Weight Loss During Holidays: What to Do With Leftovers?

If I Want to Lose Weight, What Can I Do With Leftovers?

Okay, tell me if you've ever done this: It's Monday late afternoon. You decided yesterday that starting today you were going to 1) eat right, and 2) start to get regular exercise, and 3) give up all your bad habits. So, you're picking things up around the house and starting to notice all the little bits and pieces of leftovers from the past weekend. You see the cookies here and small bits of candy there. Today in my house I noticed three individually wrapped, large shortbread cookies with icing (my favorites), several bags of candy that looks just like real rocks (in a decorative jar--it's for show, really, it is) and the leftovers from the latest family gathering, which in this case is about five pounds of fruit salad -- not bad in itself, but I can only eat so much fruit salad.

And Then There's the Wine

Of course, I had to buy some wine at a tasting on Saturday (I always buy it, don't know why I think those wine tasting's are such a great deal -- they always entice me to buy), and now there's an open bottle waiting.

So, my thoughts are, "Do I eat this, or not?" "Do I throw it away and WASTE it?" "Oh, my, dear no. That's not a good idea," I think. Oh, I just remembered there is also an entire plate of large cinnamon rolls (Cinnabon style) I made Friday night. They'll be stale soon. That's not good. It'd be such a shame to throw them all away, and I only ate one so far.

And so it goes. Do I talk myself into becoming a human garbage can by eating all the remaining food from the weekend, thus going into Tuesday and possibly Wednesday with the taste of weekend indulgence still on my lips, or do I decide, really decide, I've had enough? It's time to eat better, like I just said, last night. Remember last night? It seems so long ago now ...

What if We Just Start our Diet Tomorrow?

It's interesting how easily we talk ourselves right out of what we had decided yesterday was such a good idea. So what's wrong with just starting tomorrow? What's wrong is that tomorrow never comes. It's always today, right now. You'll never reach that elusive tomorrow. Yes, the date on the calendar changes, but you, standing where you are, right here, right now, are still here, in the present. You can't live in the past, nor can you live in the future. You can only live in the moment.

Decide Right Now: What Do you Want for Your Health

So if you want to decide, then decide right now. What do you want, really want for yourself? Do you want to continue to indulge yourself at every turn, or do you want to exercise just a bit more discipline and see if you can get into better shape? It's not about what you'll miss out on, it's about what you will gain. Better health, more energy, endurance. You'll feel better, you'll look better. It's all about what you'll gain, but in the immediate moment, it's so easy to think only of right now. Yes, but right now this would taste so good, wouldn't it, and there's always tomorrow.

I've found that when I make a mental shift, a real shift, not just a decision but a true change in my thinking, then I follow through, and not until then. All the times I try to talk myself into doing things that I don't really want to do, are not successful. Probably they're not successful because I don't really want to do them.

How do you get yourself motivated and stay that way? I start with a list. List all the reasons you want to lose some weight. Think in terms of a mini goal of five or 10 pounds. Make it a one month goal, not a lifetime goal. It's fine to have long-term goals, but if you really want to learn to change for good, then you need to make it something you can live with. Incorporate real change into your lifestyle and you can indulge at a holiday party without it making any difference; without it throwing you off the deep end. When you go on vacation you'll come back maybe a couple pounds heavier, but it won't matter. You'll have eaten what you wanted, you'll have had a wonderful time, and not stressed yourself over whether you're gaining weight.

Make a List: Why I want to lose Weight

What's my first mini-goal? (1 week to 1 month). What's my longer-term goal? (1 month to 1 year)

How strict must I be for this to work? (Pre-planned or legalized deviations works very well for many people)

Sometimes, especially if you use a plan that incorporates "legalized cheating" then you'll end up with some leftover food. Get used to getting rid of it. Give it away, throw it away, it really doesn't matter. You're not doing yourself any favor by eating all the leftovers. So what if the cinnamon rolls go stale? I ate one and really enjoyed it, and that's what's important. Others also ate some cinnamon rolls, and even if no one had any, did I make them to eat them all, or did I make them because I was in the mood to make cinnamon rolls? Does eating them all myself make any sense at all?

Sometimes I feel a little guilty making goodies and then giving them away because I think I'm not making it any easier for others to stick to their plans, but then I remember what I do in that situation, and I have to assume others are adult about how they decide to take care of themselves too. If I decide I'm going to eat in a more healthful manner, and someone brings something unexpected, it's not difficult in most all circumstances to simply say, "No, thanks. I already ate," or take some on a plate for later.

Since I don't go on "restrictive" diets, then I can incorporate pretty much anything into my day's food plan. I just eat it, when I'm hungry. I find it so much easier to base my eating on whether I'm hungry, than on whether something is there. Just because unexpected people show up, doesn't mean you use them, does it? Honestly, do you think anyone is upset when you leave a bit more for them? I don't think so.

The Case of the Missing Wedding Cake

True story: When I was a teenager my mother remarried and I offered to buy the wedding cake. I had an ulterior motive. My favorite bakery, Beaverton Bakery, was where I intended to get the cake, and I knew by ordering far more than would be necessary there'd be lots and lots of leftovers for me to gorge myself silly after the festivities, or so I thought.

What happened instead is a blur. I don't know really what happened to the cake but I do know I not only didn't get any leftovers, I never even had a piece at the wedding. I tend to get caught up in the people and don't usually eat at parties, so I paid it no attention, and much to my dismay someone else had bundled it up before I got there to do so. Alas, I was never to taste that cake at all. Such a disappointment. It must have been a life altering event because I still remember it and it's been more than 25 years ago!

Food memories stick for a very long time. That day is my prime example of how I would not have minded one little bit if more people had said, "No thanks, I just ate," and passed on the cake. I just wish I'd been a little more alert in setting aside a hunk for later.

~~ Kathryn Martyn, Master NLP Practitioner, EFT counselor, author of the free e-book: Changing Beliefs, Your First Step to Permanent Weight Loss, and owner of OneMoreBite-Weightloss.com

Get The Daily Bites: Inspirational Mini Lessons Using EFT and NLP for Ending the Struggle with Weight Loss.

abc7.com

Small weight loss effectively reduces sex hormones linked with breast cancer Fox News So just how effective is weight loss in keeping cancer at bay? A new study out of the Hutchinson Cancer Researcher Center has revealed even a small amount of weight loss effectively reduces the amount of circulating estrogens in the body– which are ... Moderate Weight Loss Can Decrease Breast Cancer RiskABC News Moderate weight loss cuts breast cancer riskTimes of India Study finds moderate weight loss reduces levels of sex hormones linked to ...EurekAlert (press release) abc7.com -GlobalPost all 33 news articles »

Family Practice News Digital Network

Innovative Weight Loss Approaches Show PromiseBY BRUCE JANCINElsevier Global ... Family Practice News Digital Network NEW ORLEANS – Stung by disappointing long-term outcomes for evidence-based intensive behavioral weight loss interventions that are often marked by late backsliding, researchers are turning the standard treatment programs upside down, with encouraging ...

Column: Weight loss will come with lifestyle change Visalia Times-Delta Last week, Visalia Times-Delta Sports Editor Eric Galvan introduced our readers to a project we are starting here in the sports department. The goal is to piggy back on Justin Levine, the owner of the California Fitness Academy in Visalia, ...

Weight Loss Camp for Children, Teens, & College Students Announces Hiring of ... PR Web (press release) WellBalance, a leading fitness and weight loss camp with a location in northern California for ages 10 – 20, proudly announces the hiring of Christine Johnson. Ms. Johnson is a fitness professional and educator with a passion for helping children, ... and more »

Lexington Herald Leader

Celebs credit 'Dancing with the Stars' for weight loss Lexington Herald Leader By Stephanie Cary — (Torrance) Daily Breeze The trio credit ABC's hit show Dancing With the Stars for kick-starting their weight-loss journeys. Celebrity after celebrity said they saw their bodies transform while appearing on the reality competition ... and more »

ABC News (blog)

Paula Deen Dishes on New Diet, Weight Loss on 'The View' ABC News (blog) Later when the weight-loss surgery companies offer her big bucks, she'll THEN reveal she had weight-loss surgery. She's a liar! She should keep her mouth shut. That comment about “one food that causes diabetes” is stupid. So if she ate only butter, ... Paula Deen Dishes on New Diet, Weight Losskarnnewsradio Post Diabetes Diagnosis, Paula Deen Sheds 30 PoundsEveryday Health all 9 news articles »

Monsters and Critics.com

Kim Kardashian Launches Weight Loss Kit Pictures Monsters and Critics.com By James Wray May 22, 2012, 12:25 GMT We have added a new set of pictures from the event "Kim Kardashian Launches Weight Loss Kit". Kim Kardashian QuickTrim Essentials Weight Loss Kit launch party at the Renaissance Hotel in London on May 18, 2012.

Weight Loss Success: Jason Barsotti Wanted To Get Healthy For His Daughter And ... Huffington Post Got a success story of your own? Send it to us at success.stories@huffingtonpost.com and you could be featured on the site! How I Gained It: I was heavy my entire life. I really got that way by eating and drinking whatever I wanted.

PR Web (press release)

Weight Loss Book by Psychologist Dr. Carol Francis "If You Can't Stop Eating ... PR Web (press release) Summer reminds many to manage their body weight more consciously. Dr. Carol Francis, Psychologist, Hypnotherapist, Fitness Trainer and Nutrition Counselor, authored "If You Can't Stop Eating, Maybe You're Hungry: Reset Your Cravings" to help manage all ... and more »

Weight-loss battle taxi driver's training hit by injury setback This is South Wales A FORMER pub landlord who is battling to lose half his body weight to save his life has suffered a setback in his training, with an injured leg. Taxi driver Jason Vaughan, 30, who previously ran the Black Lion Hotel in St Clears and the Rose and Crown ...