Out of my group....

....I'm the only one not planning on eating over Xmas!! I know that there have been threads on this subject before, but can I ask as it's getting near now, are you going to eat or not eat??

My reasoning, and it's easier because I'm going to my parents and my mum is cooking, but if I eat then that will probably not just stay at one controlled meal. I have therefore then put myself back probably two weeks, which is a heck of a cost financially apart from anything else.

I also think that if stick to it and lose weight, then I'll have many more Xmases than I would have done obese. It's only food and it's only 1 or 2 hours in the day.

I must admit that I'm going to sit in the conservatory and feed the baby, while they all eat their meal, because to help dish it up and then watch them all eat, I'm thinking is going to be hard - I can watch them eat the dessert without problem, but I LOVE Xmas dinner at my mother's!

All in all, it's just not worth the cost to me emotionally or financially.

I said when I started this that I would probably have Xmas dinner, but things definitely changed. I also said when I started that by Xmas I might even be two stone lighter. Well, another 2lbs and I'll be 3 stone lighter! I never believed this could happen in seven/eight weeks and I don't want to do anything to damage that!

ill be eating my rtm meal but thats it!! nothing extra!!
xxx

My intention is that I will not eat. I hope I can stick to that!

I am the only one in my group who is planning to abstaine through Xmas too. I have briefed my family so hopefully they shall support me in this.

Thanks to an idea from Andy (Serenity Valley) I have decided to have my Xmas in July (we have called it Bekimas!)!! I have invited my girls who have been helping me through this. And it just means that I am postponing Xmas. Not missing it altogether!

B x

Hi hun, I'm not on LL, I am on LT and probably will be having Xmas dinner of some sort if I get to goal in time. For what it is worth I think you are doing the right thing.

This is my third attempt at LT and the reason I have been successful is because I have learnt to do it 100%. I don't personally find it easy to take a break and start up again, altho of course plenty of people do ok.

So if you do manage to resist your mum's dinner then well done to you. If you don't then I am sure that with the support of your group you will be back on track in no time x

Hi, I'm abstaining this Xmas, It's only one Xmas and losing the weight means so much more to me than one blooming meal. I know it's hard when you love roast dinners (as I do) but if you want to stay abstinate you must be strong.
Ask you mum if it would be ok to have a family gathering later on next year, do the turkey and tinsel in the spring.
You have to do whats right for you

Thanks for that girls - Bek, I read Andy say that too, and I've already told my mum that when I'm ready and able to eat her Xmas dinner, she's got to do one in the summer-ish time for me!! I love that idea and it's also one of the reasons that I'm thinking I can do this abstaining over the Xmas period, so thanks to Andy for that. I even mentioned it tonight in group for those that were undecided, but it didn't seem to have the same effect on them!

For some people, Xmas dinner is too important, even more important than losing the weight. I guess that's why so many people join gyms in January!!
I never realised how much importance was put on food at this time of year until the option was taken away!!
You can have Poppymas in summer! I think it all depends on what means the most to you! My friends are getting all excited about it actually, they are planning presents and all sorts!

B x

Bek - Poppymas - lovely!! LOL!!

When our LLC told us tonight the pure facts about staying abstinent or not, she pointed out that we could 'potentially' put on what we lost in our first week if we eat unchecked - 10lb in my case!!! WOW, just not happening in my house!

Absolutely, definately, no-matter-what-happens being totally 100% abstinant over Xmas.

My parents, brother, nan, grandad, 1 aunt+uncle (+my cousins) all know I am going to be, and will support me all the way.

1 aunt+uncle are not supportive, when I told them they just miffed the comment "you'll only put it all back on", but no way I'm letting them get me down.


Xmas is not about food - it is about being together as a family and having fun.

Plus, I honestly believe that I've changed my thoughts enough that I would not enjoy the Xmas meal in the same way I did before; before, it was an excuse to go all-out and eat whatever I wanted. Now I know I wouldn't do it, and as such I don't feel I'm missing out by not eating an Xmas dinner.

It's only some meat and veg, after all.

Good on you Pete. Don't let them pesky relatives get you down. As if it is up to anyone else what you do?

B x

Hi Pete, I knew that you'd stay abstinent!!

I thought that my parents would have something to say when I told them that I'd not be sitting with them - they had been fine previously when I told them I wasn't eating, but it's only over the last week or so that I've realised that I really don't think I could sit and watch them eating all that lovely lunch. I thought there'd be some argument, but they are being suprisingly supportive! Good on them!

I'll be abstaining. I've only been on LL for 2 weeks and really wanted to start before Christmas as I knew leaving it until the new year would mean that I would have put even more weight on before starting. We had a Christmas lunch in November before I started so I don't feel as if I've totally missed out.

I found the first few days of LL quite hard and if eating something means I would have to go through that again, I'd rather not thanks. And I would be scared that once I had something to eat, I would find it hard not to have more at other times. Abstinence for me! Next Christmas I'll enjoy my meal as a slim me!

Hear, hear Dilly!! My first week was HORRENDOUS, well the first two or three days anyway, and I'm SO not going through that again!

I've also been through periods of great stress (my six month old has been hospitalised twice with what they now think is asthma, the second episode this weekend when he spent two days in hospital on oxygen) and I've managed to get through this without turning to food/drink, so I'm not going to let myself down now!

I know that it's personal to everyone, but I really do think that I'd be letting myself down, and would be so fed up if I put on weight over Xmas. January will be here soon enough and it'll all be over for another year.

I keep imagining how slim and cool I'm going to be in the summer and the hot weather, I usually swelter in cover ups and always have a sweaty top lip, well not in 2009!!

I;ve done a complete 180 on this issue over the last couple of months. I won't be eating. I feel like I need one more big challenge before I've convinced myself I've changed for good. What better than the mother of all food challenges?

I like your thinking Guy!
Never thought of Xmas as the year's Big Challenge - wil now!

IF I get through this HUGE Xmas Challege, can I have a gold star? I think it is necessary I have something shiny to aim for!!

B x

I'll make it for you myself Beks!

Beks, take away that big, bold 'IF' and replace with a big bold 'WHEN'!!! ;-)

PS - don't leave me out, I want a big shiny star from Pete as well....

OK OK I'll make you one too Poppy

Ah thank you Pete.

I know I need to change from IF to WHEN!! I am going to try my very hardest. I am just hoping I can do it. I need to do this for me.

B x