What are Your Tips and Tricks for Maintaining Your Weight...

[Bonny]

during the holidays?

I had way too much fun over Thanksgiving and think I've already gained my December 5lbs. I can usually get rid of it in January when I do my "Dry January" when I cut out the wine and desserts with refined sugar.

Please share your favorite Tips and Tricks. I've got holiday parties to go to!

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

MyFitnessPal.com

[sesfw]

Since we have been on a low sodium life-style change for the last 5+ years we really don't have a problem.  When we are invited to partake of things we enjoy but watch the amount we have.  Otherwise it'a our normal low sodium eating at home.

Our holiday weight gain is usually water from the sodium, so at home we drink just water.  Flushes the salt out of our system and we feel a lot better.

We will over-indulge at entertainments but keep the usual meals at home.

Works for us.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

One tip I've heard but cannot abide to: 
You only need three bites of a dessert to enjoy it. 

[Deleted]

Ugh, having breakfast at the bar this morning I left my coat at last night isn’t helping this.

I do work out religiously an hour a day however which keeps me even.

[Bonny]

Dec 9, 2017 11:28:06 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

MyFitnessPal.com

I'm not sure I want to know the calories in some of the things I'm eating at a party!

On a more serious note, thanks.

[Bonny]

Dec 9, 2017 11:45:14 GMT -5 sesfw said:

Since we have been on a low sodium life-style change for the last 5+ years we really don't have a problem.  When we are invited to partake of things we enjoy but watch the amount we have.  Otherwise it'a our normal low sodium eating at home.

Our holiday weight gain is usually water from the sodium, so at home we drink just water.  Flushes the salt out of our system and we feel a lot better.

We will over-indulge at entertainments but keep the usual meals at home.

Works for us.

I'm definitely seeing water retention. We bought some mixed nuts from Costco for Thanksgiving and they are addictive. I need to get them out of the house!

[Bonny]

Dec 9, 2017 11:48:23 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

One tip I've heard but cannot abide to: 
You only need three bites of a dessert to enjoy it. 

This is a good reminder. I can sometimes get away with ONE bite just to try something and move along. Three bites might lead to eating the WHOLE thing.

[Bonny]

Dec 9, 2017 11:50:23 GMT -5 @aj said:

Ugh, having breakfast at the bar this morning I left my coat at last night isn’t helping this.

I do work out religiously an hour a day however which keeps me even.

I normally do some kind of work out everyday but when I'm traveling not so much. I probably need it as much for my mental health as physical. We're having some great weather so I'm trying to enjoy the outdoors as much as I can.

[Deleted]

Dec 9, 2017 12:05:21 GMT -5 Bonny said:

Dec 9, 2017 11:50:23 GMT -5 @aj said:

Ugh, having breakfast at the bar this morning I left my coat at last night isn’t helping this.

I do work out religiously an hour a day however which keeps me even.

I normally do some kind of work out everyday but when I'm traveling not so much. I probably need it as much for my mental health as physical. We're having some great weather so I'm trying to enjoy the outdoors as much as I can.

When I was in Europe for work none of the hotels had a fitness center, I literally ran wall to wall in my room for an hour on days when it was bad weather outside.

[vonna]

Dec 9, 2017 11:48:23 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

One tip I've heard but cannot abide to: 
You only need three bites of a dessert to enjoy it. 

I'm up for the challenge! 
<strategizing how to divide dessert into 3 somewhat overwhelmingly large bites>

[NoNamePerson]

Dec 9, 2017 11:48:23 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

One tip I've heard but cannot abide to: 
You only need three bites of a dessert to enjoy it. 

If it is a really good dessert I would have to throw the rest in a mud puddle to keep from eating more than three bites.

[dee27]

Daily exercise
Adequate sleep
Reduce stress 
Fill a small plate with more vegetables than protein or carbs
Stop eating when full

[Deleted]

Dec 9, 2017 12:47:09 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Dec 9, 2017 11:48:23 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

One tip I've heard but cannot abide to: 
You only need three bites of a dessert to enjoy it. 

If it is a really good dessert I would have to throw the rest in a mud puddle to keep from eating more than three bites.

I sometimes cut myself a very small piece- a sliver of pie, for example.  If it's cake with frosting, I might scrape up some of the spare frosting from the serving tray or knife and add it to my plate rather than cut another slice of cake which is, of course, only a vehicle for more frosting.  That way I eat what's on my plate and don't have to throw anything out, which I don't like to do.

[Shooby]

I have never dieted.  Just not my thing.  I "diet" by modifying what I eat but I don't go on some special diet.  If i go though a period of eating too much junk, then I cut back on that and try to eat more healthy foods, vegetables,  fruits etc.  Throughout I my life i have tried to be reasonable about what I eat.  I don't eat a lot of fried foods.  I will stop for a burger at Wendy's from time to time but I don't eat fries or drink pop.  I may have a burger with a bottle of water, etc.   I rarely eat fast food, because I cook a LOT, but when i was younger that was my way.  
   If we go out i don't eat appetizers, drinks, etc.  I find that my meal is plenty.  And, I stop eating when i am full.  I hate being overly filled up so when i am full, i just don't eat the rest.  I might take it home or not.  I mean, i do splurge at times and will eat out with friends or family then we get the appetizers, desserts, etc.  But, i do that in moderation.
  I really don't care to eat breakfast.  When i am working i will eat a light lunch and then come home and make supper that is a good meal.  I rarely eat after 6pm. as well.  Or, if i have leftovers and then i eat a bigger lunch, i eat a light supper.  That is just what works for me.

  Also, i like sports so when i coach, i always hop in and play bball with my team and do some of the drills with them.  Other than that, i bike ride in the summer and I work out at the Y and walk in the winter.

[NancysSummerSip]

I get out of the house and work outside. A problem for you snowbound folks, I know. But I need to get away from the sight and smell of food after awhile.

I keep plain soup, salads, raw vegetables and fruit around. I like dried fruits and nuts, too.

Exercise, every single day. No way I could give that up.

I also schedule my annual physical and blood work up in December. Keeps me from going over the foodie edge, knowing it will show up.

[Shooby]

  I don't buy into health fads either.  Oh, this is the new healthy thing, etc.  Low fat, etc.  Well, a lot of low fat products simply replaced sugar with the fat.  So, that's not a big plus.  I see nothing wrong with real butter, cane sugar, etc in moderation.  I do not like any products with corn syrup and have eliminated corn syrup in my diet to the extent it is possible.  I even made a pecan pie for Thanksgiving dinner without corn syrup and it was absolutely delish.
  I don't find eating healthy to be that hard.  The closer a product is to it's natural state, obviously the more healthy it is.  An apple is obviously better for you than a deep fried apple fritter, lol.  Foods that rot are healthier than foods than can sit on the shelf for 20 years.  A cake that  I make with fresh natural ingredients is going to be better than a preserved Little Debbie cake than can sit on the shelf for 20 years.
  The more that I cook, the more I learn about how to make foods and how simple it is to really make most everything.   I make a chicken noodle casserole for my kids and i don't use any canned cream soups, i make my own cream of chicken soup from chicken stock and it's delish.  Super easy to make and so good.  

[pooks]

I don't bring unhealthy things I really like into the house.  Luckily for me, the things DH likes, cookies and ice cream, aren't a weakness for me.  So I am not tempted.    

[Shooby]

  I don't buy Fritos.  Cuz, i love them and can't stop eating them!!!  lol

[andi9899]

I work out so much that it doesn't really matter what I eat. I can't live on crap, but I don't eat a ton of it anyway.

[kadee79]

Eat small portions.  Get more active...no matter what it is...walking works, biking, doing workouts, etc.  Even laundry & house cleaning are activities...think about it.  Turn on your music & dance for 15 min....THAT is a workout!

[whoisjohngalt]

Dec 9, 2017 11:48:23 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

One tip I've heard but cannot abide to: 
You only need three bites of a dessert to enjoy it. 

Ummm.....that theory has been tested by me for years and has proven to be wrong every.single.time!

[zibazinski]

DRink a lot of water especially before a meal. If I ever need to lose weight fast I don’t eat after 4 pm.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Dec 9, 2017 12:36:34 GMT -5 @aj said:

Dec 9, 2017 12:05:21 GMT -5 Bonny said:

I normally do some kind of work out everyday but when I'm traveling not so much. I probably need it as much for my mental health as physical. We're having some great weather so I'm trying to enjoy the outdoors as much as I can.

When I was in Europe for work none of the hotels had a fitness center, I literally ran wall to wall in my room for an hour on days when it was bad weather outside.

When they don’t have a fitness room, I’ve done the stairs at hotels. Since most people use the elevators, the stairs are usually empty.

[MJ2.0]

Dec 9, 2017 11:48:23 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

One tip I've heard but cannot abide to: 
You only need three bites of a dessert to enjoy it. 

What kind of witchcraft garbage is this?!?!

[Shooby]

  Add exercise as a matter of your life.  Park your car further out.  Walk up the steps instead of the elevator.  Get off your butt and deep clean your house!!   

[zibazinski]

Dec 9, 2017 16:49:27 GMT -5 Shooby said:

  Add exercise as a matter of your life.  Park your car further out.  Walk up the steps instead of the elevator.  Get off your butt and deep clean your house!!   

I’d rather skip a meal than deep clean my house!! 😂

[NoNamePerson]

Dec 9, 2017 16:19:16 GMT -5 MJ2.0 said:

Dec 9, 2017 11:48:23 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

One tip I've heard but cannot abide to: 
You only need three bites of a dessert to enjoy it. 

What kind of witchcraft garbage is this?!?!

Beats me. I'm still trying to decide if the 5 second rule applies when extra is thrown in a mud puddle?  

[Bonny]

Dec 9, 2017 15:41:41 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Dec 9, 2017 12:36:34 GMT -5 @aj said:

When I was in Europe for work none of the hotels had a fitness center, I literally ran wall to wall in my room for an hour on days when it was bad weather outside.

When they don’t have a fitness room, I’ve done the stairs at hotels. Since most people use the elevators, the stairs are usually empty.

In Europe there are very few elevators other than the very big hotels. Lots and lots of stairs to keep you in shape!

Your post reminded me of a sweet memory from about 20 years ago. We were having a ferocious El Nino year and I think it rained every single day in the month of December. My boss (another hiker) and I couldn't stand it any longer and started running the stairs in our building. I don't know what was louder; our feet or us laughing!

[Lizard Queen]

I read somewhere not too long ago, that people who weigh themselves every day are much more successful with maintaining weight even than people who weigh 5x/week.