{Buff Mama Monday} How NOT to Gobble Till You Wobble

Back on track, I lost 2lbs this week. That brings me to 12lbs total weight loss! It is amazing what you can do when you just make the decision to do it. Every morning, I wake up and make the decision to be healthy. Every mealtime, I make the decision to reach for the veggies instead of carbs. Every evening, I make the decision to go the gym instead of sitting in front of the tv. When I slip up, I get right back up on the treadmill and keep going. It isn’t easy, it is anything but easy. But I’m totally doing it. I’ll be posting a progress pic soon, stay tuned.

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I’m a bit nervous about all of that yummy food that will be in my house. I can’t remember a Thanksgiving when I didn’t stuff my face full of pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes and turkey until my stomach hurt. I’ve come to the conclusion that an 800 calorie plate of whatever just isn’t worth the time it would take me to burn it off. So, I have a plan this year. I will still be partaking in the yumminess that is Thanksgiving, but in moderation. I will not be going back for seconds. I can have 1 roll, not 2. I will not drench my plate in gravy. I will be making mini sized pumpkin pies. I also hope to get in a run at the gym that morning.

Nutrisystem sent me a few tips on how NOT to gobble till you wobble. These are some of my favorites from their list:

• Have a plan. Think things through before you get to the actual holiday meals and parties. Maybe your strategy is to take tiny portions of different dishes; that’s okay. If you’re cooking, you might want to have your bottle of water with you in the kitchen, so you’re less tempted to snack. Do what you can to stay away from the appetizer table. Plan to avoid anything that’s not homemade. The point is that if you go in with a plan, you’ll be less likely to get caught off-guard.

• Stay on track. Holidays are not the time to skip meals in an attempt to “bank” calories. That’s a strategy that can backfire miserably. Instead, eat everything on your meal plan leading up to the holiday event, and make sure you’re drinking all your water. You’ll be less likely to overindulge at the big event.

• Set a goal. There’s something about holidays that makes people forget what they do the rest of the year. Do you already have weight loss goals set up for November, December and January? If not you can start today. Once you’ve set a short-term goal, decide on a way to reward yourself once the goal has been reached.

• Trim the calories. This tip is especially useful if you happen to be the primary cook for an event. In baked items, replace the fat with an equal amount of applesauce and the sugar with a sugar substitute; substitute a quarter cup of egg substitute for every egg called for in the recipe; replace butter with low fat margarine; replace whole milk with 1% milk and sour cream with yogurt; reduce the amount of nuts called for by half. And don’t forget both veggies and salad.

• Keep moving. Instead of just sitting around after dinner, suggest a family walk, or organize a touch-football game. Most people will be grateful for the chance to move around, and it can keep you on-track with your exercise plan.

• Quality not Quantity. If you do plan to indulge in some of the traditional Thanksgiving favorites, use these portions as a guideline: Turkey—3 oz. white meat, no skin (about the size of a deck of cards); Mashed potatoes—1/3 cup (about the size of half of a baseball); Gravy—1 Tbsp. (just drizzle it); Relish made with sugar—1 Tbsp.; Stuffing—2 Tbsp.; Dinner Roll—if not homemade, skip it; Pie—1/12 of a 9” pie

Do you have any tips for staying on track during the holidays?