BuffyBear's Journal, 28 August 2011

I have been pondering how to handle the holidays for a while, I loved baking all kinds of goodies and making my brown sugar ham...not this year. I have no clue what to do... 

Missy - I know it is hard. That is why I'm starting this early - need to start a note book of fall meal planning and recipes. Lots of ideas on low carb recipe sites. I know from experience that if I don't have this planned out I won't make it. But that is not saying that we can't do this!  

It's true evil, I tell you....all that Halloween candy and it's EVERYWHERE in the stores, can't avoid (seeing) it! You're doing great to begin planning for what you anticipate will be a difficult period. Fun, but difficult. It CAN be done!!! Hopefully Stef will be back to journaling more regularly and you'll see lots of ideas from her. She, and quite a few others, including me, made it through the holidays last year and had wonderful, highly acceptable dishes without abandoning Atkins. Others made a decision to allow very specific, SMALL indiscretions and they also made it through OK....maybe a slight uptick in weight but not the beginning of a slide to off-plan status. So, it truly can be done.  

I don't want to do ANY cheating at all, I'm losing slow as it is and don't want to screw it up :) This will be the first year where it might just be myself and my kids but I still want it special for them. It's also the first year I won't have any help from my Mom since she moved hours away and I don't think she's coming back for the holidays. Lots of changes in life just in the past few months... 

Sandy - Yes, evil describes it! 

Missy - I can understand why you want to make things special for your children. Sometimes very simple things are actually the best.  

Oh Lord, I know the candy is so evil in calling my name and if I can do with out my chocolate nuggets for over a month then I can for go the candy corn...thats my plan and I'm sticking to it..Yay...I'm kinda dreading fall as in no time the winter comes and we will be cooped up like chickens dream of spring..dang I must be depressed...Love ya girl...have agreat evening....Bren 

I guess the hardest part is that I am the only one who has changed my WOE within my family and friends so there's not a lot of advice or anything like that coming from the people around me. They still look at me like I'm crazy when I say I can't eat pretty much everything they ever mention for a meal. At least I am not completely alone after finding many friends on sites like this and Atkins...it definitely helps :) 

Missychick,we are here and will be here for as long as you need us,ask all the questions you need,vent,or just say what's on your mind,you're among friends and the biggest family you will ever have. 

Amen 83Jen.... 

:) Thank you JEN, it's really nice to have a place where I can talk to people about everything that is going on and my weight and food and all that without feeling fat or embarrassed. If I mention it friends I get the usual "You're not fat" remarks. Instead of telling me that I wish they would just accept that I am overweight and encourage me to keep going with my choice to become a healthier person.  

Missy - I also am the lone low carb dieter in my circle of friends & relatives. So when it comes to planning meals, I've learned not to bother. I just say I'm bringing a salad (or a raw veggie tray, etc.). That way at least I'll have something to eat. 

Bren - Crazy bittersweet feelings of the changing seasons. I always perk up in the fall even though I know the cold winter won't be far behind. but spring is always my favorite!  

Jen - I can't begin to tell you how much I value FS support.  

I may lurk in the background mostly,but there are times when i have to let people know that they are not alone,we are all here,the more vocal and the quiet ones.Ask and ye shall receive. 

Jen - Hope you don't feel like you have to stay in the background on my journal.  

That's what I did for my nephews bday. I took a veggies tray and a meat and cheese tray. I am glad I did because 5 1/2 hours at a park an hour away from home I was thankful I was able to eat something there. At that same party was where I had a friend telling me that one little piece of chocolate cake with sugar packed frosting on top wouldn't hurt. I didn't eat the cake, or drink any of the soda offered to me either. It wasn't easy with her saying it wouldn't hurt over and over again... 

Hi Buffy! I am always happy to see the end of Summer and the beginning of Autumn. The cooler weather is definitely my friend! What aggravates me is that Halloween is still 2 months away and already we are bombarded by candy, candy, candy. I remember when Halloween was fun because we never really thought about it until a week or maybe two before it happened. Thanks for alerting me to the invasion of fattening candy! 

Hey Buffy - try a visualization technique. Next time, just stand there staring at the package of your favorite candy. And imagine you eating it. Eat one bite. Really savor it in your mouth. Think about how it used to taste. Then another. Keep going. Shoot you can eat the whole bag that way. And literally, you can smell the candy when the isles are so packed w/them! I swear, this really works... you can have a mental party - and still not cheat. But it feels like you did. It even releases the endorphines in your body like you did have it, when you didn't. Then move on to the cleaning products aisle... and poof, the urge is gone! 

Oh I don't like the thought of the summer over yet, it can't last long enough for me. I know the colder weather, all the different holidays coming up. But I am hoping because I am on FS it is going to be so much easier with all the encouragement. I know with everyone's help I will make it through!!!!!