Weight Gain: Is It Inevitable During This Holiday Time?

Are you still on a diet struggling with the emotions that crop up around Thanksgiving I know. It can be so hard. Holidays represent a mixed bag of associations, some good, some bad.

Often during this time of year, you are faced with so many tempting foods, tangled family issues, irritating people and a mix up of memories. It’s a nutty time and everyone knows that stress tosses a wrench into the best laid plans.

I’ve done a lot of dieting, and followed many plans. Over the years, I’ve had many Thanksgivings that I considered virtuous, and others which are now recorded in the annals of Andrea history as disasters.

When I analyze what happened, I come to the same conclusion.

I love food and I love the memories surrounding many foods.

In my brain, I have many joyfilled thoughts, feelings and emotions connected to eating. Although I can buckle down, discipline myself and lose weight on a diet, or chosen eating plan it is not what I want. That makes me feel deprived.

Most people act out when they feel deprived. That explains the last supper syndrome of eating that many people feel compelled to do during the holidays, resulting in weight gain.

Typically if food is restricted, a person will feel desperate to take control of it. That’s the dynamic that is the waterloo of all dieters. It’s that push me pull you control game that you are always playing with your diet. Who will win?

If you are dieting, I would urge you to reconsider your decision. In the long run, you’ll face years of deprivation and frustration. More than that, you will never really know if you can trust yourself with food. I’ve always wondered about that myself, never really knowing for sure.

In the past few months, that I’ve made the decision to stop dieting, I’ve been learning to listen to my body and have been discovering what my natural hunger signals are. I mindfully and consciously eat whatever I want when I am hungry and I stop when my body indicates that I am satisfied. I eat less than ever before. I’m learning to trust myself with all foods.

On Thursday morning, I’ll be baking a fresh apple pie with my daughter, Cara. During the Thanksgiving Dinner, I may or may not eat it, depending upon how my body feels. I’ll probably take home a piece to enjoy it with ice cream another time when I am hungry. How about you? What would you do?

Imagine for a moment, seeing your biggest temptation sitting on a plate in front of you. Is it chocolate chip cookies, stuffing with gravy, or a slice of pumpkin pie with fresh whipped cream? Can you eat just a little bit of that and feel satisfied? Do you think that you would be able to trust yourself to be left alone in the room with it? Please share your comments and thoughts with me. Most of all, please remember that you are not alone anymore. I'm here for you.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.