Ooooohh...Spain--once again, I'm so freakin' jealous..lol. Well, I would imagine that there are plenty of things you can do there in the warmer climate to keep physically active in order to counter-balance your food indulgences.

Also, something to keep in mind when you are tempted to eat something you know you shouldn't--what do you want more? To lose the weight, or eat the *insert naughty food item here*? Also, if you keep your portions in control, you can eat anything you want. Moderation in all things....

It basically boils down to how much you want it, really. All of my past dieting failures were due to the fact that I really wasn't committed. I wanted to eat as much of whatever I wanted more than I wanted to drop the lbs. I also preferred to sit on my arse and watch TV over exercising. Now it's changed. Most of the time, when I look at some calorie-laden food, I think to myself that it is bad for me--and there is a saying that nothing tastes as good as thin feels. except maybe Ben and Jerry's Peanut Butter Cup ice cream. ha!

It may sound harsh (and I need to remind myself of this bc I've been pretty naughty with the sweets lately), but it is pretty simple--how badly do you want it? Sacrifices need to be made--are you willing to make them? My other motto is "NO EXCUSES." This is especially true when it comes to exercise--it's mandatory, not optional. Like anything else that's important in life--you have to make the time for it.

That is so cool about your kids being naturally bilingual. I always imagined I'd marry a man whose native tongue wasn't English, and our children would be like yours. Alas, I married an Australian, so I guess they'll be bilingual in American and Aussie slang..lol.

Thank you Margaret and Lindsey for all these words of support. It's so good to know people are out there, rooting for you. It is difficult to get back on track straight away, but I can see that you two manage to do it, so I'm determined to do the same!

Bella: I know that you're right about the fast food stuff. It didn't even taste nice the other evening. I was eating for eating's sake, and because I felt guilty, I was indulging even more than I should have been. I could have limited myself, but no: because I was being naughty, I became very, very naughty and had the full-calorie, full-fat, full-sugar works!

Bikinibound: You say that this time you are commited to your diet. What has changed for you? Why is this time different?
BTW, I do like that expression: nothing tastes as good as being thin feels. Excellent! And so true!
In Spain, I'll be able to walk a lot, although swimming will be out of the question as it's warm down there, but not quite warm enough! So I think you're right: I can afford to eat a bit of everything if I compensate on the exercise front. Thanks for putting things into perspective.
Say g'day to your hubby - I really loooooove aussies It's true! I always associate them with sunshine... ummmmm


To get back to the diary, yesterday I tried to have a positive attitude and just get back on track. I was pretty pleased with myself, although I didn't manage to do any exercise. I just haven't quite made it an essential element of my timetable yet. But I will! I can see from your diaries that exercise is one of the key components of your success. Once we're out of this holiday season, it will be much easier to get things into place on a permanent basis.

Last night, my husband had a work-related do that we both went to. There was this fantastic meal with champagne, different wines, hors-d'oeuvres, rich creamy sauces... you name it, it was there to tempt me. But... I managed to resist the worst! I had one glass of champagne, one sip of each of the wines (so no more than a half a glass in total), a tiny bit of sauce, no cheese, no dessert, and no chocolates with the coffee! Yeah This was a major thing for me, because it's been years since I've said no to things like that. In the past, each time I've started a diet I've cracked at the first hurdle - normally I would have eaten everything, and then spent the next 3 days stuffing my face, saying that there's no point in me being on a diet coz I always sucumb to temptation. But this time, no!

Unfortuately, the scales showed a slight increase this morning, perhaps because it was, nonetheless, a rich meal, and also I didn't manage to do any exercise yesterday. But I'm not too worried, as I've had this huge psychological success. Let's hope it continues...

20 December: today's eating and exercising:
WEIGHT: 82.6 (+0.2 snif)
Breakfast: bread, spread
Lunch: different veggies, lentils, rice
Dinner: soup, tiny slice of veggie pizza
Snacks: 2 protein bars
Drinks: 3 glasses of water, 1 cup of tea, 1 glass of wine
Exercise: none
CONCLUSION: Here we are moving into the really stressful period... Difficult to do anything apart from Christmas-related stuff. Hence no exercise. Let's hope tomorrow's a bit easier.

Hey Auburn!
Don't worry so much about what the scale said. More than likely it had more to do with the sodium in your meal than the fact that you didn't exercise or ate at the meal.
And WAY TO GO at that meal!!!!!
I know exactly how you felt. We had some really NICE dinners to go to a couple of weeks ago and there was all this food there. And I just wanted to eat it. But most of the things that I tried I thought were not so good tasting. Maybe again it was the whole just doesn't taste as good as I remember it tasting. But I haven't had any cravings for any of that stuff since so I must be "maturing" weight-loss wise.
Just keep at it and you'll get there.
And remember it will take time to get into a groove. Being here and reading up on everyone else and learning how they are doing things will help you to get better and better at it.
Catch ya later!

Thank you Bella for your encouraging words. It really helps on a morning like this when I'm feeling a bit low. I know you said that the scales can be misleading, but I was disappointed to see that I've put on 0.2kg (half a pound) this morning. I guess it's the lack of exercise, the glass of wine, but even so... I'm not convinced I'll really be able to get into a groove before these holidays are over. But it's taken me years to get so fat - what's another week or two!!!

21 December: today's eating and exercising:
WEIGHT: 82.8 (+0.2 snif snif)
Breakfast: bread, spread
Lunch: nothing!!! very bad news because later in the day I ate a huge slice of flan - I was just dropping from hunger
Dinner: rice, veggies, lentils, 2 vegetable samosas... and a rich, creamy sauce mopped up with loads of bread
Snacks: lowcal snack bar
Drinks: 3 glasses of water, 1 cup of tea... and lots of wine
Exercise: none
CONCLUSION: Terrible day. It started off badly, I didn't even have time for lunch, so I gorged myself later in the afternoon. Then my step-daughter arrived home for the Christmas holidays and we, well, partied. Far too much wine - we were catching up on each other's news until 2 in the morning and it's thirsty work... I'll be paying for this later (snif).

Hi Auburn

Well done on avoiding so many temptations at that dinner. you did really well.

Dont worry about the slight gain. In all honesty weight fluctuations are perfectly normal. If you look on my weighings listed out on weigh every day club (where I post a rolling 12 days or so) you will easily see that my weight goes up and down - but the main thing is that I see a general downward trend.

You are right - I am convinced that your weight loss project will be more successful when you do regular exercise. Many of us here were never natural sporty people / athletic types before commencing our weight loss project. You may well be surprised how positive the experience can be. Naturally I like seeing a better rate of weight loss than I have seen in the past - but also I find that I enjoy the opportunity to think things through that I get when out walking.

Take care
Love
Margaret

Thank you, Margaret, for your support and advice. I'm moving right into the most difficult period for myself now: my step-daughter is back from Dublin, I've already cracked and had a huge slice of flan (arrrgh!), and it's going to be non-stop temptation until after Christmas. Help!

I'm leaving for Spain on the 29th. Although there'll be lots of naughty things to eat and drink out there, at least I'll be able to walk. My mum's a great walker and has some set routes. I'll be able to go with her.

But between now and the 29th it's going to be difficult. Perhaps if I was a bit further into my weight-loss project - a couple of months for example - I'd feel stronger and more determined about not giving in to temptation. But it's only been a week, so I'm going to be philosophical and think of these couple of weeks as a sort of warm-up period to the real thing which will start in January.

I don't know if any of you reading my diary think that this is a good approach, or do you think I should be stronger? Any advice gratefully received! Thanks.

I've got a difficult weekend ahead. My step-daughter Julie is home with us, there'll be too much drinking, and I know I'm not going to be able to behave properly. I feel pretty fed up with myself.
22 December: today's eating and exercising:
WEIGHT: didn't have the courage to weigh myself
Breakfast: (too much) bread, spread
Lunch: lentils, rice, potatoes, veg, 1 samosa
Dinner: "raclette" - boiled potatoes, melted cheese, salad (a very rich meal - unfortunately)
Snacks:
Drinks: 3 glasses of water, a few cups of tea, lots of wine
Exercise: none
CONCLUSION: What can I say? Knew it would be difficult.
But I'm very pleased that I had no dessert and no chocolates, despite everyone else stuffing their faces...

Hi Auburn

Dont feel bad about being inundated with temptation and weakening at times. It is honestly happening to us all. I had pork crackling with yesterday's otherwise sensible roast pork dinner and crispy bacon with the chicken roast the day before. It is the time of year when the strongest of us find ourselves weakening. We may manage to reject the alcohol or chocolate - but there will be still temptations that just cannot be ignored. We each may be lured by slightly different foods - but something will press your buttons and be irresistable.

The crackling was both fatty and salty so it is no surprise that my weight is up - not just on the day but on the week.

A lot of people put on weight over Christmas and New Year so if we manage to not go above our 1st December weight that is a major success. I am sure that I have heard that the average person puts on half a stone at this time of year. If we avoid that - we are ahead of where we would have been had we not decided to be good at this time of year. We must recognise our successes. There is actually success in only putting on a couple of pounds.

Easter was not such a big temptation for me as we stayed at home - and it was just a question of not buying any chocolate eggs. Christmas is the big time for social events and lots of fattening food temptations hitting you at every turn. Our American friends faced all this last month with Thanksgiving. Look at their diaries - you will see that they all struggled between their desire to stay on track and their constant temptations. You will see how they knew that they were destined to eat those pies. Your flan is just the same as their pies.

I really do not think that you would fare particularly better against the temptations had you been on your project for longer. It is hitting us all.

I think that you should enjoy the company of family and friends - be as strong as you can (it saves having to lose newly gained weight in January) - recognise that you will probably weaken at times because you are only human - and forgive yourself if you do. If you can get out for a walk or some form of exercise it will cancel out some excess so is a really good idea. Walking with your mother sounds like an excellent plan.

For me - planning to do something starting in January has the ring of "tomorrow never comes". I can put things off until the day I die. I am much better at starting something now but not being particularly successful at first. Only you know what will work best for you.

Take care
Love
Margaret

Thank you for your long message, Margaret. It's just so good to know that people are interested and supportive. It really helps.

I feel more philosophical about the temptations today. I'm going to do what I can, but I'll try not to be too harsh on myself if I crack.

What I will be able to do (I think!):
- avoid the desserts
- avoid the chocolates (and we have dozens of boxes because my husband gets given them as presents at work )
- be careful about the fatty stuff
- do a least a walk every day

What I won't be able to do (if I'm realistic):
- avoid the alcohol (my hubby's a bit of a wine buff, and I'm just not going to be able to resist, I'm sure )
- go to the gym

I'm going to do as you suggested, Margaret, and simply try to not put on (or put on only a minimum) of weight. I'm not going to "put off" my project until January, but just accept that what I'll be doing in the next week or so will be less effective than what I hope I'll be doing in January.

Now for the details...
I'm pleased what happened yesterday evening. We had a very rich meal in the evening and, although I drank a lot of wine (4-5 glasses), I resisted the ice creams and the chocolates. Of course, the wine is showing up on the scales this morning, but it could have been worse...

Another success was finding myself out in a fast food place this lunchtime (Xmas shopping is HELL!) and avoiding the naughty stuff, except for a few chips (fries). I'm really rather pleased with myself because I usually make the worst choices and this is (almost) a first.

23 December: today's eating and exercising:
WEIGHT: 83.0 (up, of course)
Breakfast: whole bread, spread
Lunch: salad, a few fries from the kids' plates
Dinner: fried potatoes and melted cheese (ummmm! delicious! but very naughty), salad
Snacks: lowcal snack bar
Drinks: 4 glasses of water, a few cups of tea, some diet coke, 3 glasses of wine
Exercise: none
CONCLUSION: Not a very good day. I resisted lots of temptations, but the evening meal was just so rich, and of course the wine... Such a difficult period when we have so many guests and people coming over for dinner...

Hi Auburn

I am popping by to wish you a merry Christmas.

Temptation and weight up - once again - par for the course, and not bad really - your increase was across 2 days and works out at just a fifth of a pound per day. I get this regularly in day-to-day fluctuations.

Well done on determining to stick with your project across the Christmas period. I am sure that you will put on less that way and take any gain off quicker.

Well done on resolving to be philosophical and forgive yourself.

Well done for resisting the ice-cream and chocolates.

Well done for being good in the fast-food restaurant.

Well done for resolving to resist some fattening food items and go walking.

Dont worry about not going to the gym. I have not gone to a gym once in the past year and it hasnt really harmed my weight loss project such as I would notice.

Take care
Love
Margaret

Thank you Margaret for your very kind encouragement. It means so much to me to know that people are around and offering their support and help. I'm going to have a look in your diary to see how you're doing, but I know that you are so focused that you'll still be on track.

For me, Christmas = Yeah! I didn't do too badly!

The weigh-in this morning showed 82.5kg! So I'm really quite satisfied.

You might be aware that there is a different approach to Christmas in France. In fact, the main celebration takes place over here on Xmas Eve. There's usually a huge meal (5 or 6 courses are normal) which finishes around midnight. Then, at midnight, presents are opened. For the children, the system is more like that which takes place in Britain: they wake up on Xmas morning to find the pressies under the tree.

In France there's a second day of celebrations on Xmas Day, but then it's over. So while you in Britain are, right now, trying to struggle through the temptations of Boxing Day, my ordeal is finished
(Out of interest, do they do Boxing Day in the States and down-under?)

So what did I succeed in doing, in terms of my objectives? I wanted to RESIST the desserts, the chocolates and the fatty stuff, and do a walk every day. Well... I resisted all the chocolates (yeah!), I took one tiny slice of cake (made by my father-in-law, so I couldn't really upset him by saying no), I was a little bit careful about the fatty stuff (but I could have done better), and I didn't go for any walks (arrrgh! not good ). I also drank in moderation (yeah!) and had plenty of water and cups of tea. All in all, it could have been a lot worse.

Anyway, here's my food journal so far today (not going to bother with the last couple of days - can't remember much!!!)

26 December: today's eating and exercising:
WEIGHT: 82.5 (yeah!)
Breakfast: bread, spread
Lunch: rice, indian-style veggies, potatoes, lowcal yoghurt
Dinner: vegetable soup (pure!), bread, tiny bit of butter
Snacks: apple, banana, clementine (more fruit than I've had in weeks - got to continue like that!)
Drinks: 5 glasses of water, a few cups of tea
Exercise: none
CONCLUSION: still not getting the exercise in, what with the family at home and everything, but I think it's going OK food-wise - and no wine!!!

Nope, no Boxing Day here in the United States! It is recognized on our calendars for the most part, but most Americans don't celebrate it. In the U.S., it's typically called the "day after Christmas" and most people usually either head back to work or rest and put away Christmas things.

I guess seeing as you've all had your Thanksgiving only a few weeks ago, you go a bit easy on Christmas. I've been in the States for Thanksgiving and it's really a major event, isn't it? With it falling on a Thursday, half the nation seems to shut down for a long weekend. In comparison, Xmas must seem fairly low-key I suppose.

Hiya

Thanks for dropping by my diary i love it when people drop in and give support so now you are stuck with me popping in returning the favour LOL

I guess you still have your 2 days of celebrations though but yes I am still struggling though boxing day just finished dinner and still have the evening to go!!!

Hope you had a good xmas and get playing on that wii!!!
Take Care
Sarah
x

Oh no! Christmas is a lot bigger than Thanksgiving! Most places shut down completely for Christmas and sometimes shut down for most of Christmas eve! Some places do shut down Thanksgiving but a lot of retail stores, restaurants and grocery stores stay open and there are a lot of people who don't do anything for Thanksgiving.