So Friday is the 1st of December and we're into the Christmas festivities... lots of parties, eating out, drinking, friends, big meals, selection boxes, and dozing in front of the tv.. ..🍰🍸🍺🍹🍗⛄🎅
So what are your plans to enjoy what's good about Christmas, and still to keep on track?
A bad time to loose weight December ❄️❄️
It is always a good time to lose weight Spade - just decide what food/drink you will, or will not allow to enter the temple that is your body.
You may have a point Spade though an option could be to still eat a bit more so that we maintain instead.
That is my plan exactly, but after spending 10 months in loss mode I am finding it tough to adjust my thinking. After hitting target last week I decided to enter maintenance over Christmas before restarting in 2018. This week is looking like a loss! I will find out tomorrow.
I wish you all the best. Maintenance isn't necessarily the easy nirvana that I thought it might be and most maintainers here work hard to do so. The maintenance monthly meeting is in 'Pinned Posts', which may be of interest.
Wise words indeed Tiggerr as I am currently discovering!
Great idea james... but listen to Tiggerr s words of wisdom... it's another skill to learn how to maintain. It's a great idea to take a break from your weight loss and maintain over Christmas. Best wishes to you😊
I have to admit that I have been surprised how tough maintenance is to get the hang of. You are absolutely spot on that it is a skill that I need to learn. Still very much a novice at it. This week my maintenance skills have achieved a 2lb loss! Next week probably a gain! I will get the hang of it eventually. 😂😃
Interesting post 13Valerie
My plan is stick to sensible eating during the parties, move as much as possible, and be super strict in between. And we still have almost 4 weeks to lose these last few pesky pounds 😊
A wise saying is “it’s not what you eat between Christmas and New Year but what you eat between New Year and Christmas”
Couldn't agree more IndigoBlue61
Love that saying Anna
Great saying and well worth remembering
So true 
I'm gonna buckle up and start water again, cut back on carbs, walk more and try to cut down on soda. I have have gained alot over Thanksgiving and living with my mil. I plan to do lots better in December.
Go you!
Much of what you're doing Valerie but no big meals and/or only 'extras' as part of my regular lifestyle. There'll definitely be some snoozing in front of the TV but most of my exercise happens in the morning, so nothing really changing there.
Some of that was a bit of a lie as I 'hope' to be about 2.5kgs below my maintenance weight so there's some room for manoeuvre.
Then again saying that I feel no real inclination to eat more than I currently do, so I might just end up with a slightly lower maintenance weight.
Signed... confused.com but definitely won't be weighing more by the New Year.
Great positive thinking Tiggerr
I intend to be on the same page as you - weighing no more on the 2 January than I weigh on Christmas Eve.
Well for me I intend to have a fabulous Christmas surrounded by all my family. I will be making up for a lousy one last year when I came out of hospital, more dead than alive, the day before Christmas Eve. My family lovingly tell me I ruined Christmas for them - they were right!
To make sure I remain in good health and and don't jeopardise my new lifestyle all the food I will be eating, and providing for my family will be gorgeous, very tasty and absolutely healthy. No big boxes of chocolates, hoards of mince pies or plates full of shortbread - and I don't think anyone will miss them. I am determined to provide sufficient lovely food without anyone feeling deprived.
To complicate life I have lots of special diets to deal with: lactose intolerance, milk protein allergy, vegetarian, gluten free and FODMAPS, but to is all doable and I am delighted to be doing it.
A super question to pose for us 13Valerie
Great Ceals its an honour to be able to do it isn't it? Wishing you health and happiness 😊
It certainly is, I love to be able to impact positively on the health of all my family. Some of them will have a drink and I will have a glass of champagne. I will also have to make Irish coffee for everyone but I make it with decal coffee and no sugar for me so everything is getting incrementally better. How lucky I am to have found this forum!
Christmas certainly won't be boring at your place Ceals lol
Hope not. I love Christmas, lovely family time.
Great post 13Valerie . Well my tip is to log absolutely everything. Count every calorie and scare yourself into not going mad and overeating too often! Then to go under daily calorie target on days when you can, to try and compensate for any overindulgence.
I joined this forum, Spade57 , almost a year ago - two weeks before Christmas 2016, and I remember asking the question, is this really a good time to start? And the lovely admin team came back and said absolutely! And I have never looked back.
I absolutely love Christmas! This year I shall make tasty food, all the usual Christmas trimmings, but I shall really strive not to overbuy, to plan more carefully, so we’re not tempted to overindulge just to eat it up!
Great reply thanks Hidden all great tips... thanks for your reply. It's always a good time to start... nothing like right now. It's so easy to put things off. 😀
Brilliant example for all of us TT. It can be done.
I told hubby the other day that I didn't want to fill the pantry with all the nibbles we usually get. We can always go the local shop if we feel like picking anything up.
That is the best way to make sure we don't overeat isn't it, don't have it all in the cupboard in the first place. Or worse on pretty little dishes dotted all over the house!!
Thanks for sharing that little gem.
I'm staying in bed and not going out ,only joking .
I have a Christmas works do ,so I will be good as I won't be drinking alcohol.
Can't wait to get back into my excercise routine.lots of running in this cold weather.
Avoid chocolates and mince pies and try to keep busy .
Thanks for asking 13 Valerie.
Gary
I've decided to wait till Christmas day to have a mince pie and one on st Stephen's day.. I'll buy a special box of dark chocs just for me and the kids can have the usual rubbish ones that are so addictive😊
My plan is to drive a lot! This is mainly to save money as I still want to go 'out out' but can't afford to drink. The bonus will be saved calories
Also, I don't buy selection boxes and wait until actual xmas week to buy mince pies. Lots of dog walks during my fortnight off over the holiday...can't wait. I hate looking out of the office window when the sun is shining then going home to walk the pupkin in the dark 
Long walks means you can still have a good meals and a nice sit down after
Long winter walks sounds good Active - hope to persuade my grandchildren it is a good idea. Presumably if they have their scooters/bikes we will be fine.
Yes Active_43 it's a great idea to get together and get active outside. Daylight is so precious at this time of year💥
My plan is to keep filling in my menu plans for the days ahead and not be tempted to press the 'what the heck, lets relax and enjoy Christmas'!!!
Yes Fizzylizzy13 it's important to keep a broad plan going and also to relax back a little. And planning a few days in advance keeps track of leftovers and cuts waste😀
The plan is to be as good as possible between now and then (but not boring ).
The kids and grandkids are coming home for a brunch. There will be a cooked breakfast with some extra goodies and I'm going to indulge in moderation but not say no to anything.
Then hubby is off in the afternoon, travelling to a annual Boxing Day motorbike race, so a light dinner for me.
I'm looking forward to not having the usual Christmas bloat 
Sounds like you've it all well planned.. lots of balance in the plan.
The 2 things that cause me the most issues are carbs and booze, so I plan to watch these carefully and try to be less worried about the other stuff. This may, of course, turn out to be as cunning as one of Baldrick's plans!! January will tell. 😆
Yes carbs and booze.. (well wine really) are my deadly combination weight wise too... I'm with you in being careful 😊
Just keep some turnips ready to nibble on
Don't slack off from diet and exercise as soon as the first day of advent arrives ! I tell myself to just buy one of things i.e. one box of assorted sweet biscuits, one box of posh chocolate truffles, one small box of Roses chocolates. Don't buy them now, eat them, then buy more ! Or buy the small versions of things i.e. individual Christmas cake slices not a whole 2lbs iced Christmas cake. Between two of us !
I remember all the nice food we had at Christmas when I was a kid. Then I have to remind myself, 'yes, there were four of you then, that's why !' i.e. don't buy food and snacks for four people.
Cook and eat for the here and now, not Christmases past. Raise a glass to the past, no one's saying don't remember the good times.
However, my home made sausage rolls are legendary !
Yum sausage rolls!! Yes for me too it's a matter of enjoying a little of everything but not going overboard 😊 and definitely raising a toast to Christmas past😊
Thanks for posting this. Its made me think abiut it. I'm going to eat to plan, 1600 calories a day, on days not going out and not go overboard on the days I am out. That's the plan anyway. Will probably put on a couple of pounds but that's ok.
Thanks for all the responses.
Fresh
This will be my first vegetarian Christmas. I became vegetarian through my weight loss journey and i havent eaten fish or meat since August. I am going to continue cooking healthy dinners and snacks. I watched Channel 4's "The Truth about Slim people" and I learned that if your calories balance out over the course of the week you can have your cake and chips and still loose weight. If I can maintain the same weight for the Christmas and New Year fortnight I can do it for ever☺☺☺💪💪💪. Remember Mr Motivator...yeah.💃💃💃
Thanks for the reminder to watch channel 4 the secrets of slim people. Yes ifit all balances out over a week we can afford the indulgence 😊
I've already told everyone that I don't want any presents containing sweets, they all know I'm serious about losing weight so I'm hoping they'll honour my wishes.
I'm out on Christmas Day for dinner and I'm making/taking a trifle for my friend and a fruit salad for myself as neither of us like Christmas pudding. As far as the main course goes, I'll eat a regular roast, though without the Yorkshire pudding, that way it makes it easier for my friend's mum, who's doing the cooking.
I'm also going out for a Christmas lunch on the 13th and I'm doing the same for that - I've already ordered my turkey dinner and fruit salad. Hopefully I won't stray too far off track if I continue to eat sensibly at home.
Go you ArctoLindy no wonder you're wearing that fantastic badge. You're doing great 😀
Thank you 😊
Disappointed over cancelled plans
Healthy meal plans
My daily diary and food plans....
Advice - Meal plans etc
CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN CHALLENGE - Week 1
