How to avoid a 'Santas Belly' over Christmas....

The son of a friend was taken to get his Santa photo taken. His mother said to him "Look at Santas boots", and he replied "Look at Santas fat belly". Well, lets say a communal goodbye to our 'Santa bellys'.

Not only are we going to have a wonderful Christmas filled with fun, laughter and festivities with those we love - we're not going to gain those customary extra Christmas pounds that stay with us for the next 20 years. NO WAY. In fact, we will all continue our luscious lean lovely hot body journey - for some of us, that means we are planning to maintain our weights over the Christmas period, and for others, we're planning to continue the fat melt over the Christmas period.

We're not in denial. We know that we can't just cross our fingers and hope for the best, and just 'believe' that we will reduce portions and make healthy choices when faced with a buffet of Christmas delights. This journey is an active process that requires planning, and effort. We are after all developing habits that will see us through our lean and lovely healthy lives. And remember - we get one healthy Christmas under our belts (so to speak), it not only shows us we can do it, but it will make the next one that bit easier, and so on, and so on, and so on.

So my lean lovelies - please share below your plans and strategies for not only surviving, but thriving during the Christmas period. You're worth it, we're worth it - and together there is no stopping this incredible transformation that is you!

Fri. Dec 8, 10:29am

These are my strategies for the Christmas/New Years Period, and I plan to add in any other good ideas that others have that will help me stay on track…

1. Have a plan (and this is it)
2. Only go to Christmas food focused occasions that I really want to go to or need to attend for work
3. Before those food focused events:
· check out the menu and pre-choose what I’ll eat if possible;
· a few days beforehand and a few days afterwards eat low points and up the exercise;
· on the day eat super-low points outside of the occasion and make an extra effort to fit exercise into the day;
· remember that no one else gives a rats ass what I eat, so don’t worry about what people think;
· before going out read through the reasons why it is I want to lose the weight, think about how I felt when I was heavy, and visualize myself at my goal weight and how fabulous and hot I’ll look and feel;
· when I’m there focus on the company and not the food;
· sit next to the slowest eating and/or most; talkative person;
· load my plate up so that its at least half full with veges or salads;
· when eating desserts follow the four bite rule – have four bites and push it away;
· if it’s a big helping get half of it put in a doggie bag straight away;
· ask ask ask what’s in the meal and ask them to remove high fat things (like nuts) and put dressings on the side and when I have enough dressing get them to take it away;
4. On Christmas morning I’m going to go for a good walk in the morning.
5. Christmas day is my ‘eat whatever I want day’, and so leading up to Christmas day I’ve started making a list of all the yummy foods I want to eat. So, whenever I have a craving or temptation I just add it to the list – and I know on that day, if I want it I can have it. And on boxing day I will get rid of all the tempting leftovers.
6. Know that other than Christmas day, my rule is that I will eat to my WW points allowance
7. Type out my list of reasons why I want to lose the weight, and pin it somewhere where I’ll see it regularly – like on my bathroom mirror.
8. Set goals and a challenge to take me through to New Years day, and again, put it in a place where I see it often.
9. Each week that I post a loss, reward myself from a pre-prepared set of rewards.

Friday, December 8, 2006, 5:25 PM

The 12/8 5:25 poster has a great list. I would suggest a special plan for 12/26. I would need to have a firm meal plan in place to get through the day after eating (and drinking!) anything I wanted. I think it's a great idea, however, that you KNOW which day you get to eat all of that stuff.

Monday, December 11, 2006, 2:34 PM

My plan is simple- don't gain weight. I'm not going to try to lose any- too stressful a time to focus on the scale. I'll get to the pool and gym when I can. I get sick when I eat wheat, which 95% of christmas food has, so I'm rarely tempted. I don't drink much ever. I intend to enjoy the holiday season, really, turkey dinners are about all I have scheduled, and I figure a home cooked turkey dinner is usually better for me than what I'd get in a restaurant.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006, 11:20 AM

here is a link to a great article on cnn.com relating to holiday eating strategies.

Link

Tuesday, December 12, 2006, 11:43 AM

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