Christmas dinner questions...

Am I odd? People here and elsewhere seem to be twittering on about over
indulging at Christmas, as if eating too much was mandatory! We never
seem to have MORE food - just different food! We have venison rather
than roast chicken (today's Sunday dinner), sprouts rather than
cauliflower (though we do eat quite a lot of sprouts, as they are one of
my son's favourite vegetables), and Christmas pud rather than apple
crumble! We might start the meal with smoked salmon... And I shall
have half fat creme fraiche with my pud rather than double cream (don't
like brandy butter - way too sweet!)

We tend to eat the cakes and mince pies as parts of meals, and the only
real extras are nuts in shells (again, a favourite of my son) and a big
basket of fresh fruit. Chocolates? No, not many! I'm getting used to
doing without, and DH, being a type 1 diabetic, doesn't indulge much
anyway! These days I'd rather have a reel of glittery metallic stripy
thread than an expensive box of chocolates!

Points values for a couple of meals may be up on the usual (8-i=10
rather than 7-8 for the main meal), but there's nothing disastrous in
any of it. Why do people get so bothered by it all?

I love the excitement generated by making all the cakes (I make lots to
give away) and stuff, but we just eat it in ordinary meals! And I point
every bite I eat, same as usual, so there's no change there...

Tell me - what IS all the fuss about?
--
Kate XXXXXX (Puzzled of Kent)
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

Let me see if I can say something about 'all the fuss'--I think most
people are used to over-indulging over the holidays, and we don't want
to sabotage our losses and our new WOL, so we start to dread that aspect
of the holidays far in advance.

Most people do a lot more entertaining or attending parties than they
normally would, and that, right there, includes a higher consumption of
points. Also, when you're with family, in my case, on Christmas Eve,
there is so much excitement and cause for celebration, you could easily
end up enjoying more food and drink than you normally would. You also
make extras for dinner that you normally wouldn't. Christmas is the
only time I serve appetizers prior to dinner, usually different kinds of
cheese, and, of course, pickled herring. Dinner itself is three courses
instead of two. Since I hide a whole almond in the rice pudding for a
prize, the kids gorge on dessert, I just sit and laugh.

We also open our presents on Christmas Eve, that's where the chocolates
come in.

Our Christmas celebration is a tradition my DDIL and DSIL have
whole-heartedly embraced and I just don't want to change it. This is
also the first Christmas I've really looked forward to since my DH died
five years ago, so I intend to enjoy the time with my family, and if I
gain a bit--so be it, it'll come off again.

But you're right, it's a case of different food, plus eating at
different times, and we just have to hope our new WOL can see us
through.

BTW, I don't think you're odd at all.

Linda


(Kate=A0Dicey)
Am I odd? People here and elsewhere seem to be twittering on about over
indulging at Christmas, as if eating too much was mandatory! We never
seem to have MORE food - just different food! We have venison rather
than roast chicken (today's Sunday dinner), sprouts rather than
cauliflower (though we do eat quite a lot of sprouts, as they are one of
my son's favourite vegetables), and Christmas pud rather than apple
crumble! We might start the meal with smoked salmon... And I shall have
half fat creme fraiche with my pud rather than double cream (don't like
brandy butter - way too sweet!)
We tend to eat the cakes and mince pies as parts of meals, and the only
real extras are nuts in shells (again, a favourite of my son) and a big
basket of fresh fruit. Chocolates? No, not many! I'm getting used to
doing without, and DH, being a type 1 diabetic, doesn't indulge much
anyway! These days I'd rather have a reel of glittery metallic stripy
thread than an expensive box of chocolates!
Points values for a couple of meals may be up on the usual (8-i=3D10
rather than 7-8 for the main meal), but there's nothing disastrous in
any of it. Why do people get so bothered by it all?
I love the excitement generated by making all the cakes (I make lots to
give away) and stuff, but we just eat it in ordinary meals! And I point
every bite I eat, same as usual, so there's no change there...
Tell me - what IS all the fuss about?
--
Kate XXXXXX (Puzzled of Kent)
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

I have to agree with Linda's comments. Christmas means more family
gatherings and more (different) desserts than most other holidays many of
them made with chocolate. This was the first year that we went to the local
club for Thanksgiving buffet dinner. Their spread at Christmas time is twice
as big.

"Kate Dicey" wrote in message
...
Am I odd? People here and elsewhere seem to be twittering on about over
indulging at Christmas, as if eating too much was mandatory! We never
seem to have MORE food - just different food! We have venison rather
than roast chicken (today's Sunday dinner), sprouts rather than
cauliflower (though we do eat quite a lot of sprouts, as they are one of
my son's favourite vegetables), and Christmas pud rather than apple
crumble! We might start the meal with smoked salmon... And I shall
have half fat creme fraiche with my pud rather than double cream (don't
like brandy butter - way too sweet!)

We tend to eat the cakes and mince pies as parts of meals, and the only
real extras are nuts in shells (again, a favourite of my son) and a big
basket of fresh fruit. Chocolates? No, not many! I'm getting used to
doing without, and DH, being a type 1 diabetic, doesn't indulge much
anyway! These days I'd rather have a reel of glittery metallic stripy
thread than an expensive box of chocolates!

Points values for a couple of meals may be up on the usual (8-i=10
rather than 7-8 for the main meal), but there's nothing disastrous in
any of it. Why do people get so bothered by it all?

I love the excitement generated by making all the cakes (I make lots to
give away) and stuff, but we just eat it in ordinary meals! And I point
every bite I eat, same as usual, so there's no change there...

Tell me - what IS all the fuss about?
--
Kate XXXXXX (Puzzled of Kent)
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

many do not have this amount of planning or control in their lives, also
many are not at their home environment so feel less in control as we say in
my family, at the mercy of the in-laws, Lee
Kate Dicey wrote in message
...
Am I odd? People here and elsewhere seem to be twittering on about over
indulging at Christmas, as if eating too much was mandatory! We never
seem to have MORE food - just different food! We have venison rather
than roast chicken (today's Sunday dinner), sprouts rather than
cauliflower (though we do eat quite a lot of sprouts, as they are one of
my son's favourite vegetables), and Christmas pud rather than apple
crumble! We might start the meal with smoked salmon... And I shall
have half fat creme fraiche with my pud rather than double cream (don't
like brandy butter - way too sweet!)

We tend to eat the cakes and mince pies as parts of meals, and the only
real extras are nuts in shells (again, a favourite of my son) and a big
basket of fresh fruit. Chocolates? No, not many! I'm getting used to
doing without, and DH, being a type 1 diabetic, doesn't indulge much
anyway! These days I'd rather have a reel of glittery metallic stripy
thread than an expensive box of chocolates!

Points values for a couple of meals may be up on the usual (8-i=10
rather than 7-8 for the main meal), but there's nothing disastrous in
any of it. Why do people get so bothered by it all?

I love the excitement generated by making all the cakes (I make lots to
give away) and stuff, but we just eat it in ordinary meals! And I point
every bite I eat, same as usual, so there's no change there...

Tell me - what IS all the fuss about?
--
Kate XXXXXX (Puzzled of Kent)
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

To add to everyone else's answer we don't do a "traditional" dinner in my
family. We spend so much time between our house, my parents house, and my
MIL house (all of us live in the same town) that we don't have time to make
a dinner--we snack. We have cheese, crackers, smokies, vegi's with dip,
chips, desserts, etc... For me it's hectic and this has become a tradition
the rest of my family would be upset about changing so I won't make them
just because I've changed my eating habits--my philosophy is "it's normal
for people to over-eat and over-indulge once in a while, everyone does it at
some point--I have to learn not to do it everyday". I'll also throw in--our
family also has a tradition of going out for dessert after driving around
looking at Christmas lights and trying to find Santa Clause on Christmas Eve
and on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day we also do a lot of snacking and no
actual meals. On all these days we have foods we wouldn't "normally" eat as
a general rule for the day. I don't believe the over-eating is mandatory
but it happens and coming to the board and planning ahead for it actually
helps me to stay in focus!! I hope this helps a little bit in answering
what it's all about!!

P.S. I don't think you're odd, your question made me think!!!

--
Janice
263/257/150 (maybe 130)


"Kate Dicey" wrote in message
...
Am I odd? People here and elsewhere seem to be twittering on about over
indulging at Christmas, as if eating too much was mandatory! We never
seem to have MORE food - just different food! We have venison rather
than roast chicken (today's Sunday dinner), sprouts rather than
cauliflower (though we do eat quite a lot of sprouts, as they are one of
my son's favourite vegetables), and Christmas pud rather than apple
crumble! We might start the meal with smoked salmon... And I shall
have half fat creme fraiche with my pud rather than double cream (don't
like brandy butter - way too sweet!)

We tend to eat the cakes and mince pies as parts of meals, and the only
real extras are nuts in shells (again, a favourite of my son) and a big
basket of fresh fruit. Chocolates? No, not many! I'm getting used to
doing without, and DH, being a type 1 diabetic, doesn't indulge much
anyway! These days I'd rather have a reel of glittery metallic stripy
thread than an expensive box of chocolates!

Points values for a couple of meals may be up on the usual (8-i=10
rather than 7-8 for the main meal), but there's nothing disastrous in
any of it. Why do people get so bothered by it all?

I love the excitement generated by making all the cakes (I make lots to
give away) and stuff, but we just eat it in ordinary meals! And I point
every bite I eat, same as usual, so there's no change there...

Tell me - what IS all the fuss about?
--
Kate XXXXXX (Puzzled of Kent)
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

Janice,

What I liked about your post is that you have addressed your need to change
your overall eating without penalizing your family. This is relevant to me
as I couldn't see making DH take things out of the house I might have
difficulty with. It would be more secure if some of the snacks we keep were
temporarily out of here but in keeping with my commitment not to change
things I couldn't live with from now on I decided it was better to learn to
deal with this while I was losing rather than wait until I was trying to get
the hang of staying at goal, Lee
Janice Kennish wrote in message
news:xFwyb.267446$9E1.1409550@attbi_s52...
To add to everyone else's answer we don't do a "traditional" dinner in my
family. We spend so much time between our house, my parents house, and my
MIL house (all of us live in the same town) that we don't have time to
make
a dinner--we snack. We have cheese, crackers, smokies, vegi's with dip,
chips, desserts, etc... For me it's hectic and this has become a
tradition
the rest of my family would be upset about changing so I won't make them
just because I've changed my eating habits--my philosophy is "it's normal
for people to over-eat and over-indulge once in a while, everyone does it
at
some point--I have to learn not to do it everyday". I'll also throw
in--our
family also has a tradition of going out for dessert after driving around
looking at Christmas lights and trying to find Santa Clause on Christmas
Eve
and on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day we also do a lot of snacking and
no
actual meals. On all these days we have foods we wouldn't "normally" eat
as
a general rule for the day. I don't believe the over-eating is mandatory
but it happens and coming to the board and planning ahead for it actually
helps me to stay in focus!! I hope this helps a little bit in answering
what it's all about!!

P.S. I don't think you're odd, your question made me think!!!

--
Janice
263/257/150 (maybe 130)


"Kate Dicey" wrote in message
...
Am I odd? People here and elsewhere seem to be twittering on about over
indulging at Christmas, as if eating too much was mandatory! We never
seem to have MORE food - just different food! We have venison rather
than roast chicken (today's Sunday dinner), sprouts rather than
cauliflower (though we do eat quite a lot of sprouts, as they are one of
my son's favourite vegetables), and Christmas pud rather than apple
crumble! We might start the meal with smoked salmon... And I shall
have half fat creme fraiche with my pud rather than double cream (don't
like brandy butter - way too sweet!)

We tend to eat the cakes and mince pies as parts of meals, and the only
real extras are nuts in shells (again, a favourite of my son) and a big
basket of fresh fruit. Chocolates? No, not many! I'm getting used to
doing without, and DH, being a type 1 diabetic, doesn't indulge much
anyway! These days I'd rather have a reel of glittery metallic stripy
thread than an expensive box of chocolates!

Points values for a couple of meals may be up on the usual (8-i=10
rather than 7-8 for the main meal), but there's nothing disastrous in
any of it. Why do people get so bothered by it all?

I love the excitement generated by making all the cakes (I make lots to
give away) and stuff, but we just eat it in ordinary meals! And I point
every bite I eat, same as usual, so there's no change there...

Tell me - what IS all the fuss about?
--
Kate XXXXXX (Puzzled of Kent)
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

When nothin' says lovin' like something from the oven (according to
the ads), there can be extra pressure during the Christmas season that
began this weekend to eat the sweets and treats as a gesture of
affection.

During the rest of the year, planning for a single occasion or event
isn't so hard. Or going off plan for same doesn't spell weight loss
disaster. But when the occasion goes on for a month--and the
temptations are ever-present--resolve can weaken. At my office,
between the daily homemade cookie contributions from staff and the
gifts of candy from vendors lying about on every available horizontal
surface, I can't walk two steps out of my workstation without
encountering some delectable. Some days are easier to cope than
others.

So I think being a-twitter with concern about over-indulging is an
acknowledgment that vigilance and planning and forgiveness are even
more important during the coming weeks.

Prairie Roots

On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 19:51:32 +0000, Kate Dicey
wrote:

Am I odd? People here and elsewhere seem to be twittering on about over
indulging at Christmas, as if eating too much was mandatory! We never
seem to have MORE food - just different food! We have venison rather
than roast chicken (today's Sunday dinner), sprouts rather than
cauliflower (though we do eat quite a lot of sprouts, as they are one of
my son's favourite vegetables), and Christmas pud rather than apple
crumble! We might start the meal with smoked salmon... And I shall
have half fat creme fraiche with my pud rather than double cream (don't
like brandy butter - way too sweet!)

We tend to eat the cakes and mince pies as parts of meals, and the only
real extras are nuts in shells (again, a favourite of my son) and a big
basket of fresh fruit. Chocolates? No, not many! I'm getting used to
doing without, and DH, being a type 1 diabetic, doesn't indulge much
anyway! These days I'd rather have a reel of glittery metallic stripy
thread than an expensive box of chocolates!

Points values for a couple of meals may be up on the usual (8-i=10
rather than 7-8 for the main meal), but there's nothing disastrous in
any of it. Why do people get so bothered by it all?

I love the excitement generated by making all the cakes (I make lots to
give away) and stuff, but we just eat it in ordinary meals! And I point
every bite I eat, same as usual, so there's no change there...

Tell me - what IS all the fuss about?

strange though it may seem, the actual holiday doesn't usually trip me up.
It is all the visual cues in the stores, and a kind of ongoing thing with me
around this time of year.

"Miss Violette" wrote in message
s.com...
many do not have this amount of planning or control in their lives, also
many are not at their home environment so feel less in control as we say
in
my family, at the mercy of the in-laws, Lee
Kate Dicey wrote in message
...
Am I odd? People here and elsewhere seem to be twittering on about over
indulging at Christmas, as if eating too much was mandatory! We never
seem to have MORE food - just different food! We have venison rather
than roast chicken (today's Sunday dinner), sprouts rather than
cauliflower (though we do eat quite a lot of sprouts, as they are one of
my son's favourite vegetables), and Christmas pud rather than apple
crumble! We might start the meal with smoked salmon... And I shall
have half fat creme fraiche with my pud rather than double cream (don't
like brandy butter - way too sweet!)

We tend to eat the cakes and mince pies as parts of meals, and the only
real extras are nuts in shells (again, a favourite of my son) and a big
basket of fresh fruit. Chocolates? No, not many! I'm getting used to
doing without, and DH, being a type 1 diabetic, doesn't indulge much
anyway! These days I'd rather have a reel of glittery metallic stripy
thread than an expensive box of chocolates!

Points values for a couple of meals may be up on the usual (8-i=10
rather than 7-8 for the main meal), but there's nothing disastrous in
any of it. Why do people get so bothered by it all?

I love the excitement generated by making all the cakes (I make lots to
give away) and stuff, but we just eat it in ordinary meals! And I point
every bite I eat, same as usual, so there's no change there...

Tell me - what IS all the fuss about?
--
Kate XXXXXX (Puzzled of Kent)
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

yeah. That says it.

"Prairie Roots" wrote in message
news
When nothin' says lovin' like something from the oven (according to
the ads), there can be extra pressure during the Christmas season that
began this weekend to eat the sweets and treats as a gesture of
affection.

During the rest of the year, planning for a single occasion or event
isn't so hard. Or going off plan for same doesn't spell weight loss
disaster. But when the occasion goes on for a month--and the
temptations are ever-present--resolve can weaken. At my office,
between the daily homemade cookie contributions from staff and the
gifts of candy from vendors lying about on every available horizontal
surface, I can't walk two steps out of my workstation without
encountering some delectable. Some days are easier to cope than
others.

So I think being a-twitter with concern about over-indulging is an
acknowledgment that vigilance and planning and forgiveness are even
more important during the coming weeks.

Prairie Roots

On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 19:51:32 +0000, Kate Dicey
wrote:

Am I odd? People here and elsewhere seem to be twittering on about over
indulging at Christmas, as if eating too much was mandatory! We never
seem to have MORE food - just different food! We have venison rather
than roast chicken (today's Sunday dinner), sprouts rather than
cauliflower (though we do eat quite a lot of sprouts, as they are one of
my son's favourite vegetables), and Christmas pud rather than apple
crumble! We might start the meal with smoked salmon... And I shall
have half fat creme fraiche with my pud rather than double cream (don't
like brandy butter - way too sweet!)

We tend to eat the cakes and mince pies as parts of meals, and the only
real extras are nuts in shells (again, a favourite of my son) and a big
basket of fresh fruit. Chocolates? No, not many! I'm getting used to
doing without, and DH, being a type 1 diabetic, doesn't indulge much
anyway! These days I'd rather have a reel of glittery metallic stripy
thread than an expensive box of chocolates!

Points values for a couple of meals may be up on the usual (8-i=10
rather than 7-8 for the main meal), but there's nothing disastrous in
any of it. Why do people get so bothered by it all?

I love the excitement generated by making all the cakes (I make lots to
give away) and stuff, but we just eat it in ordinary meals! And I point
every bite I eat, same as usual, so there's no change there...

Tell me - what IS all the fuss about?

that is not at all strange, if you are in the store and see all of those
sweets and the ingredients to make them it gets you thinking about them,
Lee, makes not to self to add "can't be tripped up by bags of choc. chips,
to the short list of things it is OK she can't see...
Lesanne wrote in message
...
strange though it may seem, the actual holiday doesn't usually trip me up.
It is all the visual cues in the stores, and a kind of ongoing thing with
me
around this time of year.

"Miss Violette" wrote in message
s.com...
many do not have this amount of planning or control in their lives, also
many are not at their home environment so feel less in control as we say
in
my family, at the mercy of the in-laws, Lee
Kate Dicey wrote in message
...
Am I odd? People here and elsewhere seem to be twittering on about
over
indulging at Christmas, as if eating too much was mandatory! We never
seem to have MORE food - just different food! We have venison rather
than roast chicken (today's Sunday dinner), sprouts rather than
cauliflower (though we do eat quite a lot of sprouts, as they are one
of
my son's favourite vegetables), and Christmas pud rather than apple
crumble! We might start the meal with smoked salmon... And I shall
have half fat creme fraiche with my pud rather than double cream
(don't
like brandy butter - way too sweet!)

We tend to eat the cakes and mince pies as parts of meals, and the
only
real extras are nuts in shells (again, a favourite of my son) and a
big
basket of fresh fruit. Chocolates? No, not many! I'm getting used
to
doing without, and DH, being a type 1 diabetic, doesn't indulge much
anyway! These days I'd rather have a reel of glittery metallic stripy
thread than an expensive box of chocolates!

Points values for a couple of meals may be up on the usual (8-i=10
rather than 7-8 for the main meal), but there's nothing disastrous in
any of it. Why do people get so bothered by it all?

I love the excitement generated by making all the cakes (I make lots
to
give away) and stuff, but we just eat it in ordinary meals! And I
point
every bite I eat, same as usual, so there's no change there...

Tell me - what IS all the fuss about?
--
Kate XXXXXX (Puzzled of Kent)
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!