[jkmfrog]

Hi folks - here is my new challenge thread. Getting through the holidays is tough. I read an article recently that talked about a study on temptation. The researchers believe that based on thier study, humans have a sort of temptation resistance "reserve"- too many temptations and eventually the well runs dry and we give in. A facinating look at human behavior but...

That's no reason why we can't continue to make good choices during the holidays!

Here is MY challenge. I've got a whole bunch of holiday events this week and through January 5th. All of them involve food and drink and all sorts of tempting goodies. I'm not aiming for perfection - just to make reasonable choices and stay on plan.

I'll be checking in on this thread most days, but usually before and after an event. 1) what I plan to do to stay on track 2) how things went, what worked, what did not and 3) what I've learned.


Feel free to join in - you can set your own goals and use your own way to get there. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Jen

[jkmfrog]

ok. first party down. Did pretty good other than having more wine than I planned.

The low down - my strategy was to remind folks I was going to dinner with that I'm not eating wheat and sugar and that I hoped they would have dinner selections that worked for me (they usually do .

How things went; I ate some cheese and berries as an appetizer, had a green salad and dinner was "surf and turf" grilled salmon and fillet with a butter sauce and some mashed parsnips (which are not low carb but better than potatoes). I skipped dessert which every one assured me was good, but I'd rather fit into new skinny jeans

Learned? I love wine and left to my own intentions would drink way too much. However, I stuck to my guns and did not let the wine I drank influence the decision I made early in the day to stay on plan.

Next event - tomorrow. Making salad for office potluck. Need to stay away from crackers and chips. Salad is made with romaine and frisee, pea pods, radishes, a few cherry tomatos, red onion rings, apple slices and a SF raspberry vinaigrette (homemade). Almonds on the side.

[Ernie1296]

Way to go on your first party

Hoping your 2nd goes just as well

All done with my parties (did real well) but still need to deal with Christmas Eve/Day...Not sure if I want to give myself permission to splurge or not ...I am still thinking about it....I hope I don't...

Good Luck on your challenge Jen - I will be thinking of you

ANN -
_________________

[jkmfrog]

Thanks for the support Ann I've not made up my mind yet about Christmas either - The last two years when my mother in law cooked we had spaghetti (their tradition - and very fun) and I ate it anyway. This year with her gone, I have no idea who is cooking or what - I think it might be up to me to help figure that out but I've been so busy it JUST dawned on me that everyone is coming from out of town - we are the closest - and I might need to plan dinner. LOL. Guess that makes it easier for me, huh?

Anyway - Party number two is done. It really went well - I had a moment where I was staring at 8 feet of carb laden food - seriously, my dish was the only one without bread, wheat, pasta, potatoes, or sugar - and I thought hummm, what would not be too bad...? After that little devil on my shoulder got kicked into submission by my low carb angel (who is not, I'm sorry to say, a non-violent angel - with my carbage devil, extreme measures are warranted) I woke up and realized that there was not one thing on that table worth tossing my hard work away for.

So - ate 4 mini meatballs (I know they had some fillers, but not too bad), the smoked turkey and cheese out of two sandwiches, and my green salad, and water. Then, after the party I went to Wal-Mart and bought two new pairs of Lee jeans, regular size 18. My old pants (20W-22) don't fit anymore. Looking forward to tossing these in the spring for some 16s.

Lesson - "nothing tastes as good as thin feels"

[jkmfrog]

Alright - party number three down!

At the party I skipped the alcohol, ate some ham, carrots dunked in artichoke dip, some swiss cheese, and had half a craker with a pile of tuna tartare on top (yummy - could have 'et the whole plate). Then DF and I went out for a cocktail (gin) and some crabcakes at a spot near our house. I tried a bite of his rice dish (was good - they did a nice job with the lobster bits and the seasonings) but not worth all those carbs

This week we are heading into the Christmas holiday weekend. I've already heard that spaghetti and sauce are on the menu both days and I am planning some meals to freeze and take along for the two days we are there. Next party is Friday night. Have a great week.

[jitters158]

Great Job

This is the worst time of the year for me. I am trying to eat before going to the parties. I am hoping to make it through.

[Ernie1296]

Wow! Jen - Your really doing a good job...

Keep up the hard work....My thoughts are with you...

Wendi - I agree with you, it is very hard this time of year...

That's why I really like the fact that Jen come up with this Holiday Challenge for herself and for others that want to participate. She has acknowledged what is coming at her, she has made a plan, and is working it...

Thanks! Jen for inspiring me....

ANN -
_________________

[jkmfrog]

aww shucks. You're welcome. Thanks for participating!

Today has been tougher than any holiday party for some reason (PMS cravings I think). I'm working from home on a deadline (stesssssss!) and can't seem to eat enough I've eaten my regular three meals, had several LC snacks, plenty of protein, and even gave myself an extra "treat" item. NOT ENOUGH. grrrrr. I'm drinking enough water to float out the door....lol. I'm sure it will pass.

[Ernie1296]

Oh, I am right there with you ....the last 2 days have been tough ...not sure why but I sure will be glad when it passes...



ANN -
_________________

[jkmfrog]

hang in there. My cravings have subsided for now and I feel like its been easier to stay on track. Friday is the start of the holiday weekend. I have an open house type thing tomorrow night, then the relatives start arrriving Saturday night and X mas will officially begin.

I know the sister in laws are making cookies on Sunday (some have started already) so I am still deciding if I want to make a batch of LC xmas cookies I can eat or just skip them all together. Also, I have frozen some lc coconut cookies with chocoalte nibs in them, but I am alredy tired of them and was thinking they would stay frozen for some future time. I have some pumpkin poundcake in the fridge - not sure it turned out as good as I would like because I tried a different blend of sweeteners, but its been ok when toasted in the t-oven. I have two dishes frozen for Saturday and Sunday that I can eat instead of spaghetti. Enough about food.

Ann - How are things going today for you?


Jen

[Ernie1296]

Ok today....but tonight I am doing GREAT!

Guess what happened!....My husband gave me the best complement ever...

Just so you know, he does not do LC and my house is in no way carb proof...I would say it is just the opposite...

Anyway, when I got home from work I changed into my house clothes and my husband said Wow! your clothes are fitting looser...and he is very proud of my determination...I am inspiring him... How cool is that? I will be replaying his words in my head all weekend...

Anyway...It sounds like you are going to have a lot of fun with your family and friends this Holiday weekend...Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas...

ANN -
_________________

[jkmfrog]

Don'tcha love it when they say the right thing? Ann - that's awesome and with the weight you have alredy lost I'm not surprised they have noticed.

Ok. So for Friday I did so-so. Skipped the alcohol although I did have about 2 oz sample of a micro-brewed porter beer that was awesome. Its been sooooo long since I tasted real beer. Anyway I stuck mostly with the shrimp, veggies, dip and nuts. But did decide to splurge and have a couple of smoked turkey and tomato bruscetta, and crackers with cheese spread. No sweets and I ate about 5x the amount of veggies and shrimp as did bready things.

Hopefully I worked most of it off cleaning my house for like six hours, plus a couple more doing home improvement shopping and some minor household repairs. My back is killin' me! (hey! where's the emoticon thats bent over in pain?!)

Ate ok today, but not very hungry. Chalk it up to the buzz I got ziping from downstairs to upstairs every 10 min.

Merry Christmas Ann and everyone reading! Not going to be able to post until Tuesday so catch you then!

[Ernie1296]

Did ok this week....No weight loss but yet No weight gain either...I am wondering if it is because I ate about double the vegetables I normally eat all week....Thought this was best instead of eating all those HC treats that kept calling my name.

Emotions are on a roller coaster today...Good one moment and down in the dumps the next ....

Holiday's I think are just hard whether your eating low carb or not...

Life is good to me, so I am not sure what's wrong...I hate when I get like this...I must just be tried...will see how tomorrow goes...

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas weekend....

ANN -
_________________

[jkmfrog]

Hey Ann - sending a hug your way . I am having an awfully sensitive couple of days myself. Burst into tears this am when my fiance said he was going to spend my birthday (wed) with his family in Virginia, after I told him the night before that it would be ok, and I would go out with some girlfriends instead. LOL. Holidays are tough, I am so relieved to be home and in my own space for a bit.

Food wise the last couple of days were great - I made LC brownies as a treat and avoided all the sugary holiday treats. I was tempted by some non-lc cheesecake, but decided that I would make one of my own lc version later in the week for new year's.

Merry Merry everyone. Several more events to go - gonna keep this thread going through January 4th.

[jkmfrog]

Ok. tonight's plan: Going out to eat. Gonna eat on plan, despite it being my birithday. Motivator: snuck a peek on the scale this am and think I am finally losing again (yea!) so I don't want to throw that off.

I am considering planned "cheat" for new year's eve- I have a specialty cocktail I invented about 10 years ago that involves off plan items like rasperry cordial and squirt soda. I did discover they do now make diet squirt, which appears to be made/distributed only in the Midwest, and I only have a precious four 12 oz bottles left of the regular stuff at home. Since no one is driving here from Wisconsin anytime soon...and you can't carry liquids on the plane...I'm stuck with the regular stuff. Anyway, I'm rambling today. Should have taken a mental health day here at work - not getting anything done and need a nap already!! LOL.

Later,

Jen