Here we go again…  I’m stillllllll holding steady, even given the holidays we are in the midst of!!    To me – that’s success.  I have not been eating a whole lot, because I believe my stomach has shrunk – I’m just not ABLE to eat as much as I used to.  That’s a good thing.  I’m still hitting the gym pretty hard and have roped my neighbor into joining me on the days I have the trainer.  They basically kick our collective asses and we pay them for it.  As a result, we are generally unable to walk or lift anything for a day or two afterward…. It’s all good pain and we get to grow all that fun mitochondria that helps to burn energy while sitting on those same asses mentioned before.  In the end, it’s a winning situation – despite the pain and sweat.  (and I like to type mitochondria)

I’ve begun keeping a daily diary of what I eat, including the massive amounts of water I intake, down to the single cookie I shoved in my mouth like a starving wolf faced with a sweet little baby chipmunk….yummy…. and gross at the same time.  Basically – whole thing, shoved into my moufff, no chewing, 100% swallow.  Yeah baby….  The diary has definitely helped guilt me into only eating when appropriate and to only eat appropriate foods.  On the other hand, it does NOT help me when I forget to eat, or when I run out of time to actually prepare something that may not cause twenty new saddle bags on my already-burdened hips.

Additionally, I’ve cut the Coke out about 50% of the time.  Today is Friday and I believe I’ve only had 2 this week.  THAT, in and of itself, is a major step forward for me.  I tend to consume one 20-oz Coke a day and that’s a couple hundred Calories I don’t have to eat good, healthy food with.  So, while it is a moving target, I’m making progress.

I still have to get through next week, with Christmas, and the week after with New Years (this will be a challenge as I plan on getting all drunkerd up and sloshy over that particular holiday), so wish me luck.  I’m planning on hitting the gym hard EVERY day between now and then just because I feel so much better when I do, and I’m really liking the results I’ve seen thus far.  Smooches – ciao!

The holidays are coming. Thanksgiving and Christmas (Hanukah, Kwanzaa, whatever you’re into) both are huge invitations to take those extra trips up to the buffet-style set-up your mom and aunt have in the kitchen. It’s a time where we all mix up the egg nog, sit around watching football and catching up with relatives we haven’t seen in far too long.

What can we do to stop, or at least minimize, the inevitable holiday weight-gain? How can we nip the tryptophan comas in the bud? One thing my mom and I do is put on the tennies and go for a walk in the morning or after our food has settled. Its a nice time to catch up with her, since she lives 1100 miles away in another time zone, and its a great way to not sit on the couch.

Another good tip is to think about all the ingredients that are going into your meals. If your stuffing requires canned creamed soups, consider low-sodium, low-fat versions. Try a little Splenda, vanilla and cinnamon in your sweet potatoes instead of all sugar.

Don’t forget your water either! Keep on chugging water while you’re cooking, while you’re sitting watching the game, and even have a bottle with you while you walk the mall for Black Friday deals.

what other ideas do you guys have about watching your holiday weight? Leave your ideas after the jump!