Maintaining weight in December vow

I weighed this morning at the gym and hereby vow that I will not gain any weight this month.

I will weigh weekly, go to the gym or, weather permitting, ride, at least 3 times a week, (try for 4 times).

I will eat the box of naval oranges I bought from my son's fundraiser as a snack instead of cookies.

If see any weight gain on my weekly weigh-ins, I will immediately start back with the food diary.

I will, however, continue to drink my non-fat chai lattes (tall instead of grande and not more than 3 a week), wine as needed, and the occasional treat at parties in moderation.

This makes it official. Does anyone want to join me?

Me too! Portion control of cookies, mainly ;)

I am really hoping to, but it is going to be hard with parties and family time - and cold weather limiting outdoor exercise. What will help: I get home from a family Christmas time at the beach on the 27th and have the entire week off through NY's weekend. That will be my week to get back to sanity, plenty of exercising and healthy eating. I will probably not weigh myself until Monday morning, Jan. 3rd. If I weigh the same as I did this morning, I'll consider this goal met! Then I'd still like to lose 2 more lbs., but I'm not going to even try to do that in Dec. No need to set myself up for failure!

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Originally Posted by Muirenn

For me it's about portion-control:)

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Yup, and eating s-l-o-w-l-y and mindfully. And making sure to eat an apple before any parties. Not that I'm going to any parties, but if I were to go to a party, I'd eat an apple beforehand.

My goal is to maintain... which is not easy, since the older I get, it takes nothing more than eating Asian food (sodium) or an extra glass of wine to add 2 lbs.
While I don't celebrate Xmas, I find there is just a lot more going out, eating at this time of year. This year, it was Thanksgiving, followed by Chanukah one week later. I only had one potato latke, but quite a bit of dessert at a party last weekend. Then there was going out for my anniversary on Wednesday night, a night when I usually am eating a healthy, home cooked meal. I had fish, but I couldn't say no to a split of champagne, since not a lot of people get to celebrate 31 years of marriage, happily. There's a 50th birthday brunch, my oldest son getting married in a small private ceremony that involves eating afterwards, and going up to NH for x country skiing, at an inn, that has gourmet food :eek:.
I am trying to up the exercise, too. I started both my winter training program on the bike trainer and am getting back to running. Hopefully, on January 3d, I will have maintained.

I'm with you!!!

Shannon

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Originally Posted by Muirenn

For me it's about portion-control:)

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Me too.

(I read this as "poison control" which is also important.)

Yeah, I mean, really, define "portion," you know? When you're dealing with home-baked goods...well.

:)

Roxy, who actually lost a couple this week!

My fitness center is doing a "maintain, don't gain" challenge - 8 weeks b/t Thanksgiving and the New Year - in which I'm participating. There's a weekly weigh-in, a weekly challenge (i.e., take a new class, learn a new core move, spend 20 minutes on the rowing machine, etc), and check-offs each time you eat fruit, veges, or drink 8 oz. of water. Points are allocated for each thing, and you can be solo or on a team (there are 3 on my team).

I don't know what you "get" for getting the most point...bragging rights, I suppose. That...and the satisfaction of knowing you maintained something resembling a healthy lifestyle during what is traditionally a "bad" time of the year for gustatory temptations!

So far it seems to be working for me. Four weeks, and no gaining. Haven't LOST anything....but I haven't gained, either. So I suppose that's good.

I wouldn't mind losing a few pounds, but that is a goal for another month!

So far, this vow is the only thing that got me to the gym this morning and kept me to ONE cookie and NO punch at last night's party (ok, 2 glasses of red wine, but that is for heart health ;) and sanity. Medicinal purposes.) I did take one bite of a sausage ball and another cookie, but decided they weren't good enough for the extra calories and discretely disposed of them.

Another party tonight -at my house. I will have will power of iron. :D

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Originally Posted by channlluv

Yeah, I mean, really, define "portion," you know? When you're dealing with home-baked goods...well.

:)

Roxy, who actually lost a couple this week!

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Only eat half of what you are given (or what you take). And don't take double to compensate!

Procrastination is also a great technique. Go to a party after you've already eaten a healthy snack and an apple. Don't get any food (unless it's fruit) until just before you leave the party. Or at least until you've been there for an hour. Then have a bite and leave.

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Originally Posted by tulip

Only eat half of what you are given (or what you take). And don't take double to compensate!

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Ah, Tulip, you know me so well, my friend, and we've never even met. I love this board. Ha!

Roxy

Easy to maintain when you have no holiday functions to attend! :)

I went on a cruise last week (all the food you can eat) and did not gain any weight for the first time. This really surprised me because I had a cold and did not do my normal amount of exercise/riding. I was not tempted by all the pancakes and waffles and stuck to oatmeal and fruit for breakfast, salad for lunch, and whatever I wanted (including desert) for dinner. But if the desert was not great, I did not finish it. I have gone before and always gained 3-5 lbs.

I also noticed something weird about the once a week weigh in. It seemed that there were some weeks when I road my bike 4 days, stuck to a low carb diet, and at the once a week weigh in, I had gained 2 lbs. This is really frustrating - especially compared to the cruising thing.

So, I started to weigh myself every morning. It went up and down about 2 lbs. for the whole week. So, if you weigh yourself on a bad day, you could be up instead of down. That is really frustrating when you think you should be losing.

My husband started to eat the same way I eat, and he lost 20 lbs. (and he did not need to). I'll keep plugging away, but at this point I eat so healthy that there is nothing left to cut out.

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Originally Posted by jessmarimba

Easy to maintain when you have no holiday functions to attend! :)

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I agree! This is why my goal is to actually LOSE this holiday season. :D

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Originally Posted by jessmarimba

Easy to maintain when you have no holiday functions to attend! :)

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Holiday dysfunctions is more like it.

I am happy to report that today, after my whirlwind week and weekend of non-stop Christmas socials I have NOT gained any weight. In fact, if I stand on the scale in just the right place, I have actually lost a tiny, tiny fraction of a pound :D

I give all the credit to my Christmas vow, which for some reason has really provided me with motivation to exercise at a time when I would usually find excuses and limit my eating at a time when I could easily find reasons to over indulge. Now, not to get complacent.

I was down 2.5 pounds this morning...good motivation to NOT eat the cookie that looked so good at the grocery store for lunch!

And apparently now I will have holiday functions, but not til Christmas Eve. I think it'll average out in the long run.