more family crap!!!

I can't stand this. everyone in my family is stick thin except for my mother and a few distant great-aunts (and I'm workin' on at least being a healthy weight!). The problem is, all the thin people go on and on about how thanksgiving, christmas, etc. are meant to celebrate "nature's bounty" and to indulge ourselves.

Meanwhile, during the holidays, they probably eat 10,000 calories A DAY of pie, stuffing, etc. and don't gain a SINGLE OUNCE. My grandmother's side of the family are all beanpoles who eat constantly, and my grandfather's side is short and, well, fat.

Being a mix of both, my weight is something genetically difficult to control. (I'll never be obese, but struggling w/ weight is an everyday thing.)

So the point is, I always fall into holiday overeating because the "skinnies" justify it and eat loads themselves. I know this post was long, but do you have any tips on how to avoid family pressure to overeat?

Maybe try drinking a lot of water and when someone offers you more tell them in awhile.  You need to digest a bit to fit more in and then drink more water.  Take small portions and go light on the carbs.  If you must eat a lot try eating more of the healthy veggies and salad.  Good luck and enjoy.  Thanksgiving is so much more than the food, it is the gathering with the ones you love.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Julie

I know what you mean! I find it very difficult to deal with the pressure. Even when there's no actual pressure, I end up doing what others do. Others are drinking beer, I'm drinking beer. Others are smoking, I'm smoknig. Others are eating peanut butter brittle... well, you get the idea.

And when my partner cooks for me (a couple of times a week), it's carb-rich foods (pasta, potatoes, rice, etc) - which doesn't help much.

 Could use any advice you have for me.....

 

 

quietearthling- I always do that!! At parties, if others are drinking eggnog, eating cake, etc. I will do the same b/c their doing justifies MY doing it.

I think julieraven's advice is great-- not to let others stress me out, basically. It sometimes helps me to remind myself, do I want to gain more weight/feel unhealthy/have to camp out at the gym to work this off??? The anwer is usually no...

 Try the "spoonful" approach. Go around and take a bite out of everything. If you don't positively LOVE it, don't eat any more. Then, go ahead and eat the things you really enjoyed the taste of, but don't settle for anything less than fantastic food. If you pick a day to indulge a little, this is the one, but as long as you're indulging, make sure it's on foods that are worth it!

 If you need to, keep a few sticks of gum in your mouth until dinner time. A lot of people will destroy their diets hours before the turkey is served, because all sorts of snacks will be lying around! They're easy traps to fall into.

 Hope I helped! Happy Thanksgiving!

I can relate, wholeheartedly! It does not take the holidays for me to over eat, I'll do that anytime. Being an emotional / stress eater, I am my own downfall (and being with family can trigger my "issues"); in addition, seeing other people eat seems to make it easier in my own mind to justify eating when I'm not hungry. This is how I became 200 pounds and am slowly dropping the weight for my health. So, I constantly have to remind myself:

1) Just because others are eating, does not mean that I need to eat (or should for that matter) - what is triggering my desire to eat - tired, stressed, worried, thirsty, et cetera?

2) Moderation is key - the foods that we all love will still be around next year ... it's not like America's supply of pumpkin is going to be depleated on the 26th of December - if I am hungry and want to have something, I can...but I cannot eat it all (it's good to leave some for others to enjoy), and a sliver of pie really IS enough!

3) If I really have to have something (or more of something), then I can get the recipe and make modifactions to it so it is healthier for one to consume.

4) Just because my body is telling me that it wants something due to some craving or other desire / reason, does not mean that I need to give into the desire. I make my own choices and I must live with my choices.

5) The scale always reminds me of the choices that I made and oftentimes, it is more difficult to get back into the routine. When I over eat, or eat foods that I should try to avoid - sugary, sweet treats, salty chips, alcohol, carbs, et cetera - then, I have a harder time staying away from them the next day and the next day and so on, until I have finally break the urge (again). It really is not worth the future temptations.

6) My family is NOT the boss of me. I DO NOT have to do ANYTHING that they tell me to - I am an adult. Just because someone else is skinnier than me, does not mean that I am skinny too (or will be by eating like them). And they could be "skinny fat".

7) Thanksgiving and the Holiday's in general were not meant to expand our waistlines, but rather to give thanks for those we love and spend time with them. Quality time spent with those you love is more precious than the quantity of the food on your plate.

When I am struggeling to eat right and maintain my path, this is what I do:

1) Remind myself of my goals and why I am on this journey (and count the number of pounds that I need to loose to reach my next "mini goal")

2) Drink water - LOTS OF WATER!

3) Get moving - do anything to forget my urges - I am rather tidy, so cleaning is always a great stress relief for me but if I don't want to clean there is always laundry to be done, dog crap to pick up (we have four dogs, so there is ALWAYS plenty), paint my nails (or the dogs if I still can't pass it), ride my bicycle, crochet, read, go through my clothes and try on those that are just about ready to fit. Since you probably won't be able to do these things on Thanksgiving with the family around, I recommend:

Smiling and saying thank you for the __________, but I have already had some. It certainly is delicious though. I think I'll leave the remaining for you and others to enjoy. Should my need for more arise, then I'll help myself. I hope you will enjoy it though. Then change the subject. Tell them what is happening in your life - you are eager to go clothes shopping tomorrow, you are eager to learn _______________, your job is _____________.

If someone just won't give up, then I am BLUNT! "I am changing my previous bad behaviors that have lead to an unhealthy lifestyle of over eating in hopes of getting my weight under control; unfortunately, I have an issue with food and specifically cannot control myself around food, especially when others are indulging themselves, so I would appreciate it if you would support my endeavors and stop telling me to enjoy "nature's bounty" and indulge. I have already enjoyed my bounty." Since it is the holidays and we should be nice to our family, perhaps you should just say, "I've already enjoyed my bounty, I hope you enjoy yours."

I really hope this helps. Know that many of us here have the same struggle and will be headed into battle with our full armour on tomorrow - and every day thereafter.

You can resist temptation, you will resist temptation, you will be stronger and you will SUCCEED!

I hope this helps!

Take care of youself and Have a safe and HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

Smiles,

Dacia