@abasket – I’m still totally confused about what you are getting so upset about. If I post that I substituted kimchi for the rice in my Asian Bowl for lunch and had minestrone soup instead of the potato leek for dinner, resulting in a pretty lo-cal day, and that I plan to do that a couple of times a week for December (or until my white-truffles-on-top-of-cream-sauce-multiple-times-a-day weight falls off), what’s the problem with that? I’m honestly confused about why you think that is out of keeping with your thread.
I’m also confused. I guess I didn’t understand what the thread was about, but it had seemed like a great idea when I read your OP. Could you explain what the issue is?
I do well with exercise and pretty well with sleep. My holiday issue is all the gift foods that show up at the office and my approach that I might never see food again if I don’t try everything! I need to sample what really appeals to me and avoid the mindless grazing.
Oops sorry guys - MOD sent me a helpful message about 5-2.
@MomofWildChild Lol! I, too, fear that the holiday spread might be “the last supper”
Mindful living…my new mantra. Only do, eat, and partake in things that give me joy. (Which means I’ll need to skip all the boring adult stuff like work and bill paying). 
I think @abasket was pretty clear. Not the thread to promote or discuss a diet or exercise plan but a place to discuss what you do strategically or tactically to manage temptation when that package of goodies arrives at the office or you end up at that holiday party with all the tempting foods in which to over indulge.
At the parties, I find keeping a class of flavored seltzer in my hand really helps. As I socialize with others who are providing visual cues to eat or drink, I have something in my hand that I won’t regret later. Same thing with veggies of various kinds. I keep a handful on me so that while being surrounded by others whose eating triggers an eating response in me, I again have something right at hand that won’t do any damage. Only thing I need to be mindful of is not to over indulge in the humus or other dipping foods that often are served with the veggies.
If I host a holiday event I take my leftover desserts to the office. They are gone quickly and not sitting around for H and me to consume.
I have a hard time with food at the office - it’s just there for the taking and nibbling. I need to stop myself from walking down to the kitchen for a nibble (hard when I’m also trying to get more movement in during the day!). Parties are easier because most of my friends are also careful not to overindulge - so I’m not going to overload my plate in front of them.
I do drink a lot of water. I probably drink more than 64 ounces during the day. If anyone has any ideas on how to avoid the work kitchen, that would be great! Or maybe I could follow shellz’s lead and stop working - remove temptation entirely!
We have a lot of food in the office too. What I usually do, is if I want to nibble, I’ll go ahead and do it, but only on the fruits and veggies. No junk food - cookies, sandwiches, etc. I don’t know if that would work for you, because we generally have leftover food from meetings, so there is variety - there is usually always a side of fresh fruit left over.
Love this idea because I usually get lured into drinking an adult beverage, which then causes me to get the munchies and not have as much willpower to fight it.
If we had fruits and veggies in the office, it would be fine - unfortunately clients send us things like baklava! Which I love!
Tonight is our first holiday function, which is being held at a restaurant.
My plan:
-gym this am as usual (I lift heavy things MWF. For cardio, I lift the heavy things faster ;))
-breakfast and lunch are primarily protein and veggies
-I’m staying hydrated all day (decaf coffee, herbal tea, store brand LaCroix water)
-Since I am very familiar with this local restaurant, I am planning what to order know so I’m not tempted by the cheesy carb bombs (Italian).
-I will enjoy my favorite cocktail without guilt!
Also, while this virtual cheer-leading group is great, maybe in the “real” world find a partner.
I’ve been an avid runner for (ahem) a long long time. Even so, just getting on my shoes and leaving the house is really hard. if I can find a partner then it’s so much easier.
We can talk. he gets me out of the house, we motivate each other.
Get a partner!
I second what @Dustyfeathers said about having a friend to work out with or eat with that is like-minded. I’m about to head off to do my 40 on the stair stepper, and it’s a standing date every friday with my best friend. We look forward to catching up on the week while we step. She moves her work schedule around and I moved my school schedule around so we don’t miss it. It’s way better than meeting for lunch
Tomorrow night is a holiday gathering with a group of friends. Dinner, then a luminary walk, followed by dessert at one of the friends’ home. I’m planning ahead and have checked out the restaurant menu and nutritional info and have already determined what I’m going to order. The luminary walk won’t be too much exercise, but it can’t hurt. I’m doing a 5 mile race in the morning and that will help cover my calories for dessert. So as long as I stick to my plan, I’ll be OK for the day. I log my food religiously and by continuing to do that during the holidays, it keeps me on track. The key for me is planning ahead and then sticking to the plan.
@abasket - I hope you come back and join us. I think we’re following through with the original intention of your thread. Lots of good suggestions today.
I’m particularly fond of the suggestion to stop working!
My H took your thoughts to heart - he retired this week! Now to just get him on the “avoid the gain during the holiday bandwagon”…
Happy to see all these great tips and thought processes regarding office food, parties,etc. Clearly a key is planning ahead. Love Micheal’s idea of holding a glass of low-to-zero beverage so you’re participating and not empty handed!
For most, this time of year is no time to start a “diet” (again, my opinion) - that feels like a recipe for disaster. But, feeling somewhat in control each day your wake up in December of the goodies ahead of you is a real win.
If you have a holiday eating win, share it. If you have a low point, share that too.
Love the tips, keep it going.
I’m going to our church women’s party tonight, which is at someone’s lovely home and involves huge amounts of food, alcoholic beverages and sweets. I usually over-indulge. I think I’m going to survey all the food first, and really decide what I want. Usually I start eating, then someone shows up with something I don’t want to pass up, so I have that, too, even though I might be full! I really DO enjoy spiked eggnog, but I’ll have just a small cup.
I have a blanket rule for myself whereby I don’t indulge in ANY workplace treats. No donuts, no birthday cake, no cookies, no bake sale items, no ice cream social participation, no candy bowl dipping, nothing. I made a single decision and honestly I’m not even tempted. I made this rule early in my career at my last job in a law firm where we were provided with elaborate 3 course lunches 3 x a week. There were always multiple choices for dessert and I realized early on that just having a blanket rule not to take dessert worked best for me.
I have plenty of opportunity for delicious treats elsewhere in my life; I don’t need to indulge at work. I honestly have no problem resisting; I don’t even see it anymore.
Gretchen Rubin talks about the difference between abstainers and moderators in her books, and I think it is an extremely useful construct. I’m definitely an abstainer, meaning I do fine making a single decision and sticking with it over the long term. If every single day I had to make multiple decisions as to whether ir not to take the donut or candy that are available 24/7 I would do less well. My way of abstaining is to make blanket rules but then I choose certain events or times when I choose to indulge – my eating trip to France and Italy, for example, or at holiday parties. I maintain reasonable habits without really thinking about it the rest of the time.
Don’t get me wrong; I do indulge daily. I’ll buy my own ice cream cone or cookie or candy bar pretty much every day. And I eat a LOT at meals usually. But I don’t do a lot of snacking.
The only thing I’m doing differently this Dec. is, as I previously mentioned, trying to eat lighter a couple of times a week. We’ll see if that helps these extra five pounds I put on in Europe. If not, oh well.
Okay, two tips from me: 1) I try to eat five different fruits and veggies a day. That fills me up, especially with fiber rich foods, leaving less room for cookies. 2) I try to exercise every day for at least an hour. Some days exercise is running or swimming, but some days it is just taking a brisk walk.
A few years ago, during a stressful time, I had asked H and the kids what was the MINIMUM they needed to actually declare it “officially Christmas”.
Turned out, much to my surprise, they didn’t need much. Sure, they loved it when the kids and I made 5 or 6 different cookie recipes, and fruit punch, and pumpkin pie, and apple bread french toast, and baked muffins, and put chocolate & candy in the stockings, had Baileys on hand to put in our coffee…but we don’t NEED it and more importantly, it can be a great Christmas without all of that.
And so it was. We keep it minimalist, yet make sure everyone has a little something to eat or drink that they enjoy. No over-doing it.
We extended this philosophy to gifts & decorations too, and it’s worked out well. MUCH less stressful, and MUCH less fattening, and MUCH less money.