Healthy Holidays

Looking at the items in the challenge, I feel confident I can handle them. My fear is on turkey day. We go to my cousin's and she cooks 'country' style....fatty, carby food everywhere. I usually eat at ton of food out of boredom and need to figure out how to resist this action-find something else to do. I do have my fabulous smart phone now! I can hide in the other room and play games on it-but no phone/web reception in the country hills which means no checking in here!

My other challenge will be the exercise. I've yet to start. Repaired my treadmill (I think) and have new gym shoes. No excuses now!

My mom-in-law cooks very traditionally. I plan to bring a couple of my own dishes. She, 1 cousin and my father-in-law are mild diabetics so I got creative one year and made an apple/pear pie with splenda. It was amazing and didn't taste diet al all! I'm planning to try mashed cauliflower too as a replacement for the potatoes and I'm going to experiment with a splenda laced cranberry sauce. I know the day will be an overall overindulgence, But I'm going to try to keep the damage to a minimum! It's the few days after that kill me... the sandwiches and the nibbles. And Stuffin' Muffins!

HaHa! If only I could bring something. Nobody is 'allowed' to-cousin cooks it ALL. My tried-and-true is contribution is flowers. There are at least 4 or 5 different desserts every year, potatoes LOADED with butter, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes swimming in butter and marshmallows, etc.

Hope your cauliflower 'potatoes' turn out. I've tried a couple times and was never happy. Maybe I don't have the right recipe or maybe my I just can't deal if it's no potatoes. Apple/pear pie sounds yummy!

If I can just get through the evening without going into a carb coma, it will be a success.

I dont know if im gonna survive Turkey day! I'm cooking!! I always cook a full traditional dinner... but turkeys okay to have on atkins right? I LOOVEE turkey but its gonna be hard to pass up those sweet potatos... but Im gonna make sure I make a killer salad too!! So when I feel too tempted... Im going for that first... !! And Im totally aware all my family and friends will be trying to shove it down my throat!... but Im feelin so good... I think I can pull through without too many carbs!

Not sure if this will help, but here are a few suggestions: Start your morning off w/ a great breakfast at home. Make sure you have lots of protein & healthy fats...as they will stay w/you longer. Then before you leave (or before your guests arrive) have some higher protein appetizers. Scallops wrapped in Bacon, Deviled Eggs, Celery w/ Cream Cheese...and make sure you are keeping up w/ your water.

So many of the traditional foods can be tweaked to lower the overall carb counts (or make something similiar but w/ a lower carb food), but I do get that not everyone will want to do this...especially if they are eating with, or feeding a crowd that is NOT on this WOE. However, YOU ARE! You chose this path to better health for yourself! And you owe it to yourself not to create and trigger cravings that could unravel the work you've done this far...so be careful.

Turkey - is fine. A great salad also fine. But take one good look at those marshmellows and realize they could be the culprit to you losing control. When you feel 'tempted' - have a small glass of water, and another protein appetizer...and wait it out...the temptation will pass...and you'll go back to enjoying the lower carb foods that will be available. Have another serving of Turkey...but skip the 'traditional stuff' - and by all means, bring a low carb dessert if you are a dessert eater! Regardless of what the hostess says. Just make light of it...tell them it's a brand new recipe that looked so good to you that you just couldn't resist!

Plan ahead...it will help you the most in making this day about being Thankful, instead of about food!

Drink a lot of water before you eat, and while you eat. That will reduce the amount of food you can eat and you will still feel full.

Berries and whipped cream (whip it yourself) are an Atkins friendly desert. A little splenda makes them sweet.

Cheese is a great addition to the day and feels 'special' enough to enjoy while others are eating the high carb treats. You can also hide cheese cubes in your pocket. Wrap them in Bacon, and everyone will envy your appitizer.

Eat all the turkey you want. Add some 'real' mayo, or salad dressing (be careful that it is low carb), or a cream sauce that you make.

The hardest part of the day will be to remember that you need to stay under 20g carbs - spread through the day, not eaten all at once. You CAN have a 'little' of your fav, as long as you have enough determination to return to your diet the next day without loosing self control.

For me, I just weigh myself the morning of a 'binge' day - and then remember that if I don't be strong, tomoorow I'll gain about 2 - 4LB and it will take 2 weeks of hard dieting to lose it.