Diane’s 50 Fabulous Holiday Tips

December 16, 2011 By

Holidays don’t have to be hard. A little planning and a lot of willpower will go a long way towards helping you achieve your goals. I worked on these tips a few years ago, and thought that you may find one or more of them helpful. Let me know if I’ve missed anything!

Remember, every day is a chance to get and stay healthy!!

Tip #1 – Have one basic health & wellness goal. Pick one overriding goal that you can focus on as the activities come swirling around you.

Tip #2 – Stay active. I know this seems like a no-brainer, but staying active and not giving into the temptation to sit in front of a roaring fire eating chocolate will serve you well through these next 49 days!

Tip #3 – Find a new food to try. It’s so easy for me to get stuck in a rut with my food choices and there is no more big a rut than holiday food. Who says you have to have pumpkin pie? Why not try something new and healthy? Why not??

Tip #4 – Plan the big meals early. By planning for the Christmas, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving meal now, you will be able to release it in your mind. You know what you are having, where you are going, and what you are bringing. Then you can focus on enjoying the day and eating the foods you love in moderation.

Tip #5 – Try a new physical activity – We all get bored with our routines now and then. What better way to keep focused on our healthy goals than by incorporating something new. Me? I’m going to commit to riding my bike two days a week from now until Christmas. This way I’ll be working different muscle groups and improving my fitness.

Tip #6 – Wash Your Hands Often – OKAY! I know it’s not a health/eating tip, but it really is. Washing your hands has been shown to greatly reduce both the transmission of illness and the chance that you will get sick. Also, if you are cooking, it’s vital to wash your hands thoroughly and keep meats separated from veggies. (One day I’ll tell you my eColi story – not good.) So wash your hands!

Tip #7 – Look for Healthy Substitutions – It’s so much easier to find lower fat foods to substitute for high fat foods. If you need to bring chips to a function consider bringing baked chips, homemade tortilla chips, or lower fat tortilla chips. By making these healthy substitutions you are doing everyone a favor.  And if you make your own bean/corn salsa even better!

Tip #8 – Say No If You Want - If you can’t stand Aunt Jo’s fruitcake then politely refuse. If those sweet potatoes don’t do it for you, then just say no if you want. One thing I’ve learned is that although it’s not always easy to say no, but in the end, when it comes to weight loss/maintenance, it’s about what will move you forward.

Tip #9 – Choose Your Beverages Carefully – You read that right – don’t drink your calories. Be it sweet tea, regular cokes, or alcoholic beverages, if you drink your calories then you are leaving less room for nutritious foods that really fill you up. If you are going to choose an alcoholic beverage as a treat, make sure you plan for it within your daily calories.

Tip #10 - Buy A Gift For Yourself – This may sound strange, but I’m all for treating yourself during the holiday season. Every fall I buy myself a little something that makes me feel good about myself. This year I’m getting a pair of black boots. Silly? Maybe. Fun? Definitely. (I’ll show them to you one Saturday soon!) [If you are a math person you know I'm a day ahead - I like this tip so I left it up a day early!]

Tip #11 – What dessert? - You know that I’m all about moderation, but I’d encourage you to choose now what you dessert for those special meals will be. Don’t go into the party thinking you will sample a few. Go in there planning on sampling one, maybe two. Really think about whether or not you even love that food!

Tip #12 – Slow down. – It really does take about 20 minutes for your brain to get the signal that you are no longer hungry. And if you are eating so fast that you can’t even remember what you first put in your mouth – then slow down a bit! Enjoy the conversation and the atmosphere! (This is really a tip I made up just for myself, because I am the Queen of Eating Too Fast!)

Tip #13 – Don’t skip meals. – You may be tempted to skip meals here or there during the holiday season. Personally, I don’t feel that this is a good or healthy strategy. Yes, it’s okay to have a light lunch if you know you are going out that evening, but if you skip a meal completely you run the risk of being so hungry later that you binge! So don’t skip meals, but rather plan your meals carefully!

Tip #14 – Increase your exercise intensity – Now is a great time to increase the intensity of your exercise. You may not have an extra 15 minutes a day to exercise, but you can certainly ramp things up while you are working out. If you walk, walk faster in intervals. If you are a runner, try some sprints, etc. And don’t forget to keep working on getting stronger. Don’t slack off just because the calendar says “Christmas is coming!”

Tip #15 - If you must bake – Some of you love to bake, or are asked to bake treats for others during the holiday season. If you must bake, bake only what’s needed and no more. If you have extras, have a taste if you love it, and then get rid of it. I know that seems cruel, but you can do it. (Believe me, I understand, because I do love to bake!)

Tip #16 – Keep a food journal – This is something that I did periodically along my journey. This time of year, when there are so many extra temptations out there it may be a good idea to keep a little journal of your food intake. This is particularly helpful if you have the desire to lose weight during December and not just maintain!

Tip #17 – Pay Attention to Portions – It’s so important, especially during this “bring it all on” time of year to be mindful of your portions.

Tip #18 – Drink More Water – We all know that drinking more water is good for us in so many different ways. Don’t slack off now, even when the weather gets colder.

Tip #19 – Reduce Stress by Finishing Shopping Now – It’s stressful enough trying to get through the holidays without a big gain – why add to the stress by rushing around from store to store at the last minute. (Not that I have ever done this before.) Shop now before it’s a madhouse out there!

Tip #20 – Get Your Veggies – I know the farmer’s markets are shuttered, so explore the frozen section of your grocery store. Frozen foods are said to be more nutritious than canned, and some studies say they can be more nutritious than fresh!

Tip #21 - Think Green – Think about adding green tea into your day. It is full of antioxidants and other good things.

Tip #22 - Don’t Let Yourself Get Too Hungry – It’s difficult enough to stay on track with the abundance of food around right now but keep the hunger at bay by eating regularly planned meals.

Tip #23 – Go Tight – Instead of wearing your baggy pants or loose fitting dress. Wear something fitted and cinched at the waist. You may be surprised how that reminds you to not overeat!

Tip #24 – Watch the dips and sauces – There is no better way to add calories to something than by smothering it with high fat dips and sauces. Angel food cake is good without chocolate sauce – trust me!

(I got behind here, but I’m catching up now!)

Tip #25 – Volunteer – I know it’s not food related, but volunteering at a shelter or food bank is a great way to keep the focus on the real meaning of the holidays.

Tip #26 – Consider Vitamin D Supplements – We normally get enough Vitamin D from moderate sun exposure. This can be hard during the winter months.

Tip #27 – Check out Seasonal Produce – Believe it or not there are some winter fruits like pomegranates, cranberries and some grapes that are in season! Use them, enjoy them!

Tip #28 – Turn off the TV – It’s fun to watch some TV, but it’s just as much fun to turn it off, play with the family, or have a game night.

Tip #29 - Enlist help – Don’t be afraid to ask family and friends to change how they celebrate to help keep you on track.

Tip #30 – If you are traveling, make sure you wipe down the airplane seat dividers, the pull-down tray latch and anything else you might touch.

Tip #31 – Try not to taste too much. When cooking, it can be tempting to taste, taste, taste. Limit yourself to no tastes, or just one. Those little calories add up fast.

Tip #32 – Make half of the recipe. I often do this when I bake. If the recipe calls for 6 dozen cookies, I just make half.

Tip #33 - Don’t serve from the table – This made a big difference for me and my hubby. Not serving from the table meant I had to get up if I wanted seconds, and who wants to get up?

Tip #34 – Use your brain power – Spend time reading, doing puzzles, and talking with your friends instead of eating.

Tip #35 – In a new city for a visit? Ask the local gym if they have a trial membership for free. Most of them do!

Tip #36 – Only celebrate one time – Christmas really is just one day, so save your nice meal for that day if you can. If there are other celebrations, selectively eat, always rating your food.

Tip #37 – Bring your own breakfast – If you are staying with relatives, bring your own healthy breakfast so that you know you are starting the day on the right foot!

Tip #38 -  Sleep is king! – Try hard to stay on your usual schedule if you can. It’s so easy to get tired, and eat mindlessly without even realizing it.

Tip #39 – Take your vitamins – Keep your immune system strong even if you are worn-out by not skimping on nutrition, so take your vitamins!

Tip #40 - Watch the thin people – If you model your amount of food based on what the thinner people at the table eat, you may be able to easily control your portions.

Tip #41 – Slow down – If you are a fast eater (like me) slow down and smell the pot roast. It will make a big difference in how much you eat as you give your brain time to signal, “I’m full!”

Tip #42 – Chew gum – Gum is a great way to keep your mouth busy without eating. If you are sensitive to artificial sweeteners, make sure to check the labels.

Tip #43 – Hard candy – This is similiar to gum. Hard candy and gum got me through many a holiday event. Seriously.

Tip #44 – Leave the table – It can be tempting to sit around and pick at the food that is left. Don’t do it – take the iniatitive and leave the table to move to another locale!

Tip #45 – Eat a variety of foods – It’s important to keep your food intake balanced. It can be easy to load up on carbs, or high fat foods, or sugary treats. Make sure to keep a healthy balance.

Tip #46 – Don’t get too hungry – If you get too hungry it might be hard to resist Aunt Ima’s sweet potato casserole. Eat regularly to avoid this common problem.

Tip #47 – Weigh-in – Even if you aren’t a daily weigh”er” person – don’t forgo the scale completely during this month. Check in with yourself to monitor your progress.

Tip #48 – Relax – It’s just food. Just take some pressure off yourself, stay reasonable, and relax.

Tip #49 – Enjoy! – Don’t forget the reason for the celebration. It’s not just about the food – it’s about the relationships, the memories, and the special times.

Tip #50 – WOW! That was so many I can’t even think of another one. . .So, just live your life everyday, rather it’s a holiday or not.    Diane

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Filed Under: Holidays

Preventative Measures for Holiday Weight Gain

December 14, 2011 By

I’m all about preventative maintenance. I’ve learned the hard way that if you don’t keep the oil changed in your car, bad things may happen to your engine that can cost you thousands of dollars. I’ve seen what happens if you let your termite bond lapse on your house, and unfortunate things can happen if you leave a dead tree too close to your house and you live in tornado alley.

This time of year, taking some preventative measures to avoid having an unnecessary weight gain over the next couple of weeks will help the scale stay within an acceptable range for you, keep on securely on your weight loss path, if you are trying to get to a healthy weight.

When I was on my own personal weight loss journey, I was nervous about Christmas because I loved to make and eat sugar cookies, couldn’t get enough Christmas candy, and never turned down a friend’s offer of a sweet dessert, even if I didn’t even like the dessert she made.

I’m proud, even after all these years, that I lost weight over Christmas that year, and didn’t feel deprived, but rather felt empowered that I could make good choices even throughout the holiday season. The empowered feeling gave me confidence as I continued to lose weight, because I knew if I had made it successfully through Christmas, I could also make it through other holidays and celebrations.

Some preventative measures that may help you avoid gaining weight throughout the holidays include:

  1. Avoid buying Christmas candy or desserts  - If it is not in your house, you can’t eat it.
  2. Use a rating system for foods people offer you – I still rate my food on a scale of 1 to 10. If the food isn’t a 9 or 10, then I politely say no.
  3. Add 20 more minutes of physical activity – Use resistance bands to do a workout while you watch television, add a 20 minute fast walk after dinner, or increase your exercise time by 20 minutes to help rev your metabolism and burn some calories.
  4. Communicate your desires to your family and friends – If you do not clearly tell your family and friends that you do not want to be offered junky food and sweets, they may not believe that you are serious about your commitment during the holidays.
  5. Induldge in small ways – If Christmas isn’t complete without peppermint patties or chocolate covered cherries, allow yourself to have a few in order to not deprive yourself. Plan your indulgences in advance and eat without guilt.

These are some of the preventative measures that worked for me back then, and continue to work for me now.

I’d love it if you would share your best preventative tips for this holiday season. Diane

 

Filed Under: Holidays, Weight Loss

What is the Real Purpose of Thanksgiving for You

November 23, 2011 By

As I lost weight and learned to stop thinking about food every single minute of the day, I also learned something really important about the holiday season. I learned that the success of the holiday isn’t about what food is on the table, but rather who is sitting at the table and what kind of experiences we all share. Additionally, I learned that holidays are more than one meal.

Of course an “eating” holiday like Thanksgiving does center around a meal, but in our house, it also centers around vocalizing what we are all thankful for. It also is a chance to pull out of wedding china, use fancy glasses and the nicer flatware.

Before, all I thought about was the food. I thought about when to buy the food, when to start preparing the food and how much food I could get away with eating. I started baking days in advance. Dozens and dozens of cookies, brownies by the pan and enough pie for each member of the family to have their own was standard prep for me. I was so busy thinking about the “food” that I often failed to notice anything else.

By the time I had obsessed over the food, just sitting at the table was exhausting. I just wanted to be done with the whole thing and have some pie.

Perhaps it’s because I’m older now, but these holidays are now about simplicity. What’s the simplest way to make delicious food that we all enjoy without stressing myself out. What other events do I want the kids to remember – sitting down for 30 minutes eating a gigantic meal, or spending the days ahead doing crafts and hanging out together?

I choose the family memories over the food frenzy.

We still have a great meal, but it’s easy to prepare and I don’t focus on how much food, but rather on what else is going on around us.

I know all of you are working on the same types of things this time of year. How to balance food, fun and family times while staying true to your goals.

I promise you that you won’t miss obsessing over the food – I sure don’t!

Happy Healthy Thanksgiving to all of You! Diane


 

Filed Under: Holidays, Weight Loss

What Events Get You?

May 11, 2010 By

Here’s my latest post on the Dr. Oz Blog! Will I Fit?

Social events are part of our culture. There are office parties, weddings, baby showers, dinners with friends, family celebrations, reunions, pot luck suppers, dinner clubs, etc. When I see those events all listed in one place it makes me stressed. It reminds me of all the office parties and social situations I attended during the 10 years that I struggled with obesity.

Certain social situations were easy. Easy in that I didn’t have a hard time controlling my food intake. Other situations were extremely challenging to me. I fared much better when I was served a preportioned plate, such as at a sit-down wedding. Then I just ate what was offered and having seconds was out of the question, because it would be embarrassing to ask the server for more food!

I didn’t do so well with events where the food was laid out as pretty as a picture. No – those events were a disaster waiting to happen. It didn’t matter if I were “dieting” or not. When I walked into a room where the food was free for taking any resolve I had possessed during the day disappeared like a mist in the sun. I felt sneaky sometimes as after I went through the line the first time I’d send John or one of the kids back for more cake or cookies. I’d ask other people if they would like something and get their request while at the same time getting something for myself.

Like it or not, the fabric of our lives includes social events. I think that learning to handle ourselves with regards to food at these kinds of functions is vital to our weight loss AND weight maintenance success. Here are my top 10 tips for handling social food situations while trying to eat right.

10 Tips for Social Eating

  1. If you can, bring one or more of the dishes. This puts you in the driver’s seat.
  2. Don’t be afraid to call ahead and ask what’s planned for the menu. Then you can decide ahead of time what you will eat.
  3. Drink up before you go. This helps you feel more full.
  4. Use the smallest plate available, or if none is available, visually divide your plate in half and only fill up half.
  5. Focus on the healthier options that are there. Try your best to ignore the fried chicken, and instead gravitate towards the fruit or veggie tray.
  6. Don’t go back for seconds, unless it’s for more salad!
  7. Ask your spouse or friend to be your accountability partner if that would help you.
  8. Have a snack on the way there. Arriving at a function starving is a recipe for disaster.
  9. Rate the tempting foods. If they aren’t a “10″ in your book, then pass completely.
  10. Don’t be afraid to say no. It’s your body and your weight. Don’t let other people push food on you.

In addition to the above tips, I think that planning ahead as best as you can is vital to coming through social situations unscathed and victorious.

Question: What events “get you” and how do you attend them without going off your plan?  Diane

Filed Under: Choices, Holidays, Meal Time, Weight Loss Tagged With: ,

Candy Anyone?

February 12, 2010 By

It’s almost Valentine’s Day and I have to confess that this is my absolute favorite holiday. I think I like the simplicty of it. Not a lot of decorations, although we do decorate more than some people.

Not too much planning and coordination of schedules needed either. The only thing required is some chocolate and some love. And with seven kids and one hubby we’ve got a lot of love around here. And some chocolate too.

In my obese days I started buying candy for Valentines Day soon after Christmas. After all it was ON SALE and they might not put it on sale again before Valentine’s Day – right? Wrong. I would buy several bags of candy with the half-hearted thought of saving it until Valentine’s Day. Unfortunately, the bags were ripped open and the candy consumed long before Valentine’s Day rolled around. Then I’d repeat the same exercise knowing full well that I was going to eat all that candy by myself. And I did. And I felt guilty. And I ate some more candy.

Now we still do some candy for Valentine’s Day but instead of eating and eating and eating it before the actual day we just buy candy right before the day and then it’s gone!  And unlike my obese years, I don’t eat the kids candy! I know they appreciate that.

Here are some candy statistics you might find interesting:

  • Dove Milk Chocolate Promises or wrapped squares (8 g) – 42 calories and 6 g carb
  • Hershey Kisses – 26 calories and 8 g carb each kiss
  • Hershey Kisses with Almonds – 23 calories and 2 g carb each kiss
  • Hershey Kisses filled with Caramel – 21 calories and 3 g carb each kiss
  • Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars – Fun size (14 g) – 67 calories and 8 g carb
  • Hershey’s Miniature Bars (mixed) – average of 42 calories and 5 g carb each bar
  • M&Ms, plain, Fun size (18 g) – 88 calories and 12 g carb
  • M&Ms, peanut
  • Fun size (18 g) – 93 calories and 11 g carb
  • 1/4 cup candy – 220 calories and 24 g carb
  • Miniature Bars (Milky Way, Snickers, Twix, 3 Muskateers) – average 38 calories and 5 g carb each bar
  • Mr. Goodbar Snack size (17 g) – 90 calories and 9 grams carb
  • Nestle’s Crunch Bars Fun size (10 g) 50 calories and 7 grams carb

Tootsie Rolls

  • Small bar – 50 calories and 10 g carb
  • Midgee – 23 calories and 7 g carb
  • Mini-Midgees – 11 calories and 2 g carb

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

  • Miniature (about 9 grams each) – 44 calories and 5 g carb per cup
  • Snack size (17 g) – 88 calories and 10 g carb
  • Snack size (21 g) – 100 calories and 12 g carb
  • White, Snack size (21 g) – 100 calories and 11 g carb

Assorted Candy Bars

  • 100 Grand Bars Fun size (11 g) – 50 calories and 8 g carb
  • Almond Joy Snack size (15 g) – 80 calories and 10g carb
  • Baby Ruth Bar, Fun size (18 g each) – 85 calories and 13 g carb
  • Butterfinger Bar, Fun size (18 g each) – 85 calories 14 g carb
  • Butterfinger Crisp Bar, Snack size (20 g) – 100 calories and 13 g carb
  • Kit Kat, Fun size (14 g) – 73 calories and 9 g carb
  • Milky Way bar, Fun size (17 g) – 75 calories and 12 g carb
  • Mounds bars, Snack size (17 g) – 83 calories and 9 g carb
  • Snickers Bars, Fun size (17 g) – 80 calories and 10 g carb

So the point of all that information isn’t to tell you NOT to eat your Valentine’s Day candy, but like everything else to be aware of your choices because those calories add up really quickly. My favorite chocolate candy is Dove. I do like the dark okay, but I am still a milk chocolate fan. I don’t believe in depriving myself of what I love, but I do believe in moderating my choices very carefully!! 

What about you? Can you just have a little bit of candy and be satisfied, or are you like I was, an all or nothing kind of person?  Diane

Filed Under: Choices, Holidays, Weight Loss Tagged With: ,

Another Birthday

January 9, 2010 By

DSC_0081

With a family of nine, birthdays come around all the time. Yesterday was my husband John’s birthday and last night we celebrated in our usual fashion. The kids decorated the dining room like a diner, complete with a lighted sign and a little corner table. They had a cash register on the buffet and a tip jar in case anyone wanted to contribute!! They did such a great job.

He chose Swiss Cheese Chicken (recipe linked)as his birthday meal, which, if you don’t mind a little cream of mushroom soup, is actually a pretty healthy dish. And for dessert he asked for a Tunnel of Fudge cake. If you make it right, when you cut into it, the cake has a fudgy center. Quite yummy, and since we have so many people, everyone can have one piece today and one piece tomorrow and then the cake is all gone!

We all love our spouses of course, but when I think of John, I often think of how supportive he was during my obese years. Even at my highest weight he never made me feel like  a fatty. Instead he always encouraged me (prodded actually) to look the best I could look. He was always trying to get me to buy some new clothes or try a new hairstyle. No matter how self depreciating I was about myself, he never joined in and made me feel bad about myself.

Even then I couldn’t believe he still thought I was attractive. I felt like a cow 99% of the time, but I suppose he didn’t see the same thing in the mirror that I did. All I saw were the ugly hips, thighs, and abdomen but he saw inside. I still appreciate that about him.

As I tried diet after diet, he was always encouraging and willing to help me. And when I fell off every wagon I got up on, he never criticized me when I said, “Let’s go to McDonald’s for a snack of fries and a chocolate shake.” Instead he just went with me, and never said a word about the quick failure of that particular diet.

None of us is perfect in any relationship, but he really did his best to prop up my self esteem during those really dark years.

I often wonder if I would have been as supportive of him as he was of me. I hope so!!

So on this, his birthday weekend, I just wanted to say Happy Birthday to my hubby! Can’t wait to see what this year holds for our family.  Diane

Filed Under: Holidays Tagged With:

It’s Exciting

December 31, 2009 By

I’m so excited to see what 2010 has in store for all of us. Can you believe that it is December 31st? I feel as though this year has flown by for me. I never would have dreamed last January that so many exciting things would have taken place in my life.

Here’s a few of them:

March 2009 – I started this website and blog.

May 2009 – My oldest daughter graduated from high school

June 2009 – My son was finally potty trained

June 2009 - We got through tornado season without me losing my mind

July 2009 - We managed to go on a family vacation which is no easy feat with seven kids

August 2009 - I realized I had a college student, a high school student, a middle school student, two elementary school students, a preschooler, and a toddler all at one time! (That was actually a scary revelation.)

October 2009 – Had six kids who got the Swine Flu and recovered, thank the Lord.

November 2009 – Got to go to Dallas with Frito-Lay.

November 2009 – Ran a 5K

December 2009 – Managed to get Christmas done with minimal stress.

Sure, there were lots of other exciting things that happened along the way, but these were some that stuck out for me as I was writing this post.

One thing that makes me really excited is to realize how quickly things can change from one year to the next. Like I said in my video post last week, you can be in an entirely different place next year. In fact, someone emailed me after that post and asked if I’d put up a one year to the other picture side by side for them to see. I thought it was a great question, so here are the pictures from one Christmas to the next.

Christmas Bow

christmas0001

Isn’t it neat to see what a difference a year can make in our lives? I never would have dreamed at that fat Christmas that I’d have run a 5K and lost so much weight in a year, but I did. If you had asked me what I wanted to accomplish that next year, losing weight would have been on my list, but I don’t think I would have believed I would actually do it.

As you approach 2010, I hope that you are filled with excitement and anticipation over what life has to offer you. Perhaps you will be surprised to see what changes will come into your life over the next year. And perhaps you will have your own story in pictures to tell.

Is there something in particular that you are looking forward to in 2010?  Diane

Filed Under: goal setting, Holidays, Weight Loss Tagged With: , ,

An Unexpected Request

December 29, 2009 By

Good Tuesday after Christmas! I hope that everyone had a nice, relaxing holiday. We enjoyed all of our activities throughout the month of December, but the closer we got to Christmas the less we had to do. The last office party was December 22nd, and the food wasn’t fabulous so I didn’t have to worry about eating too much of that!

We just hung out together as a family and enjoyed exchanging gifts and having a laugh over some less than stellar selections. (There are always a few every year. . .)

One funny thing happened this Christmas season that I didn’t expect. I shared in a post last week that I picked three desserts this year to make: Sugar cookies, Cranberry Nut Pound Cake, and Cheesecake. And I did make those, and we all enjoyed them very much.

Imagine my surprise when John started wandering around the house on Thursday (Christmas Eve). He went into the pantry and came back out. He opened the refrigerator door and then closed it back. He walked through the living room and back into the kitchen. He looked lost. So I said, “What are you doing?” He looked at me, hesitated and said, “I think I need some cookies.” I looked at him and  asked him, “Do you really want me to make you cookies?” He shrugged his shoulders and said, “It kinda doesn’t feel like Christmas Eve without something sweet to munch on.” He then looked at me, trying to gauge my willingness and said, “Well, if you don’t mind. . .”

I have to say that I was surprised. I thought we had a lot of sweets already, but he didn’t. And, if you’ve ever been in a relationship you know there are certain signals that are easily readable. John rarely asks for anything, so his comment of “Well, if you don’t mind. . .” let me know that he really did want some cookies for Christmas Eve.

So, being the generally good wife that I am, I asked him what kind of cookies would make Christmas Eve complete, and he chose oatmeal chocolate chip. So I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies. I have to say that although the cookies were an unexpected addition to our food plan, they weren’t completely unwelcome. All the kids love that recipe as do I. When I was a little girl my mom would make the same recipe and freeze them in anticipation of the upcoming holiday. Unfortunately for me, I discovered that I loved those cookies frozen and would eat and eat them right out of the freezer!

So we all had a few cookies and enjoyed them on Christmas Eve. I’m glad I made them as they brought back memories for all of us. I’m glad also that I can control myself around those cookies whereas in the past I would have pinched a few every time I walked by the plate. It’s so encouraging to me when I read your blogs and find that you are learning the same thing that I did along my journey. You can have the occasional (or unexpected) treat and still achieve and maintain your goals. It’s very freeing isn’t it?

As this holiday season winds up and the New Year approaches I was wondering how you are feeling with regards to unexpected food offerings. Are you feeling more in control of your choices and happier with your level of “resistence.” Or is this an area where you still struggle?  Diane

Filed Under: Holidays, obesity, Weight Loss Tagged With: , ,

Return to Life

December 27, 2009 By

It’s interesting how Christmas and other major holidays thrown our lives out of whack. Regardless of how you celebrate the holidays, it seemss hard to stay focused on our life’s goals. I know it can be for me.

John, the kids and I had a great Christmas. I completely unplugged until this evening, and although I enjoyed the break I did have some curiosity about what everyone else was doing.

Our Christmas was just the nine of us, and the kids had a great time opening their presents. I got some clothes (that I picked out) some handmade jewelry, and some kitchen accessories. It was all fabulous.

As nice as the holiday celebration was, I was almost relieved to get up this morning and not have to think about wrapping, cooking special foods, and whether or not I had managed to mail all my Christmas cards. It was nice to get up and walk, hit some early bird specials with John, come home, and get the house straightened up.

Do you ever wish that the holidays weren’t so much about the food? Even after all these years of maintenance I still find myself thinking about the Christmas meals, the desserts, the cookie exchanges, etc. Wouldn’t it be easier if it were just about the giving of gifts and the time spent with family and friends? In my mind it would be easier, but then it probably wouldn’t feel like Christmas. The food just comes with it, but after the food, life returns.

I used to feel that if holidays didn’t happen my weight loss journey would be easier. After all, I almost always put off trying to begin yet another diet because of upcoming holiday, rather it was Valentine’s Day or Memorial Day! Holidays got in the way of my weight loss. But as I finally lost the 150 pounds I realized I was wrong. Holidays didn’t get in the way of my weight loss, because holidays were real life. They continually happen year after year after year. And I needed to learn to deal with them as part of real life.

Real life isn’t always August (with no holiday), instead real life includes all the many celebrations of life. As I lost my weight I carefully thought about each holiday and planned accordingly. I didn’t always lose a pound or two over the holiday, but I generally didn’t gain. I tried to keep doing what I had been doing, but allowed myself the special indulgence. That’s real life.

Now, 12 years later, although holidays may be easier without the food, real life includes the food. And I love it! Weight loss journeys are practice for real life. Wherever you are in your journey, don’t get discouraged over the past holiday, or upcoming holidays. Instead just think of it as a practice session for real life maintenance. Because after all, that’s what all this hard work is all about! Real life.  Are you looking forward to the rest of your “real life?”  Diane

Filed Under: emotions, Holidays, obesity Tagged With: , ,

A Year Can Make a Difference

December 25, 2009 By

Merry Christmas from my house to yours! I hope you had a beautiful Christmas filled with wonderful memories that you will treasure for a lifetime. This video is entitled, “The Difference a Year Can Make.” I hope you enjoy.   Diane

Filed Under: Holidays Tagged With: ,
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