Dread: To anticipate with alarm, distaste, or reluctance.
The holiday season is in full swing, and the word dread is one you may not expect to see in a blog at Christmas time. I never dreaded the holiday season itself, but did dread treading through the minefield of office parties, restaurant buffets, and social situations. Even though I was obese for 10 years I was always on a diet and constantly worried about my weight. I wasn’t a very successful dieter, but I tried constantly (kinda). And as a perpetual dieter, this time of year, the thought of holiday food was constantly on my mind. Not only because I really loved sweets, but also because I genuinely worried whether or not I would be able to resist the lure of fudge, cheesecake, and chips with dip.
And guess what? I couldn’t. My dread of what seemed inevitable happened, and I descended with millions of others into the food frenzy. I always gained weight over the holidays. Always. People around me seemed to bake compulsively, feel compelled to share it with everyone they knew, and get annoyed if you even tried to refuse. So I gave in. By the end of December I was eating loads of sweets every single day, merrily drowning any memory of my sensible diet plans in mountains of whipped cream.
The year of my weight loss journey included Christmas. I had already lost about 100 pounds and felt like I had made some good strides with regards to food relationships. But like other years, I dreaded the food I knew was about the appear on office counters, Sunday School conference tables, and in my mailbox. How would I handle myself differently this year? I didn’t want to dread the holiday solely due to the food, so there were a couple of things I did to help keep myself on the straight and narrow.
Here are 5 tips to keep the dread of holiday food at bay.
1. Give yourself permission to make the decisions that are right for you. Sure Aunt Sally really wants you to try her apple pie, but if that isn’t something that fits within your eating plan, then politely refuse. Aunt Sally doesn’t have to wear your pants, you do!
2. Rate your food. I have another post on this topic, but basically look at the available food and rate it from 1 to 10. If the food isn’t a 9 or 10 I don’t eat it. Why eat something that I really don’t love?
3. Have a plan for incoming food presents. If your friends and family love to give you gifts of food, know in advance what you will do with it. Will you freeze it, send it to the office, or give it away? Know ahead of time so when that Swiss Colony packages arrives you aren’t tempted beyond reason.
4. Learn to make healthier alternatives to your favorite recipes. This really helped me when I had to go to events. I learned to make healthier desserts, entrees, and appetizers. Then I knew for certain there would be something I could eat.
5. Take the pressure off yourself. You won’t be perfect. No one is. There have been many times throughout the holiday season where I made choices that I immediately regretted. (ie: the time I ate 6 cookies in rapid succession, followed by a slice of cheesecake) But instead of beating myself up over my choice and eating MORE, I just shrugged it off, realizing that even though that was way too many calories in sweets, it didn’t have to ruin anything. And it didn’t.
So as you find yourself surrounded by holiday platters don’t dread it. Embrace the challenge, come up with your plan, and enjoy the season with all your heart. Do you dread the abundance of holiday food, or do you have some strategies for dealing with it successfully? Diane
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
I think one important thing to keep in mind is that the holidays( no matter what you celebrate) mark very important events that go way beyond the table. The miracles commemorated will still happen if you do not indulge in pounds of cookies or gallons of whatever. If you take time to reflect out the spiritual meanings behind the tradition that you follow, you are able to indulge in less. The last 2 years I have arrived at January 7th weighing less than I did on November 15th following this idea.
Diane´s last blog ..Vacation, fudge and is it hot in here ???
I love number two.
and spent years eating foods for all the wrong reasons even when trying to lose weight (hello mayo! cant stand you. potato salad? ICK.)
I have a …picky palate
lots of that is/was tied up with Jewish guilt
but I quickly learned that when I ate things I didnt love simply to be “nice”—-aunt WHOMEVER didnt notice anyway or found something else to lament…
Miz´s last blog ..2Fit Chicks podcast: 2009 round-up.
I LOVE # 2. It’s awesome.
Michelle@Eatingjourney´s last blog ..Unilateral Tri Attack
Thank goodness the “incoming food presents” I normally get are a bunch of nastiness. I don’t like chutney but I get it every year.
>> “Oh! Chutney! Thanks so much for the gift”.
Blah!
Yum Yucky´s last blog ..Yum Yucky’s Greedy Guide to the Holidays!
I would even go one step further with your
“2. Rate your food. I have another post on this topic, but basically look at the available food and rate it from 1 to 10. If the food isn’t a 9 or 10 I don’t eat it. Why eat something that I really don’t love?”
if you pick something out that you REALLY want and take a bite of it and it isn’t every bit as wonderful as you thought it was going to be – spit it out! If it is not calorie worthy – don’t finish eating it!
vickie´s last blog ..My lower back (surprise! no you didn’t miss a thing – I didn’t say a word before today)
I love what Diane above wrote in the first comment. It is so true. We should not loose sight of what the season is really about.
And Thank you to you, Diane, for these wonderful posts that give us strength.
Mia
I remember your post on rating food, and it’s something I’ve thought about since! There have been several times where I’m eating a dessert and think “this is dry and stale – why am I eating this?”
I get TONS of food presents. My grandparents will often send us FIVE POUNDS of chocolate turtles each. On top of Pringles (don’t know why they always feel the need to give us chips). I usually pawn it off on my boyfriend or coworkers. I’m just one girl – I can’t eat that much chocolate!!
I think it’s also important to remember that if you do gain a couple pounds over the holidays, it’s not the end of the world. Most of us who’ve lost weight know what it takes. It’s just a matter of realizing the small gain and doing what you need to do to get it off again! Problem solved
Susan´s last blog ..Staying Accountable!
Amazing strategies! I use to wish away the holidays because of the food and now I try to make it more about the experience and the people. I just don’t eat MUCH of the bad stuff and I don’t beat myself up if I do.
Diane, great advice, as always. I love the food rating advice. That is good.
South Beach Steve´s last blog ..Motivation for Monday – Two Kinds of People
So many good ideas here. #2 really hits the spot – so much mindless eating goes on this time of year when if I’m really paying attention and select just a few items that I really enjoy, I’ll be so much better off in the long run.
Gigi´s last blog ..So Much To Do, So Little Time
I love the idea of rating the food. That really helps to prioritize where your calories ought to be spent. Great post!
Diane, these are great ideas for people! I am all about everything you wrote! I definitely plan ahead for anything involving food that I want to eat!!! I plan for the eating & I plan for what I will do after to work it off… like get right back to basics, maybe eat tighter for a couple days if necessary & just back to exercise!
I am all about #2. I do this even if there is no holiday. How much do I want that food.. is it something I really really want or just so-so. I don’t waste my calories on something unless I really want it!
I know all your readers will get something help out of this post!
Jody – Fit at 52´s last blog ..Boxing Update – Uncomfortable Is Good!
I love #2. I find myself doing that all the time and it’s so useful. I know that I will go crazy if I can’t indulge in the treats I want, but prioritizing the truly spectacular treats makes all the difference. I never feel guilty when I know the indulgence was worthwhile.
Sarah´s last blog ..C25K – Week 5, Day 3
Hmmm, yes. I did have moments of dread, but now have a whole raft of plans in place to deal with Christmas food. I put these in place back in November when I knew I had lots of ‘festive meals out’ in the pipeline.
But I really love your number five:
5. Take the pressure off yourself. You won’t be perfect.
I agree wholeheartedly here. Yes, I will try my best, but I’ll be realistic too. If (OK, when) I have a small gain, I won’t let it get to me. I’ll contrast it with the major gains of Christmas past and pat myself on the back for doing so well… then get back on track and lose the lbs again.
Deniz´s last blog ..The power in us all
Hi Diane. I think planning is everything. Although that goes for any time of the year, not just holidays. I have planned for the indulgences I will allow myself and fully enjoy on Christmas day and Boxing day. I’ve pared it down to what I really need to celebrate the Winter Solstice (as it is for me)and to not feel left out. It is only once a year. And planning means that I won’t go mad and lose control. Errr, that and the fact that the shops will be shut!
Best wishes,
Bearfriend xx
Bearfriend´s last blog ..Yuckity Yuck!
Xmas parties don’t scare me too much but this year my Chanukah dinner will be fattening but I figure I’ll probably be so busy hosting it I won’t eat nearly as much as if someone else had thrown it. I am though not going overboard like my mom does, I’m having brisket, latkas and sweet kugel, nothing else. I think that’s MORE than enough.
Robin´s last blog ..Not Dead
Having a plan is key during the holiday’s. Temptation is lurking around every hor’dourves tray and dessert table. I really like that rating system you have! I am going to try it at my holiday party this Saturday
I rate my food and make healthier alternatives, too. I also try to “keep my head” and remember that I don’t NEED a bunch of that food… I’m perfectly happy eating normally. Besides, I know exactly what the cookies etc all taste like, so when I see the same ones coming around, I don’t feel as much a need to try them. It’s if I see something new, or something I truly LOVE, that I go for it.
Sagan´s last blog ..Life Lessons: The Case of the Cookie Calling My Name
Unfortunately I never dreaded the holidays, but embraced them and all their yummy goodness with open arms.
The last time I was losing weight and made it through the holidays with a six-pound loss I just ate when I was hungry and politely refused desserts if I was full. If I wasn’t hungry I didn’t eat the sweets offered, just put them away for later.
I am doing that now also. I like rating the food best. If it doesn’t look or taste wonderful I’m not going to eat it. Also, I share with my kids and between all of us we can each have a taste, one cookie and be done with them.
I have a post brewing about allowing myself to have one treat instead of saying “it’s all off limits” can be much more freeing and almost makes the desire for more go away. That’s how I’ve been feeling lately..
Diane, I appreciate how you are taking time to address all of these food related your blog during December.
Leah´s last blog ..Staying Motivated
The flip side of that “rate your food” tip is equally important. Man, if it is a 9 or 10, have it and enjoy it. That’s part of what the holidays… and life… is all about!
Great tips, Diane.
Jack Sh*t, Gettin’ Fit´s last blog ..I’m Sorry, Isaac… Shut Your Mouth! I’m Just Talkin’ About Isaac Hayes!
Great advice here…thanks so much.
Marcelle´s last blog ..Week 3 on WW new plan
No. 2 (rating food) is BRILLIANT! I think I’ve actually been doing it, but without the numbers or the consciousness. Some foods were “worth” the calories/potential gain, many…not so much. Thanks for putting a conscious numbers-relating scheme to it! I’m going to scoop that up and run with it!
Thanks for another great eye-opening post.
Sunny´s last blog ..Game On!!!
I used to dread all holidays,vacations etc. Funny considering I never lost more than a few pounds on any given diet journey to begin with
Now, I enjoy them and follow the food rating plan. If I can get it any other time, I don’t need to eat it now! Works like a charm!
Rebecca @ Durch Dick und Duenn´s last blog ..Fatty McButterPants
Hi Diane,
This was great. All the tips are good, but as others have said, rating the food on a scale of 1-10 is brilliant. If it’s not top shelf – just say no. Really helpful advice, and also good to hear that even you have had little slips, like the cookies followed by cheesecake. You’re right, if it stops there, it really causes no harm. If it sets off a crazy binge, another story altogether.
Leslie´s last blog ..Will Sundays ever be the same?
I love your tips but ESPECIALLY the ‘rate your food’ tip – how smart. It’s like you know… that’s not the best mac and cheese but i’m DOWN for that hashbrown casserole!
fittingbackin´s last blog ..Outlets, Out with Friends, Grocery Shopping, Movie Day + Nostalgia, 10.25 miles
Just caught up on your last few posts. I haven’t really been dreading the holidays due to food because my month isn’t full of holiday parties, or office parties, and nobody sends me any baked goods. Hope you’re enjoying the season with your family and friends.
Tammy´s last blog ..I’ve Got Bigger Problems Than This
You are so right, it’s all about having a plan! And about forgiving yourself if you ate something you “shouldn’t have.”
I’ve been practicing your No.2 tip all around the year ever since I’ve started my weight loss journey. I think I’ve left a comment once on one of your post about being turned into a food snob. Mediocre dishes, store-bought cheap treats don’t tempt me very much unless I’m really hungry. As long as I take care to plan my meals ahead of time, I can walk straight past greasy spoons and franchise bakeries without even noticing their presence.
#2 has become really important to me, and one reason why I have been successful.
I don’t sweat the holidays as much as I used to, since I know that I won’t gain 100 pounds back from one day of overeating. I know that I am capable of going back to my regular eating pattern the next day, which has helped take some pressure off.
I practice #2, and while I may look like a snob, I don’t end up eating store-bought cookies and things like that. Also, I think it is really important to remember that eating 6 cookies followed by a slice of cheesecake will not make you regain all the weight you lost…but if you continue to do so, you will get a good head start. Thanks for helping to keep mindful eating in my forefront!
Shelley B´s last blog ..Food, Glorious Food!
Some days I make better choices than others, but my goal is to always keep my hands busy, I realize that at a standing up party it’s hard to eat and hold a wine glass. One glass of wine will do much less damage than all that food!
mackattack´s last blog ..Holiday Cheer
Hi there, I have just started up a site and in the middle of creating rather varied articles. Would you object if I blog something about this? Of course I will provide you and this post full acknowledgment.