Christmas Time
Christmas time seems to get earlier every year. Start of December and it’s in full flow. How on earth do you approach the whole pantomime and keep yourself on track???
No Need To Be Afraid
Embrace and Think!
It’s Christmas Time, I accept that now we’ve hit December. I know retailers try to lead you to believe the pantomime starts in late August, but I firmly that Christmas starts in December and not one second before! Whilst I’m not a complete Christmas grouch, I loathe so many aspects. My biggest gripe is commercialization. The tacky ads which tug at the heartstrings, the Black Friday/Cyber Monday bollocks, and the notion that we should eat, drink and be merry.
I could go on for some time about all my Christmas hates but let’s get to the very point of this blog. How should we approach the yuletide season when trying to lose weight? It’s Christmas Time… and there’s no need to be afraid! Hmmm, where have I heard that before?
Be Strong!
Easier Said Than Done!
Thankfully after the Night Shift shenanigans over the weekend, yesterday I got back on track with three meals and just under 2000 calories every day. This is a measure of where I’m at. Christmas, however, brings a whole heap of trouble for the dieter. I’ve seen numerous ads from supermarkets simply promoting excessive eating. Massive spread on a table, smiling faces from good-looking non-obese people. They are trying to get into your heads and if you let your guard slip then that is exactly what they will do.
I’ve never gone into Christmas so determined not to fall for sneaky marketing tricks. I feel blessed I’m no longer addicted to food like before and believe I can be stronger than I’ve ever been. I’ve not spent a Christmas sober since I was a child. Determined not to have one swig of liquor. Nothing is certain in life but I believe I’m going into this with the right attitude and mindset. I cannot express how important this is.
Christmas Time Dangers
Where Do You Start?
The biggest problem is going to be yourself. I used to be an “I’ll start the diet after Christmas” kind of chap. It would normally last a week at best. You have to act now! If you let yourself fall into the pitfalls the retailers have created then you will only descend and feel even worse when it’s over.
I’m not suggesting for a second you shouldn’t eat well. The traditional Christmas dinner is great food, mostly cooked from scratch and very filling. Of course, the sugar stuff is bad. I mean, we’re led to believe that we should eat until our tummies literally burst! Been there, done that!
I think if you consume too much of the “good stuff” as Waitrose suggest in their ad, then you’re only going to feel dreadful when it’s over. Enjoy and embrace Christmas by all means, but it doesn’t have to be gorging on bad food day in and day out. This year, I’m determined not to overindulge and am pretty sure I will succeed given the way I’ve reprogrammed my brain and completely changed my attitude. Try not to beat yourself up too much but also try and stay focused.
What If Your Struggling?
Stop & Think
I completely understand! It is a testing time for us all. I’d suggest at least try to not let yourself go. A stop and think approach can be useful but being strong with so many outside pressures is very hard. If you just indulge a little less you will feel so much better. This can be nigh on impossible when you’re addicted to food and have a Christmas mindset. I’ve spent many Christmases, eating and drinking so much it led to depression.
Try to be strong. Tell yourself this food and drink won’t make you happy. Don’t bow down to social pressure, of which there are many in your path. You will feel guilt and even worse. Whereas if you’re strong you will wake up the next day feeling 100% better. I, for one, am looking forward to a hangover-free Christmas!
As I’ve stated before “no one ever said it was gonna be easy”, but at least try something different if you’re one of these people, like I was, who completely and unashamedly let themselves go. Plus, if you eat too much of the “good stuff” you will be even more addicted come January when you desperately try to shift those pounds! Don’t fall for those sneaky marketing tricks and do the best you can. Even if you don’t put on weight, that can be perceived as an achievement. I’d suggest trying that goal at the very least. Blank out the bullshit, because we are completely surrounded right now!
Count Those Calories!
As Much As You Can
I cannot stress how important this is. For me to not put weight on, I can eat around 3500 calories a day. Which is a fair few if you use them wisely but can be soon gobbled up with the wrong food. I plan to stick with my three meals a day and count calories. I figure that when I was putting on weight, I must have been consuming over 5,000 a day, probably many more when drinking alcohol. That kind of eating scares me now.
I know counting calories is a pain in the neck but you get used to it. The weighing and counting, even with an app, is a hassle I’m not denying, but it’s become second nature to me and Larice. I didn’t count on Saturday (although have estimated since) and it just felt so wrong.
I’m not promising I will manage to count every day over Christmas but I’m going to give it a darn good go! Attitude and brain power is everything. You can get through this tricky period unscathed!!!! Feel free to eat bad foods but be careful of unnecessary overdosing!
Enjoy Yourself!
Without The Excess
Just because you are not overindulging like most others, does not mean to say you cannot have a great Christmas. I am planning to report when it’s over, what a great, sensible Christmas I’ve enjoyed. Enjoy the good food on offer and remember the good stuff is normally bad stuff! I shall naturally report how my Christmas is going. After all, it’s Christmas time!
