Christmas

[Woopwoop1]

I joined slimming world about 2 months ago but due to financial reasons I can no longer afford to go to classes. I am sticking to the diet and have managed to lose a stone.

I was hoping you could give me some advice as to how you approach Christmas? I don’t want to ruin all the good work I have done so far. I have another stone and a half to go.

I try to stay on plan every day when I don't have something on, but when I've got a work party etc I join in with whatever we are eating/drinking. Life is too short to not enjoy yourself. I try to make good choices with booze and choose spirits and mixers as they are lower syn.

On actual Xmas day I just have whatever is going tbh. But then I am more careful boxing Day, try to be back on plan a bit in-between Xmas and New year.

I'll probably gain overall, but usually getting back on plan in the new year means after a week or two I'm back on track. I think the key is not to just go crazy for the entire week, but enjoy the off plan events! And don't buy loads of extra food like chocolates, mince pies, extra nibbles if you are then likely to finish them off when everyone had gone home.

I stay on plan between days where I have things on. Last year was dh's birthday, my 40th, Christmas and new year and I gained 3.5lbs over the 3 weeks. I thought that considering my 40th was a weekend away not on plan.

I plan to work on enjoying my day without too many sacrifices or trying to syn everything but not going mad. So syn free breakfast- I'll be having a fry-up with egg, mushrooms, beans & HEB toast. Making some mango & chilli prawn skewers for canapés instead of half a box of cheesy footballs as I normally eat on Christmas Day Starter smoked salmon, SW roasties, lots of free veg, stuffing balls made with Linda Mccartney sausages and a few herbs added, lean turkey. Not worrying about the gravy too much and pudding will be a small portion of Christmas pud. I'm cutting up HIfi bars into bite size pieces for when everyone else is gorging on chocolate and not buying any cheese this year as I can't stop once I start.

For drinks I'm going for Buck's Fizz rather than prosecco (3.5 vs 5 syns a glass) , gin and slimline and limiting wine to my meal.

The key is not continuing the next day so we're still entertaining but will have a free breakfast again, leftovers then making a big SW friendly casserole for the following evening.
We're trying to be a bit more frugal this year anyway so not buying large bags of nuts, selection boxes, cheese platters, vats of cream or pointless nibbles.

I've resigned myself to a gain that week but weighing in Christmas Eve and again NYE and hoping it's not too awful.

Thanks, some good ideas. Need to remember that it’s one day and not a week!

Hopefully a good breakfast will stop me picking before lunch and I will find an alternative to all the nibbles I would normally have in the afternoon and evening.