getting motivated for the holidays --- JOIN ME?????

Now, I know it's just Labor Day and all, but if it wasn't for the fact that my J just had hernia fixing surgery, we would be probably be going to BBQ (plural) and/or drinking/partying.  

Statistically, the average person gains between 7 and 10 lbs from Halloween through New Year's ---  I just want to head that off at the pass.   ( :   I am within 10 lbs of my original goal weight  (150) -----  it would be so cool to actually meet it before the end of the year.    It gets harder and harder the closer I get to the end.    And that stinks --  I want to keep going after I get to 150 and just see how I feel.  

But I digress.   I want to start a motivational "through the holidays"  (and beyond) group of awesome chicks in order to avoid any backsliding on my part and to push each other in a good way towards all our goals!    ( : 

Join me?!?!??!!

I'm in!!  I was just telling my husband yesterday how hard this is going to be for me now that I see the Halloween candy being stocked on the shelves.  Labor day bbq's aren't a temptation for me, but come Halloween, I get ridiculous.  I started this journey in January, so I was able to indulge last year through Christmas.  My problem is, my lack of restraint lasts through Easter-not just the New Year.  I mean c'mon, we have CANDY @ Halloween, then turkey, pies, cakes, (and oh so much more) for thanksgiving, then Christmas cookies, candy, ham, pies, cakes etc., then there's Valentine's candy, then the CHOCOLATE BUNNIES, and CADBURRY EGGS surface.  It's MADNESS I tell you!!  I don't know how I'm going to do it!!!!

I am a reformed choco-holic myself, love, lol. 

I just don;t buy that stuff, OR I budget for it in my cals for the day.   I have to make it not be an option because if it is here, it will probably call my name, you know? 

I truly enjoy my healthy fruit substitutes, 60 cal jello puddings, and 35 cal fudge-sicles.   It's all about finding a balance.  We can do it.   I am sure other people have other suggestions too.    ( : 

I'm in!  I have a huge problem with falling off the wagon.  It isn't just the holidays that pose a risk for me, it seems I will find any excuse to stop my weight loss journey.  I only started on June 23rd.  I did really well for a month and lost 9lbs.  Then my first 4-day weekend came.  I swore I was going to workout and continue my diet. Funny.  The last 5 weeks I have been back to my gym-o-phobia and eating horribly.  I gained back 3lbs.  I still have 20lbs to go for my target weight and I also tend to gain those pesky 10lbs in the winter months.  I am an "all or nothing" kind of gal, so as long as I am on my diet, I am very motivated.  If I fall off, it's junk food majority of the time and I seem to forget where the gym is located. 

I am a salt craver and I find that eating a few pickle spears helps curb my craving.  They are only about 10 cals per spear. 

We can all do this! 

we have too much in common, hmm!     pickles.... are my love, but the sodium kills me. 

I am all or nothing too --- sometimes.   I have found a good balance ----working out in the AM, packing and actually eating snacks and a good lunch.....  lots of water, etc. 

( :  

I'm in.  I have 40 pounds to lose before I'm at a healthy weight... Last summer I lost about 20 total and gained back about 10 of that over the course of the holiday months.  Thank goodness I never gained more than that though.  I've now lost 5 pounds since getting back to eating right and exercising (been about 3 weeks now), for a total of 14 pounds lost since last summer (that makes me lol a bit cause it's such a long period of time).

The holidays killed me, as did back to school time as I live at home, but right near a college town where all my friends tend to party alot.  This time around they are all gone away abroad or back home, so in a way that's good.  As for the holiday foods and the winter cold making me want to eat more and move less... Must find a way to overcome that.

lol, I didn't realize it was a chocolate issue until I stepped back and looked at what I had typed.  It is certainly a chocolate thing, but I think mostly it's just sweets in general!!  After all, I'm not going to go crazy without the deviled eggs, and green bean casserole-just the pies, cakes, cookies, candy.......UGH!!!  We will be strong!!!!

I can distinctly remember, Haloween 2004 was the beginning of my downfall.  We had all this surplus candy (first time living on my own, and having leftovers from the kids), and I just couldn't stop eating it... even the kinds I didn't like.  That led into to all that holiday eating and a downward spiral over the next year or so.

Also, I'm completely addicted to Cadbury eggs.  I can't walk by them in the supermarket without buying a couple.  And don't get me started on all the holiday desserts.  I already have a sweet tooth, but when there are special ones that you only get ONCE a year, I just have a hard time turning them down.  It's one thing if something is always there, you can always have it when you want it.  But, when something is limited in its availability (like Cadbuy eggs, or trifle at Christmas), I just have to get as much of it as I can!

I started to lose weight in May, 2007.  I did really well, and had lost almost 30 lbs by Halloween.  But, AGAIN, lost control, and gave up on eating sensibly all the way through the holidays until April.  I gained back about 10 lbs of the 30 I had lost.

I've now lost that, and I am at my goal weight, but I'm TERRIFIED of losing control again.

I think having a place to be accountable and talk about all of it helps a LOT.   ( ; 

candy is bad.  =P

Today was my self-proclaimed 'cheat day' (only one in the last 3 weeks), I thought I did well getting away with just 2000 calories... but then you guys have to talk about chocolate... I am so tempted to get out to the store before my cheat day ends!

SORRY!!   have some delicious pineapple or melon,  60 cal pudding with cool whip, 35 cal fudge-sicle, YUM!!   ( :

(did that help?)

Ladies, I need so much help, I don't even know where to begin . . . I just can't stay motivated for any length of time, especially around the holidays. I live in Alaska, and our winters are so long that we barely have time to lose the 'winter' weight in the summer. And, well, I've blown it this summer, so here I am. Knowing there are others like me really helps - dang those Cadbury eggs (I LOVE the mini eggs)!

Thanks for the idea and the push to be motivated olivia!

WOW --  and I thought Kansas winters sucked. 

well, welcome akcorina!!     I just do not allow myself to even look, let alone, walk down those candy aisles.   If it gets in the house, it will go in my mouth.  SO --  I just don;t deal with it.  I hope one day to have the delf control to not eat the whole box, but for now, none for me.   ( : 

I find I have to MAKE my motivation stronger this time of year.  It is easy to give in to the temptations all around us. 

Some history....   Last year, the day before Thanksgiving, my bf's awesome 50 year old aunt died from cancer.   Years before that, I had a miscarriage on Thanksgiving.   Suffice it to say, that my progress ended for a few months last year around the holidays.  Went from a low of 190 back to 200 before I could get a handle on myself again.   I REFUSE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN>   I want my Christmas present to myself to be that I have reached my goal of 150 AND I KEPT ON GOING DOWN!!!!!!!!!   : D    A little TMI, Maybe, sorry.   I am so close, I can taste it.  And it tastes better than any chocloate ever will.  

Olivia77-  It does seem that when bad things happen, that certain time of year can bring those old hurts back.  Why don't you join a cancer walk/run/bike ride for next spring in honor of your boyfriends aunt?  You can start training right at Thanksgiving to honor her memory.  Also, I have been involved with the American Cancer Society and helping to raise funds to fight the horrible disease is very fufilling(people sponsor you on the walk/run/biking).  I will usually ask that people sponsor me instead of buying me a christmas and bday gift, so raising sponsors is not imposing. 

Olivia77,

Just looking at your profile really makes me feel like I CAN do this! You are almost there! I turned 30 this year as well and have a four year old daughter who needs a good role model for health. I talked to my hubby last night and we agreed that we both need to make some changes.

Holidays are always hard, aren't they? I lost my brother many years ago in October and it seems as though for me, that's where the tough times begin. But we have to remember that our loved ones wouldn't want to be the reason we can't reach our goals.

And I stay away from those aisles, too. I buy Halloween candy or (gum) that I don't like to eat to give out, so even if I'm tempted, I don't want more than one piece. What a great idea for a Christmmas gift to yourself - I know you'll make it! :) And just know that you are an inspiration for those of us just starting this journey. Thanks.

Corina

I am totally on board with the your sponsor me idea, hhmmfood.   I need to get my butt in gear.   I would love to to that. 

corina --  you made me cry, just a little.   I cannot imagine having a little person who looked up to me.  I am so immature and selfish right now still at 31.....    I agree.   No one for whom I am sad would want me to be anything but healthy in their memory, eh???    My little bro is in Iraq right now --  his 25th bday is 9-9 this year.   It is hard, but I know I can do it.   The holidays are always hard --- everyone with their, "what harm can ONE do?" handouts and ribbing as to my not eating junk at from the cow buffeet at school.   I KNOW what is good for me, and it is NOT that.   ( :     I am ok with a lttle teasing in that regard.    Tahnks you, corina.   I get so little encouragement at home or anywhere but from cc, so I appreciate it greatly!    We can ALL do it!!!!!!!!

Hey Olivia,  Thanks for starting this thread!  I didn't realize how out of control I get around the holidays until this past week!  I have been doing so well.  I started counting my calories and really trying about two months ago and I had lost 14 pounds.  So, I decided to take the week off and treat myself by just not counting.  Still trying to make good decisions (other than all of the alcohol I consumed) and see how I did.  I gained 3 pounds!!!  Not acceptable!  My main issue is portion control.  I had dinner at my Grandma's last night for a family birthday and ate waaaayyyyy too much.  The holidays will kill me if I don't do something about it now.

I'm loving the idea of the 35 cal fudgesicles by the way.  I need to go pick some up for my chocolate cravings :-)

Oh, my. Like hmmfood, I can always find an excuse to eat but the holidays are torturous. Tomorrow is my anniversary so I have to allow for cake and the steak dinner out. I figure as long as I eat a good salad for lunch and order the smallest steak I can, I'll be ok.

Temptations are horrible for me. Bring me willpower, ladies! (And drizzle some hot fudge over it before you bring it, ok?)

Edit: CRAP!  Look at the menu for the restaurant my husband selected.  No such thing as a small steak there.  At least I can load up on all the salad I want.  And I'd better.  We wanted someplace the whole family would enjoy since we decided my 8 year-old stepdaughter should celebrate with us since it's the day we became a family.   He picked this because I wanted steak.

LOL Kathy!  (about asking for willpower with hot fudge...)

Happy anniversary!   My "out" for meals out is to plan to bring half of the steak home for lunch the next day.  Nobody really needs that much meat in one sitting, anyway   :)

Great idea to plan now for dealing with the holidays!

I read on their site that for $6 they'll split a meal.  I'm pretty sure even splitting, the step-daughter and I CANNOT kill a 14-20 oz. steak!!  Even so, I'm sure that's what we'll do.

Whoa!!  That size of steak could feed a family of 5!  
Anyway, sounds like a good idea to split a meal with your step-daughter.   Hope you have a great time!