October Challenge - Be Prepared

[Mitra]

Be Prepared


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The holiday season is just around the corner, and if you want to get through it unscathed (and maybe even enjoy yourself) now's the time to start planning. Sorry I didn't have smileys for Hanukkah or any other holidays, but whichever ones you celebrate, this is the place to plan for them

If you don't have a routine in place to cover your normal meals, that could be a good place to start: maybe decide on a specific time when you'll plan out your meals for the next week, and draw up a shopping list. Depending on your schedule, it might help if you also plan to prepare some of your food ahead of time. You can save effort by "recycling" your meals and your menu plans. If you cook some extra dinner, it can take care of another day. You could cook up a big batch of something to do breakfasts for the week: a meatloaf, some oopsie rolls, a batch of hard boiled eggs, or whatever suits you.

For the holidays, now is the time to decide if you're going to stick strictly on plan every single day, or if you're going to have any honey tree meals. Don't wait till there's a temptation in front of you before you decide, and if you decide to include a honey tree occasion, let it be a meal, not a week...

For the festivities that aren't honey trees, plan ahead for how you're going to make it work: eat at home before you go; take an LC dish along with you; be the host so you know there'll be something you can eat... Make a plan, and share your ideas.

So, for October:

• Plan for the basics - getting enough protein, and not too many carbs, every day, and any personal goals you need to focus on, such as exercise, sleep, meditation etc.

• Plan for the celebrations - decide now how you're going to handle the celebrations ahead. Share your strategy and your recipes.

As usual, whoever gets here first, please start the daily thread and everybody keep us posted with how you're getting on.

[bigdawg_SLC]

You know ... I've never had a very hard time with the Holiday season when it comes to NOT being able to LC....

As I list through the ones that I participate in:

Halloween -- Kid's are too old to participate in that, I'm not a big "candy" eater anyway! Any costume parties (this year I'm going as MAX :eek: ) j/k. Usually NOT a big deal for me.
Thanksgiving -- I could eat the whole turkey (I know too much in one sitting), but I do NOT get tempted with the stuffing, mashed potatoes -- even when my mom makes Yorkshire pudding ... Ok that one tempts me. And I always Plan for or allow the carbs for a small piece of pumpkin pie!
Christmas Eve/Day -- again lots of meats -- ham, roast beef, good non-starch veggies, cheeses ... I can make it through those three no problem. But, it's a two-day'er so the temptation is spread over two days.
New Years Eve/Day -- see here they sneak in two days right in a row AGAIN! Usually more that anything, I can still get away with eating a ton protein, and graciously (I know it's hard to believe that I could be gracious) decline all of the carb filled goodies.

Having said that ... I am NOT immune to the carb trap! But I try to wear an extra layer of carb repelling armour those days. Give me a good meat and cheese plate and I'm in heaven ... pass the cheesecake around and I have to respectfully decline.

Mitra and ALL, I think this "be prepared" motto (besides being stolen from the Boy Scouts :D ) is about DECISIONS -- if a person decides to do something it is final. And, once you've got that engrained into your brain, the temptation doesn't seem even to be there. If you decide early on, that you are NOT going to eat the chocolate cake when it comes around ... the decision has already been made. (I know, easier said then done ... but easier to have the decision made, then to have to make it once you've got the chocolate cake on your plate!)

[hawk]

Holidays for me ...Everyone in my family begs for my pies and cookies...Then the left overs are here..I try to send them home with everyone. Or not make them at all.
I guess I could make everyones favorite and gift wrap it and they would be happy. It would be totally thiers....

I don't do halloween except I do go to a hay ride with a hotdog roast and chili. I could bring a meat tray or eat before I go. The other holidays are pretty much like Dean says for me. I just have to decide that I cannot. IF I start..I am like an alcaholic...off to the races. I don't even lick the spoon. I'd rather save the carbs for a wonderful dry red wine.

[maxlharris]

Halloween -- (this year I'm going as MAX :eek: )
You'll have to lose 30 lbs to do so. :evil:

[maxlharris]

Let's see, no kids and no desire to see any, so Halloween is not a problem. No candy, no problem.

Thanksgiving: I'm cooking. And I'm eating. I have consistently said that I will eat carbs to participate when that's value to me. Thanksgiving is always value.

Christmas: Another year, another trip to Missouri. I do the same rule as Thanksgiving.

New Year's: We go out. Nice. I drink Champagne (or Cava, since we've done Tapas for two years running.) I eat what I like. I get back into the flow on Jan 1. My pumpkins turn into glass slippers, or something.

As to overall planning. Getting there. I dunno that I have much to offer in this challenge. Will probably not participate heavily. It's popular for others, so I expect it to be robust.

[bigdawg_SLC]

You'll have to lose 30 lbs to do so. :evil:

Yeah I know ..... :(

but it's a good goal, right?:lol:

[Belfrybat]

Thanks, Janet! :D I'm in. I'll work on the details and report later.

[Omlette]

I can avoid a lot of the sweets (unblievably), but I love casseroles. I don't make them often, and usually they are so good, but very carb laden. I will have to make some of my own to share.

Halloween candy is a problem. I don't buy the junk stuff, so I want it all gone that night. As the evening goes on, we will hand out more and more to run out.

Hawk - my mom does the gift of food for people. Not that she doesn't have plenty more around the house, but all the cousins and kids love Nuts & Bolts (homemade chex mix), so she bags them indivually in gallon bags and wraps them up. She does the same for homemade fried peach pies. They might not be wrapped, but they are given to each individual who loves them. Usually as they are ready to make their long car trip back home to other states.

So, I think it is a good idea to "give" the baked goods that people love and request.

[Ammy]

Mitra and ALL, I think this "be prepared" motto (besides being stolen from the Boy Scouts :D ) is about DECISIONS -- if a person decides to do something it is final. And, once you've got that engrained into your brain, the temptation doesn't seem even to be there. If you decide early on, that you are NOT going to eat the chocolate cake when it comes around ... the decision has already been made. (I know, easier said then done ... but easier to have the decision made, then to have to make it once you've got the chocolate cake on your plate!)

SEE, I KNEW we were SOUL siblings!! THis is MY way of doing it as well.
I decide a food is NOT FOR ME, and there is no if's and or but(t)s around the topic.
This is how I don't eat (and am not tempted by) chocolate, cookies, french fries, etc. I have MADE THE DECISION not to ever eat them again! EVER... and thank my Higher Power that it works for me.

Halloween: I finally put my foot down on giving out candy. I just don't like it. I'm not tempted by it, I just don't like it. So if GF is all gung ho about it (and she IS), SHE can give it out!

Thanksgiving: This holiday is really about the food for my family. I'm not too concerned about it this year though because we will be at my little brothers - the family that just doesn't eat? For example, if there are 8 people, they cook 8 chicken pieces, 8 potatoes, 1 bag (8 servings) of veggie, etc. And they don't have muchies around. So although I'm sure I'll have a little carbs, there won't be enough for me to overdo it!! :rolleyes:

Christmas: This will be spent at MIL's house. I can (and will) stay on plan there IF I am prepared and put my foot down. THIS meal will be the "be prepared" meal. Lately she has been obsessed about the cheesy hashbrown casserole, so we need to step up and volunteer to make it with cauliflower (or SOME with cauliflower). And with desserts, it's about MAKING THE DECISION ahead of time.
Yes, this will be the tough holiday for me.

[bigdawg_SLC]

SEE, I KNEW we were SOUL siblings!! THis is MY way of doing it as well.
I decide a food is NOT FOR ME, and there is no if's and or but(t)s around the topic.
This is how I don't eat (and am not tempted by) chocolate, cookies, french fries, etc. I have MADE THE DECISION not to ever eat them again! EVER... and thank my Higher Power that it works for me.


I knew there was some commonality too. That's the only way for me ... just mentally BAN it from me and then I don't have a problem.:jawDrop:

[Belfrybat]

I spend the holidays alone -- by choice. I'll probably go out with friends sometime in December, and I'll make my normal "Christmas run" to Austin and San Antonio in mid-December to see friends. Those times with people, I choose to eat a honey tree meal in moderation. They all know I'm diabetic so realise I don't eat sugar. But if someone has gone out of their way to make a sugar free dessert that I know is really laden with carbs (white flour!), I eat some in gratitude of their love (that's why God created insulin!).

My primary problem is feeling deprived of my childhood comfort foods around Christmas. For my family it was toasting the tree with port, eggnog, chocolate and mother's Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. Port is completely out as I'm not buying a whole bottle just to have one glass. Eggnog and brandy sauce are no-brainers as they are easy to make sugar-free with no change in taste; I can splurge with ChocoPerfection; but I yearn for Christmas pudding, and just have not been able to come up with a good substitute. It's my mother's recipe or none. I haven't made it for three years, and am really wanting some this year. So I'm contemplating on making the whole recipe, dividing into three for gifts and a very small two-serving one for myself. That will scratch the itch without my overdoing it.

That's about as far as my preparation has gone for the holidays. What I really need is a bit more discipline daily to plan meals and not just grab "whatever". That is what I will be working on during October.