Can I keep it together over Christmas?

[HungryHelena]

Hi all,

My whole adult life I had been between 9-10 stone, until 2020 when I gained a couple of stone. I realised in June 2020 and lost the extra weight, however it was/is a real struggle. I take medication which makes me extremely hungry so it is bloody difficult and I tend to go massively overboard on special occasions/holidays. For context, over Christmas last year I gained 11lb (yes, 11!) and it made me feel like RUBBISH! This year I am about 5lb less (BMI 19.2) than I was in Dec last year, and so far I haven't overindulged.

I've planned proper meals for days I haven't got plans, and I'm really going to try not to go totally overboard. Last year it took me until April to lose that Christmas weight.

Is anyone in a similar boat?

Yes, I am. I missed out on the past few Christmases because of the pandemic (isolated for the first two, then last Christmas family member had covid badly) so the draw to over-indulge is strong ("the chance might not be there again", "you've missed out"). The thing is, I have missed out! But I can't use that to just wreck my progress.

I have avoided milk chocolate all year but I've already binged on it once, even though I wasn't aware of a binge eating problem. And I ate a whole pack of baklava the other day (small pack).

I think I'm going to have to say I'm only allowing myself the day itself to eat more/bad things as I can't control myself 😭

Lots of people do manage to just have a little of something but unfortunately I'm not one of them 😕

Like you, I gain really easily and quickly, too. I could gain 11 pounds in about ten days, so I understand where you're coming from.

I have managed to continue to
lose weight through December - no nice Christmas food in the house until Christmas Eve and while I have enjoyed a few meals out I haven’t indulged in nearly as much red wine as usual.

I am giving myself a break on the three days of Christmas - but sending excess food home with my house guests. I don’t celebrate New Year’s Eve much - so a glass of champagne and a nice home cooked meal will do it for me.

the danger days are the 28 - 31st.

back to the diet on New Year’s Day!

Yes, I’m in a similar boat. I lost a stone this year and I’m worried about putting at least half of it back on over Christmas and New Year. I’ve already put on 3lbs in the last week so I’m almost half way there already. My partner does a lot of the cooking and he’s planned some delicious meals over the festive season. We’re also going away to see his family on the 27th for 3 days and that means more slap up meals. Plus people always buy me enough chocolate to last till Easter! I don’t want to miss out, or be a party pooper, but I also don’t want to sabotage all my good work this year.

What I really want to know is what do the slim people with a stable weight do? You know, the ones who don't even go up and down. Because that's surely got to tell is something.

*that's got to tell us something (was typing outside in the cold!)

@waistchallenge I suspect they don't weigh often so the natural small fluctuations aren't noticed.

I don't weigh myself, though.

I lost a stone this year and am now at my target weight. It’s hard.

I haven’t weighed myself but suspect I’ve gained about 2lbs in the past 2 weeks. I’ve really tried hard not to overindulge. I’ll have a glass or 2 of wine some nights and have a packet of crisps or 2 or 3 roses or quality street. Yes it’s boring and hard, but any more than that and the weight just piles on, and I prefer being slim and wearing all my nice clothes.
I was 4 stone overweight several years ago, and would have had several packets of crisps in one sitting.

I’m going to be less strict on Christmas Eve, and take Christmas Day off and pretty much eat what I want - full roast and all the trimmings, dessert, etc. roast Sandwiches and Pringles etc, but I’ll probably do an hour of an uphill walk too.

I’ll be a little less calorie strict than usual on the 26th, and starting a strict diet with back to weighing myself (that’s the only way I stay on track) from the 27th.
We have a family meal in a hotel on NYE, so I’ll also probably overindulge at that.

Long walks every day. Pretty strict for all of January. That’s the plan 😬

You said earlier you can gain 11lb over Christmas.

Me too. I've lost 2st 10lb this year and was doing really well but last week I put on half a pound. I'm going to weigh in tomorrow and am expecting a big gain. I know I'll be annoyed but when I'm in the moment I've not got so much willpower and I feel boring as well but it's hard to lose it once it's on

How is everyone doing?

I had three lovely days of eating tummy Christmas food and drinking too much red wine.

I haven’t weighed myself - but I feel bloated.

I have sent all the snacks home with relatives so the house isn’t full of temptation.

hopefully standing g on the scales tomorrow won’t be too upsetting!

I put on weight ridiculously easily too. I have worked really hard to lose weight this year and don't want to undo it all in one fell swoop over Christmas. I still have at least another stone to go before I'm a healthy BMI.

I've had a lovely Christmas Eve, Christmas day and Boxing Day enjoying lots of goodies and drinks. I'm now having 4 days back on my diet and will enjoy New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, then get back on my diet again.

I'm sure I'll have put weight on over Christmas but I want to try and keep it to a minimum!