Holiday eating and other random thoughts

[Guest guest]

OK, lets face it. If the food is THERE, we are more likely to eat it.

After Xmas day, we went to visit cousins of mine in Savannah, and by

coincidental timing wound up in ton on Friday for a funeral

(along with the Savannah cousins). My cousin in Savannah keeps very

little junk in her home because her husband is diabetic, and she just

doesn't keep it around. She cooks regular meals, and has high-fiber

cereal, English muffins (Wolferman's someone sent them) and fruit

around for breakfast.

We also didn't do our normal trip to my husband's family - we were

supposed to meet them this week at Disney World, but we cancelled

because of my impending layoff.

So, I didn't do the usual Christmas trip to my sister-in-law's (read

that MAJOR food) and while visiting my cousins, there was very little

snack junk around, contrary to most households this time of year.

It's also much easier to raid your own kitchen than someone else's.

Even if you're standing in the kitchen trying to figure out what is

the least damaging thing you can eat.

At this point I have actually LOST weight since Thanksgiving (this is

unheard-of) - not that I couldn't stand to be down somewhat lower

anyway.

I know what the lesson is that is hiding in here - but tell that to

the 8-year old that thinks the height of travel cuisine (while

driving from central Ohio -> Savannah -> ton -> Savannah ->

central Ohio) is Mc's, and wants snack foods in the van to

which she was confined for 10+ hours on two different days.

BTW - One of my cousins in ton was thinner than I've ever seen

her, which is still not skeletal. I think she's mid-60s, still works

as a contractor for the Navy Bureau of Ships, and says she's starting

a new life as a skinny person (which she has NEVER been). Weight

Watchers and walking.

So, yes, planning is a big part of it, but so is not caving in to the

usual seasonal madness that involves having all this junk in your

house in case 'someone drops in'. Yes, we baked cookies for my

cookie exchange at work, but my husband left the box of what I

brought home open, and the cat got most of them! Now if I can

convince my husband he doesn't need a ton of the stuff he would

normally get when his buddies come over to watch the Fiesta Bowl on

Friday.

Happy holidays and here's looking forward to a more controlled

(calorie and otherwise) new year -

Iris

[Guest guest]

Over the past couple of years I have taken the relax,

and eat whatever you want mentality for both

Thanksgiving and Christmas.  For Thanksgiving, that

means one day of ad lib.  For Christmas, that equates

to three days of eating, since my birthday is two days

after Christmas.   I have done this every year and

it has been successful as far as minimizing weight

gain.

However, I have decided that this is my last year of

practicing this, because it does not work for me.  I

have no problem getting back on track as far as diet,

but for whatever reason, I find that my hunger levels

are REALLY high for the next three or more days that I

am back on "the program".  As far as my mental control

or tolerance over hunger, it is like starting over

completely.  Not sure why this happens, but I would

rather stick with regular eating habits year around.

Hi Amy

I found your comments about being hungry for the next three or more days after eating a lot, interesting.

Certainly I have experienced this also.

My comment is that I have noticed something similar when I use sleeping pills. I use them to get me through a time when I really need sleep, then must suffer a rebound effect of loss of sleep for several nights when I go off of them. I know this is messing with my chemistry. And I guess overeating does the same. I have accepted this rebound effect when I use sleeping pills. Now that this is so clearly stated that this is much the same as when I overeat, I hope I can accept it also, deal with it, or not over eat!

A few years ago, I did try not to eat all the good things available for the holidays. Right after New Year's when all the goodies were gone, my will power evaporated and I ate everything in sight--and it wasn't even good! So now, I do try to eat the good stuff.

Janet S.