How to Keep the Weight off During the Holiday Season

Updated on November 09, 2010
J.D. asks from Fort Worth, TX
15 answers

hello mamas. This summer my friend sold me a botanical slimming supplement that actually worked! I lost 32 lbs in 6 weeks and I have kept it off since May thank goodness! However, the closer we get to the holidays the more nervous I become about maintaining my weight. How do you lovely mamas do it? I already work out 6 days a week I just used the supps as a jump off but I love to eat during the holidays so any advice would be great!

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Thank you everyone for your responses. My problem was always stepping away from the table! I'd eat because the food was there but I appreciate my healthy figure so much now so I will definitely heed all of the advice shared! Lots of water before a meal sounds good, portion control will be a must. And for those of you wondering about the supp I took it's simply labeled Botanical Slimming, my friend sold it to me. I don't want to rely on anything anymore but myself to keep myself healthy but the pills were a definite help in the beginning and now it's up to me to maintain. Thank you all!

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.V.

answers from Los Angeles on

I almost thought this was a sales pitch in disguise for a weight loss supplement! Lol But please do share the secret if it worked that well I don't think you need to worry about the holidays:)

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.R.

answers from Chicago on

Every time you look at the delicious appetizers, cookies, and drinks, ask yourself "Is this indulgence WORTH IT?", "Is this brief moment of culinary bliss more important than what I've done to help myself become more healthy?".

Everything in moderation. I don't think you should deny yourself of anything tasty but be sure to only do tiny tastes of things and only take the things you really want.

Use one appetizer plate and only fill it once. When done, throw the plate away and put a glass of ice water, iced tea, diet soda, or other no-calorie beverage to keep your hands full and busy. You can't hold a plate, eat, and hold your glass all at the same time!

Don't do your socializing near the buffet table - it makes it too easy to grab and grub. Like I said, give yourself ONE shot at the goods and that's it.

If you're having a meal, serve yourself on a salad plate. It will be smaller, therefore you cannot put as much food on the plate, and your portion control will be solved.

Don't feel that just because it is the holidays you need to bake. Yes, it is a time-honored tradition that many of our mothers did but there is no need to bake enough cookies and candies for an army. All they do is sit around the house and you feel guilty that they are going to go to waste, so you wind up eating them. Just like junk food, don't even keep it in the house.

If you're going to Thanksgiving or Christmas at someone else's house, eat a huge breakfast or lunch prior to going so that you're already full (of the good foods, of course!) and you're too physically full to want to overstuff yourself.

Tell yourself that you've worked too hard to just blow it on one season. Yes, it is difficult, but it is doable.

Besides, you'll be thrilled when you look totally fab in your New Year's Eve dress!

3 moms found this helpful

R.M.

answers from Modesto on

Portion size my dear, portion size. Have a little bit of everything ONCE. And then exercise your butt off the next day after the bloat goes down.
I've gotten so used to eating lighter that when I start to even feel like I've over eaten it makes me so mad and miserable on top of it! Be good to yourself, you worked hard to lose the 32... do not regress.

3 moms found this helpful

J.P.

answers from Lewiston on

Drinking lots of water helps me when I feel hungry before a meal. Portion size is a definate. I just watch a Rachael Ray episode last week and this woman lost tons of weight by staying away from sugary foods and eating 8 oz of WHATEVER SHE WANTED every 3 hours... exercise is a must as well. It worked for her, maybe following the same guidelines for the holiday season will work for you!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.L.

answers from Las Vegas on

try and make it a point to have some snack items already prepared. example.. cut up apples and store them in the fridge.. IF you are prepared ahead of time and don't allow yourself to get overly hungry, you might not eat as much. Additionally, water definitely helps me. drink tons of that. Also.. before you are about to indulge, stop and really consider how what you are eating might make you feel in about an hour, if it's full and lousy.. they don't over do it.. when I do that, it actually helps. albeit, not all the time, but at least some of it.
lastly.. remember that the BLTs (bite, licks and tastes) ALL add up.. that little bite of fudge for example is prob 50 cal and then pop two sugar cookies in your mouth for another what 50 to 100 calories. depending how much butter is used.. so you see.. you really have to make the effort to not go blindly into the holiday season and use the excuse like so many.. "well it's the holidays" you can still enjoy and have some fun, but think of that 32 lbs...... do you want any of it back on.... you can do it... just keep focused..
best of luck

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.W.

answers from Amarillo on

I would get a smaller plate like a salad plate and use it. This way you would have portion control (the bigger the plate the more we want to pile on). Also the water before a meal or slight snack so that you are full. Otherwise just continue your weight loss exercise routine through the holidays.

I used to be like you if the food was there eat it. Now I just eat what I like and if I feel full stop and get up from the table. We don't have to eat it all jut because it is in front of us.

Good luck and enjoy with moderation.

The other S.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.R.

answers from Phoenix on

Well I don't have any more tips than the averge gal...just what all the weight management sites offer: eat a healthy meal before you got to a party, eat sample size servings of sweets, not huge pieces, drink lots of water or naturally carbonated waters with just a spritz alcohol...etc....

BUT would you please be so kind to tell me what supplement you took? I'm game for that kind of success and with the sounds of it I doubt you'll put back the 32 lbs just over the holidays.

Happy Celebrating!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.G.

answers from Dallas on

So what is this botanical slimming supplement that your friend sold you, and where can we get it? Is it safe?

Anyway, drink plenty of water before a meal and also eat a little (like an apple w/ peanut butter) before the big Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. Forget the gravy and stuffing and eat turkey, sweet potatoes, and cranberries. Definately have a dessert, otherwise you will be upset that you didn't get to have your treat and binge on sweets later. Just have 1 dessert, though, so decide which one you want the most. For example, if you like pumpin pie but LOVE chocolate and must have chocolate, then forget the pumpkin pie and go for a modest piece of that double chocoltae cake. Also, definately eat breakfast (and a small lunch, depending what time you have your thanksgiving meal). Some people starve themselves all day and then pig out for the big thanksgiving meal. Big mistake! Good luck and let us know what this magic weight loss pill is!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.M.

answers from Dallas on

I'm doing weight watchers and what I've learned is you have to make choices. You have probably heard all this before, but have healthy food before a party so you aren't tempted to eat everything in sight. Or pick the best options while you are out. Don't eat around what you want. If you really want the mac n cheese, then also have the veggies and a smaller portion of meat. Give yourself time to feel full so you don't overeat. Another idea is to eat everything you want while you are there, but don't take home leftovers, that way you have one big day, but then it's back to normal. Do a little research to see what is worth eating. Maybe you aren't a huge dressing person, but you always eat a little. You might find that that little bit of dressing is really high in calories and you'd rather have the roll instead of the dressing and you'd have the same number of calories. Just be smart about it! And, (for me) weighing daily helps to keep me focused. If I see the scale not moving down (or worse, going up!), I know I have to be better. Congrats on losing weight and good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.H.

answers from Abilene on

Chewing gum helps me a lot. I have small portions and then THROW my plate and utensils away. After, I chew a piece of gum and that helps me stay on track.

Blessings!
L.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.M.

answers from Chicago on

What is the supplement, please!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.B.

answers from Tulsa on

I tried eating those "cookies" or fiber bars that fill you up. They were so nasty and gave me embarassing gas. I did do the two glasses of icewater an hour before the meal and switched from soda to plain tea.
I also started putting food away after the meal. I don't like things spoiling and the temptation to nibble all day is gone. We started leaving the buffet of food in the kitchen and eating in the dining and living rooms where you can not see the food.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.J.

answers from Dallas on

I don't have an answer but was wondering what the name of the supplement is.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Back up a minute---you lost over 5 lbs per week for 6 weeks? That sounds almost unbelievable. Please share this "secret"!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.H.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi J.,

The supplement you took should have worked because it balanced your body. Nutrition will do that! Remember when you're eating through the holidays to keep things balanced. If you are healthy, then most of your sugar cravings are probably gone. That's the first step. My husband lost 110 pounds from a multivitamin/mineral complex over 5 years ago and has kept it off. He even lost weight during the holidays. Remember that eating is fine...it's the pigging out that will do you in :)

Happy holidays!

M.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions