don’t drink wine. It’s so full of calories and gives you the worst hangover. I stick to flavoured gin and soda or ameretto and Diet Coke. And only drink on special days, not every evening.

Keep up the exercise, for your mental health as much as anything.

It’s not greedy to order a dessert when eating out or the sauce you want.