Holiday Season - What's Your Game Plan?

[Katy]

What's your weakness and how do you avoid it?

For me, my main weakness would be the sweets. I actually had to call my dad and tell him that I wouldn't be baking for him this year. He was so sad when he heard the news and tried to guilt me into it, but I had to be firm. I know now that no matter how much I say that I WON'T tasted or nibble something, inevitably, I do. And usually in a BIG way! I've done that enough times these past couple months, so this time, I'm saying NO!

As for Thanksgiving, my BIL asked me to bring some pies for dessert. So I picked up a cranberry tart at our bake sale today and I'll make a WW-friendly pumpkin mousse as well. Hopefully, that will work for everyone, though I'll still need to pick up (not bake, I'm tellin' ya, no baking!) one more pie, but I'll just see what Trader Joes or the local bakery have to offer.

So what about you guys...

[greenbunny]

My weakness is also sweets. My dad is buying the pie this year instead of my mom making it (he is obsessed with Sam's Club for some reason and takes any opportunity to shop there :rolleyes: ) and even though I hate any pumpkin pie if it isn't my mom's, I didn't argue! I figure a dessert I don't like is one temptation I won't need to deal with.

I'm contributing an apple crisp when we eat with DH's family. I figure a dessert with fruit is better than a dessert without.

Baking cookies is a problem for me. If they're there, I eat until they're gone. DH likes them crunchy and I like them moist, so I've been overbaking them so they're more appealing to him. :o Great for my waist, but not his! I should really figure out something beneficial for both of us.

[Katy]

GB, I picked up my second pie from Sam's yesterday while I was there. If I wasn't there, I'd have made something. But I was there, it was there, and it was cheap enough. I figure this way I at least don't have to deal with those test-nibbles, right? And I'll still make my WW friendly pumpkin mousse, so I should be fine.

[Katy]

come on ladies, no other brilliant suggestions to help us through the holidays?

[Hello Kitty]

Realize that it will all be here next year too. :) It's not the last time there will be cookies or pies around, or breads around. I feel that way sometimes - like OMG, I'll never make fudge again! I'd better get my fill ;)

While we're not huge on holidays, I like to pick my battles, you know? There are certain things I just WON'T make WW friendly (core) for me. I'm not making some bastardized (can I say that? :o) Core stuffing, but rather going with what is yummy and non-core to me. We'll eat it in moderation for the day, and then, it'll come around again in a couple of months. However, I'm going to try and make some lighter things I do like, in their light form, and enjoy those for themselves.

Last, control the meals you can control. This weekend I splurged on a dinner with friends, and kind of said 'to heck with it' the next morning and ate a donught. Um, wrong! I should've eaten a good breakfast (or a sensible lunch the day of a holiday dinner) instead, and not let one meal of itself effect other surrounding meals.

[Katy]

...and not let one meal of itself effect other surrounding meals.
You know, this is some wacky trap that we seem to set ourselves up for, right along with the "I'll never get to eat *that* again" you mentioned). That's the part that needs to most reprogramming for me.

[Anna Low]

Count me in as part of the derailed by sweets group. My plan? I will still make treats as things I personally cook are not as tempting to me as things I buy or that are made by others. Once the treats are made, send them off with my husband or give them out immediately as gifts.

I tend to not be a party-eater, as it usually is done standing up and while balancing a glass of something in the other hand. So, I'm not all that worried about the party circuit.

Does anyone out there tend to feel horrible if they eat a lot at a late hour? I do - heartburn, can't sleep, etc. If I think about that while I am eating the holiday meals, it tends to keep me on track a little. I hate to feel that way and keeping that in the forefront sort of slows me down a bit.

[greenbunny]

Does anyone out there tend to feel horrible if they eat a lot at a late hour? I do - heartburn, can't sleep, etc.

:o Actually, I should have listed that as another downfall. DH and I regularly eat dinner at 9:00 or 10:00, and it's so nice to have a bowl of pasta and doze off on the couch afterwards! I hate eating earlier because then I end up snacking before bed enough to count as a second dinner.

[chefker]

I have a weakness for sweets, to be sure, but my BIGGEST weakness is munching on appetizers. Like for Christmas dinner, I cook the meal and tend to not eat breakfast or anything at all until I put out appetizers. And then we have the huge dinner that I feel obligated to eat, since I slaved over a hot stove all day! :rolleyes:

This year I plan on actually eating SOMETHING for breakfast on Christmas day. And, no more high-point snacks. The most I will do is a veggie tray, and maybe a shrimp ring. Probably cheese & crackers, but it'll be low fat cheddar this year. Usually I put out a TON of snacks & appetizers, followed by a huge dinner. I'm finally realizing that it's ridiculous, not to mention wasteful!