T-2 days and counting. I’m getting nervous, I think. :~) I feel totally underprepared. I have to pick some stuff up at the store tonight, my carpets are being cleaned today, and veggies need to be cut. Thankfully the toddler and I made some pumpkin Spice Bread last night, so that’s out of the way. I just feel like I’m forgetting something BIG.
Anyway, Lorraine recently shot me a question about the holidays so I moved it up in the queue as it would be irrelevant 2 months from now (that’s how backlogged I am again). So I thought why not answer it and also pose the question to you all for this weeks Question of the Week? Two birds, one stone, I love it! Especially because the birds happen to be Turkeys! ;~P (ok, ok bad joke)
Here goes…
Is every holiday getting easier for you. Once you know you survived last year you know this year will be ok. My question is on Thanksgiving do you eat what you want and deal with it the day after or are you mindful and count. I try not to go crazy and anjoy my day without counting.
My response…
Hi Lorraine!
I treat Thanksgiving like any other event (because they all have food associated with them, don’t they?!?) I do indulge but I also try to watch and balance in my head. Not count points exactly but bargain. For example… If I want pie (and I want pie!) I ease up on the bread during the meal. It’s just makes me feel at least a little accountable.
As for "getting easier". Actually I think they are harder! Beucase I feel like I have more wiggle room! lol The first year on WW I actually lost and I don’t remember counting. I just balanced and bargained with myself. I think that is reall the key.
Just remember it’s one meal! Not an invitation to overeat until New Years day. As long as we keep that in mind, we’ll be fine! :~)
Hope that helps!!
-Roni
Ok, your turn…
On Thanksgiving do you eat what you want and deal with it the day after or are you mindful and count?
Curious minds wants to know! :~)
Side note: I scheduled a chat on BlogToLose tonight at 9PM EST if you want to join me. We can talk pre-Thanksgiving motivation or anything you like! If I don’t chat with you guys… Have a wonderful Turkey Day!
39 Responses to QOTW and AskRoni Q&A: How do you manage Thanksgiving?
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About Roni
Roni started this blog in '05 to journal her weight loss. 70lbs later, she's committed to living a conscious, healthy life and hopes to inspire others along the way. Read more on the about page.
I am in charge of dinner this year, and so I am trying out lots of low-fat versions of our favorite dishes. Also, am trying to simplify a bit–not so very many different dishes to choose from, just our favorites.
p.s. love the idea of a ‘chat.’ I hope you will do it again, as I won’t be near a computer tonight…
Good grief! I really just came over here to say Happy Thanksgiving, Roni! You are one of the many people I am thankful for.
I’m going to try to be mindful and count, but if I go overboard, I’m not going to let it be an excuse to go overboard for the rest of the year.
I read once that it’s not Thanksgiving that makes you gain 10 pounds, it’s the eating leftovers for a week! The rule in my house for any holiday is that leftovers are only kept for one day after the holiday. I also send home most of the leftovers with the family that has the most kids, they are always appreciative.
Just like you say, “Not an invitation to overeat until New Years day”.
I try to balance the day and meal and remember that its one meal that I should truly enjoy. My own tradition is to get up super early and run at least 3 miles to start my day. Having a great run in the morning helps to get my head on straight! I also try to eat my usual healthy breakfast and lunch and then eat small portions of the ‘heavy’ stuff of Thanksgiving dinner, but I really savor every bite. I don’t really restrict what I’m eating, but I try to keep it to small portions. The next day – its back to my normal eating routine.
Okay, first – why do you get the carpets cleaned before the holiday? My MIL does that too, and I don’t get it ! No one really notices, and aren’t they even dirtier after 20 people have walked on them?
Second, I cited Blog to Lose in a post today
Third, I’ve had successful and not to successful holidays, this year I am going to keep in mind what I am eating and not go crazy. I will enjoy the food, but in smaller portions and I will only have one dessert, I am hoping to not even go near the apps, hoping and praying! I have to treat it as such – I don’t want a license to eat as I always give myself.
Fourth, I am doing a 5 mile turkey trot in the AM that I will use to set the tone for the day.
T
I personally want to indulge on holidays and not track calories (or points for all the WW folks) so I treat it as a cheat day – notice I said “day” not dayS! I think that is the key – to keep it to a day and not let it drag into the weekend or the following week.
I’m nervous, really nervous about Thanksgiving since I just started my own modified version of WW in Oct. I keep reading all my weight loss blogs and keep refreshing my reader hoping to keep seeing new posts so that I will stay very motivated. My plan for this year: 1) I will exercise in the AM. 2)I am not going to count, per se, but I am going to try to fill my plate with mainly turkey and any other fresh vegetable that is there. But allow myself 1 spoonful of everything I really want to eat. 3) I will have tiny slivers of any desert I want, but primarily the ones that are seasonal. 4) I will tell myself that its not an emergency that I eat everythign in sight. Geesh!
I’m not going to focus on losing, as much as just maintaining this week. I just keep telling myself that I want to be healthy/skinny/sexy (he!) a whole lot more than I want to eat pecan pie….I can always have it AFTER. :o)
I usually just try and enjoy the day. Last year for some reason it finally hit me that I didn’t enjoy feeling so OVER FULL for the rest of the day. So I’ve learned that stopping at happy is much better for me. I also try and go for a short walk with some cousins after the meal to get me away from the leftovers :) This actually keeps me in pretty good check. I also try to remind myself that the goodies taste the same whether its your first bite or 150th bite. That helps me remember that I don’t really need to eat more than 1 piece of pie or cake or cookie.
In a nutshell, being happy is fun…being stuffed to the point of discomfort or even just to the point of feeling guilty is just not the best way to go!
I’m going to approach Thanksgiving in a “Twilight” kind of mind set. I posted about it today, how if Edward can resist biting Bella, the ultimate temptation for his vampire senses, I can resist gorging on all the carb-filled foods on the Thanksgiving table. Also before and after Thanksgiving through the holidays. Thanks for your great blog. We’re all in this together.
Debby – I’ll definitely be doing the chat thing again. Especially through the holidays when people need the most support!
Deanna — The carpets are a DISASTER! LOL I think I use the holiday as an excuse. :~)
I so wanted to a turkey trot this year but it being my first cooking thanksgiving and I’m holding off. Next year I’m all about it! Want to make it a family tradition!
Last year, I lost weight during all the end of year holidays, and I’m almost to goal this year. So I intend to do well. I’m planning to fill up on the low point items (fresh veggies, salad, turkey), have no more than 1/4 cup 25 calorie canned gravy on my potatoes or wherever (0 points), my Mom is baking me a sweet potato and I will have 1 small spoon of dressing, cranberry sauce/jello or anything else that looks high points that I want. I am bringing 2 WW desserts, and there will be other high calorie desserts there. I will have small slivers of anything I feel I need to try. I’m also kind of thinking of making your spinach stuffed mushrooms as an appetizer and most likely not many will be eaten, because the only family who are also watching their diets, don’t like mushrooms, so I will be able to eat what I want of those.
I’m not too worried about Thanksgiving this year, oddly enough. We’re not hosting, so no leftovers. We’re bringing desserts–bought already, and nothing that I absolutely *have* to have–and a fruit tray.
I’ve had good luck following Leticia’s method, since Thanksgiving is so starch-laden: have a little dab of the “must have” items and skip the “meh” ones. (Example: stuffing, pumpkin pie=must have; mashed potatoes, roll=meh.) As Brandy observed, most things taste the same after a few bites anyway. (For me, though, bacon is a notable exception…at least it’s “Turkey Day” and not “Bacon Day.”)
I think the only thing I’m worried about is not getting enough non-starch veggies, which is what I’d usually load up on to avoid too many starchy items. I’m hoping someone will be bringing a veggie tray. (I might just bring a little stash of celery and carrots, just in case.)
I’ll also be visiting and playing with the kids to keep them occupied, so that helps, too. Wish our town had a Turkey Trot, I would have enjoyed that a lot.
This year I’m feeling so positive about my weight loss and my new habits that I’m just not worried about it.
I have a game plan – what I know I will eat and how much. We’re bringing before-dinner snacks that are low in points and I’m bringing a high-fat and low-fat dessert option.
My big overview of the day – to focus on family and good conversation, go slow at the dinner table and to just think “healthy” will carry me through I think.
Well, we already had Thanksgiving (I’m Canadian eh) and I actually planned on indulging, and I hosted the dinner, but for the first time ever I got so wrapped up in talking and hostessing that I really didn’t eat that much! It was really great in the sense that I didn’t even have to think about ‘denying’ myself.
I plan on mostly counting points. I tend to be all or nothing and i hate feeling do full and icky after a big meal. Lucky that i am cooking so i will make a couple light sides and some traditional sides.
I am going to eat until full, not stuffed like usual. I was laughing during my WW meeting, because they said..”Remember, its a holiday, not a holiweek”, and this time last year, I was saying there is NO WAY I can diet during the holidays…..the months of novemeber and december…. :) I used to give myself about 6 weeks to pig out. Not this year, I should make lifetime on sat! Yea, I cant wait!
Well this is the first year in a long time for me being on program. I am going to be mindful of what I eat. If I want pie I’m going to have it, but it will be a smaller portion and only one piece! We are not having Thanksgiving at our house this year, YAY, so NO leftovers! Phew!!!
I try to be mindful at any event when food is involved, which is every time. :-) I did WW years ago and the holiday season was the hardest; however, I feel that I am in a different mindset than I was back then. I just want to be aware or what I am eating and try to make healthier choices.
I’m making it at my house, but I plan to send the leftovers home to other people!
What stinks is the fact that between my DH and I , we have 4 stops! This year, its been spread over 4 days. My MIL was this past Sunday, Thursday is “my side” ( my Mother’s side and Dad’s side) and Sunday is with FIL. Soooooo… I am doing my best to “behave” in between. I was so uncomfortable after Sunday’s gorgefest, I hope I will not repeat it. Like someone else put it “holiDAY!, not holi-week” The leftovers sent home with me had a date with the squirrels outside the next day :) They appreciated it. ( and it drove the cat and dog NUTS)
I’m with you too, Jessica. We have Thanksgiving twice! I plan on walking to my Mom’s on Thursday, and I’ll have my favorites within reason. On Friday I’m taking a spin class before heading off to the in-laws. I’ll probably try to only have the basics, but it’s harder for me there. They are very critical, and I usually feel great stress! Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
I am going to run a marathon the morning of Thanksgiving and then eat whatever I want and sleep the rest of the day :)
I posted my Thanksgiving Day plan today in my blog. It consists of starting the day off right with a Thanksgiving Day run and then eating sensibly.
I’m am trying to make healthier Thanksgiving dishes. Even so, I won’t be over stuffing myself. I find that getting an upset stomach after over indulging isn’t worth it.
My plan is to break up the must have foods over all my meals on Thanksgiving. Since I am hosting, I have complete control:) I am going to have a dinner roll, fruit salad and cranberry salad along with a deviled egg for my breakfast. These are all things that I will be serving as part of dinner for the rest of the gang. Then at dinner (around 1pm), I will choose not have those items, but will enjoy the turkey and dressing, green beans and corn. My family prefers their vegetables steamed without butter, so it will be fairly healthy. Then I will serve dessert to my family, but forgo it myself. Later in the day, when I am hungry, I will have a bit more turkey and veggies and my dessert. That way I will get a chance to enjoy all of the foods that I traditionally associate with the holiday, but should still remain within my points for the day. Of course this sort of plan works best when you are cooking and hosting, and have control of all of the food!
I am also running a 5 mile turkey trot, so add that in with a couple of dog walks during the day, I should have plenty of activity points which will make it easier to stay within my points range for the day.
I am not going to try and manage anything on Thanksgiving. I am going to eat what I want and try not to over eat just because it’s there. But, I am not going to measure out 1/2c of whatever and pride myself on what small portions I had. I am going to enjoy the day and move on.
I’m going to make sure that I have a huge workout, and am going to eat what I want. BUT breakfast will be light, and on Friday things are back to normal. One meal does not make us fat.
Too bad you cannot do a Beer Butt Turkey…that would be great.
I agree with just about eveyone else who posted above me. It is just one day and for my husband and I it is just one meal (w/o leftovers, thank goodness). We will eat but not over indulge too much. There is no point to eat until I feel sick. I want to enjoy the meal and the company. The rest of my food that day will be really light too. I think that will help.
I plan on counting points, but I know I will be estimating a lot. I’m not too worried because I don’t really like “Thanksgiving food” all that much. Otherwise I’m going to have a healthy breakfast and snack on fruit so I don’t get too hungry before the meal. For dessert… I’m not sure what I’ll do. Probably have one piece of something.
Have a fantastic Thanksgiving!
I blogged about this last week because I think I’m a freak and tend to never OD on Thanksgiving because I don’t like 90% of the things served. Since childhood, my plate has held: turkey, roll, cranberry sauce, veggies. I don’t like stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, candied yams … none of it. So I’m not tempted. This year I’ll be at my aunt and uncle’s and no idea what they’ll be serving, but I’m sure I’ll do fine, especially if I just ease up with the desserts. After almost 5 yrs on WW now, I pretty much handle holidays like any day: a little enjoyment, a lot of moderation.
I agree with Roni though that it’s tougher sometimes in that we think we have more wiggle room now that we’re smaller, but it (sadly) ain’t so!
Oh, and I count Pts/journal every day, and have for 4.5 yrs, so of course I will on Thanksgiving, too.
This Thanksgiving week is 7-year WW anniversary. Holidays are the easiest for me because I don’t like any of the traditional foods – not even the desserts. It’s the regular days that kill me.
Happy Thanksgiving!!!!
My secret to Thanksgiving is that I am a “guest” and not the “host”. I eat what I want (my stomach can only hold so much during the day) and then I totally walk out the door never having to worry again about all the decadent leftovers.
My problem in the past has been eating a big thanksgiving dinner, then a big day after thanksgiving dinner and so on and so on … lol. As the guest, the most I get offered is a small take home plate, but usually I kindly turn it down. :)
I eat what I want — but what I want has changed. I am a different person. I no longer sneak food in the kitchen while no one is looking. We did scale back on how much we are making so we won’t have a ton of leftovers, but it’s good healthy yummy food from scratch, so I’m not really worried. Our focus is on family and friends and being grateful — not the food, per se.
Happy Thanksgiving Roni!!!
Happy thanksgiving Roni and I’m thankful we have you. I was pretty good yesterday..I ate everything and like you I was mindful and when I was stuffed I stopped. I went to spin yesterday and I’m off today too so I know I wont do any damage. You turned me onto the gym with your sucess and now I’m loving it too.
Chat on Friday was nice and I would be up for it on a weekly or monthly basis so we can get to know each other and help if we can.