Tips and Tricks - Week Seventeen

Surviving Holiday Parties: Barbel Knauper, an associate professor of psychology at McGill University in Montreal, believes a lack of advanced planning before social situations is one of the deepest pitfalls of diet failure. He writes, "If people were making 'when, where, how' plans, they would be more likely to adhere to their goal." For example, prepare a plan before going to the event. Determine what you will eat and also how you will respond to typical queries from your friends. Before heading out, you might say to yourself, "When I go out for dinner tonight, I won't order a large entree, but a smaller one. I won't eat pasta. I'll stick with my choice even if they pressure me to eat more." Socializing is one of the top three reasons people eventually fail with a diet, according to Dr. Michael Dansinger, an assistant professor of medicine at Tufts-New England Medical Center, in Boston. Even go so far as to write down what you will eat, what you will say, and what you want to talk about (I threw that last one in there just in case the topic of dieting comes up and you want to change the subject quickly, haha). One thing I've tried in the past that has (sometimes) been successful is journaling my food BEFORE I eat it. Then I feel like I've already committed to certain foods, and eating those foods would be easier than breaking out the white-out and having to do the journal over again after I stray.

Weighing In - Week Seventeen

Well, it was Thanksgiving... what's the point? I skipped a week, true, but it was difficult preparing to host my first Thanksgiving dinner party AND finish up the first trimester! But things are settled down now... second trimester is off to a fine start, all the dished are finally clean, and Brad and I have eaten almost all of the leftovers. Things are almost back to normal. One little difference, though; I've broken out the old journal and have started Weight Watchers again (a process that truly has no end, but everyone should go into it knowing that fact). I'm going to the 5:30 meeting today, and afterwards I will hit the gym. At least until Christmas, I intend to follow the plan properly. So who's with me? :) Well, even if we're all just pluggin' away at our own paces, I wish the best of luck to everyone! I'll be back in another week to give you all the update! :)


On another note, since no one ever leaves a gripe or question, I'm just going to drop those posts. Really, hardly a tip or trick has been left, but I will still keep that post up since I like to leave a tip and or trick of the week.