Week 11 Check-In: Making It Through Personal or Holiday Events

Hi everyone, it's week 11 and unfortunately I gained 2 lbs, so my total weight loss stands at 21 lbs. What happened to me this week was a "potluck event."

I decided to go to a friend's potluck party and knew there would be lots of tempting food. In order to minimize my hunger, I ate before going. However, by the time I arrived at the party an hour later and I entered her house, I was met by a platter of blue chips and gucamole dip strategically placed near the front door. Guests would arrive and stand around the snack food while munching and talking, including me. It was down hill from there.

The dining room table was lined with mostly healthy foods like 8-types of green, bean, and rice salads, a few no-no pasta dishes, and a few desserts. But my problem was not "what I ate" ... it was that I just "ate too much."

Afterward, I was scared to get on the scale. Sure enough, the next day, I had gained 3 lbs. So, I spent the rest of the week trying to lose the extra weight.

I told my sob story to my trainer, and she gave me a few ideas for the next tempting event: whenever you feel the urge to take another helping of food, drink lots of water instead; don't sit near the food, place yourself so you don't see or smell it; engage in conversations with other people in order to keep your mind off the food; and if you are on the verge of commiting a food sin, go for a walk instead.

Here's more tips that I found on the Internet to help you make it through personal or holiday events:

• Going to a holiday party? Have one small plate of your favorites and enjoy every bite. Get in the habit of eating your meals slowly, stopping when you start to feel full and always leaving something on your plate.


• One way to stay motivated during the holidays is to set exercise targets, such as entering a 5K race right around Thanksgiving and then raising the stakes by entering a 10K sometime before New Year's.


• Have some of your old favorite foods if you really want them on Thanksgiving and Christmas. All you need to do is change how you eat them. In other words, just have a taste of them instead of a huge helping or two. Slender and fit people do not eat buffet size portions but they do indulge sometimes; they just don’t overeat. This option will only work if you choose to eat items that are not your trigger foods.


• When you plan ahead, you can predict and control your world. You can call your host and get a preview of the menu and decide ahead of time what you'll eat, who you will talk with, and how you will stay focused even during the party.


• Boosting your protein intake with lean meats, skinless poultry, low-fat dairy, seafood, and beans will keep you feeling satisfied longer. When you visit the buffet table, opt for these lean protein choices and complement them with high-fiber grains, fruits, and vegetables, which also help fill you up for relatively few calories.