Conference rocks::weight_control

    FWIW, a statement that my WW group leader made last night:
             
    	"Are you worried about the holidays already?  If you are, you
    	shouldn't be.  If you worry about things too far in advance,
    	you're setting yourself up for failure."
    
    I kind of questioned this at first, but the more I think about it,
    the more it makes sense.  
    
    Comments?
    
    
    Paul

    I agree entirely ... we should worry 1 day at a time, and every
    day is then a small victory in itself and an encouragement for the
    following day. Christmas is more than 5 weeks away, and there's
    no way I am going to worry about overeating at Xmas now. Look forward
    to Xmas, yes, and start thinking about presents, definitely, but
    worry? not before the 23rd!
        
    I look forward to cooking Xmas cookies, decorating the tree and
    the house, preparing the crib (hope it's the right word), being
    at home and warm when it's wild outside, or walking in the snow
    when the sun shines. I'll handle the food as it comes.
    
    Joana

re .1 (Paul)

Our WW lecturer said basically the same thing yesterday.  She said she wasn't
going to talk about Thanksgiving.  That's next week, too early to talk about
now!!  We had to worry about getting past yesterday!  Then we had a good
talk about binges.

Let's not start to worry about Christmas yet (or at all).  Let's all have
patience, as we take the far-off parking spot and think of the extra
exercise and peacefulness we'll gain.  Let's take it one present, one goal
at a time, and not worry if it takes us longer than we wanted to wait in line
or get help.  It's not worth it to get upset, and it costs more in the long
run!  Try to get out and shop at non-prime times, too, if they still exist.

Yes, I know it's easy to say while I'm sitting here in my nice, quiet office.
But if thinking of this calms someone down just a tiny bit, that's great!

From someone just starting to learn about patience :-)

Jill

    
    RE:  .3 
    
    	Jill, I agree about trying to shop at non-peak times.  I stopped
    at Lechmere on my way into work this morning to pick up a stereo
    for my daughter that was on sale and there was hardly anyone in
    the store.  So ... if you can get away from the office at those
    times, there's still a chance you can shop without fighting the
    crowds. 
    
    	The only thinking I've been doing about Christmas is planning
    my menu.  I have been going thru my "Cooking Light" cookbooks and
    finding recipes that are yummy yet not *too* fattening.  I have
    so far found a delicious sounding fruitcake recipe and ham with
    pineapple sauce.  
    
    	With this planning I don't feel I'll have to worry.  
    
    		Good luck, ya'll. 
    
    			My

    The only thing I do differently at this time of year is really push
    myself when I'm exercising. I make myself go to the gym more, try to
    squeeze in extra walks,  and really give it all I have.
    Once I'm in the habit, it's easier to keep, and the extra exercise
    helps to keep those occasional holiday splurges within reason. 

    
    I went shopping last Saturday and I was so surprised to see Santa
    so soon,  they always waited until after Thanksgiving..
    They can't wait for our money.  
    It is fun looking and shopping for different ones..I try not to
    let the crowds get to me.. 
    I had a great time Saturday. I went out to get a few things and
    got most of my gifts..(-:
    
    We have family in California we have to get gifts out early .
    
    Thats all for now
    
    
    Ann
    
    

    
    
    The Christmas RUSH is on now.  I did well I went shopping early
    
    Friday and had no problems getting a parking space.
    
    I got alot of shopping done..
    
    We have relatives that live far away so we have to get things
    early and in the mail so they will get the gifts by Christmas.
    
    I notice this year that items a very high priced this year.  
    I get in the habit of using my Credit cards this time of the
    year and they sure add up fast..
    I usually don't use them any other year.. That's because the rest
    of the year I am paying them up...
    
    Will I ever win MEGABUCKS!!
    
    That's all our dreams.. but the more money you have bigger the bills.
    
    Ann
    
    

    
    
    Now that we have Thanksgiving out of the way, now we are getting
    ready for the other Holidays.  How are we all doing ? I know it's
    early but it will be here before we know it.
    Like my building is having it's Christmas party this coming
    Friday night and you know what I have to face?
    
    A buffet..  All you can eat so.. now what ?  But there is 
    a helpful part to this, There will be dancing..
    
    So if I hear that music I am going to dance dance dance all night..
    
    I don't care for drinking but I can have fun without that..
    
    I hope you all are doing good..
    
    Have fun
    
    Ann
    
    

    re .8:
    
    Note 118 and its replies discuss buffets.  Perhaps something in
    there may help you.
    
    
    Paul

    The line in .8 about drinking reminds me of another pitfall that
    used to do me in at parties, which I've been able to avoid of late.
    
    In the past, I'd go to a party or gathering and have a couple of
    beers or drinks when I got there.  One sensation that would inevitably
    follow (besides a little buzz) is increased hunger.  One drink,
    I'd get a little munchy.  Two drinks, I'd be starving.  More than
    two drinks -- "Weight Watchers, I've never heard of the organization!".
    Between the calories in the alcohol, and the extra junk I would
    eat immediately afterward, parties used to be a big problem.
    
    I now circumvent this by: 1)Not going to a party on an empty stomach;
    2)Making my first drink a non-alcoholic one (seltzer or fruit juice
    or diet soda).  This cuts down on the "munchies" that can result
    from too much alcohol on an empty stomach; I find this helpful not
    only at holiday time, but at parties throughout the year.
    
    
    Paul
    

    
    
    I spend most of yesturday wrapping Christmas presents.
    We have relatives that live in California and we have
    to get the box out early so it will get there for 
    Christmas.  
    I went to a Christmas party that my building put on 
    
    and I danced,danced all night.. Anything I ate I burned off
    for sure!!
    
    How are you all doing?
    
    
    Ann
    
    

    
    
    Does anyone have any good recipes, for the Hoidays?
    How about any Jello Salades or low Cal munchies!!
    
    Will you be doing alot of baking?  I plan on making 
    Christmas cookies.. I want to fill up some tins and
    give them to some older couples from my church.
    They like that kind of thing..
    
    Where are you all spending Christmas..
    
    Last year my parents and I went to California and it was so
    funny to see nice fresh fruit from the trees..
    
    We had a great time and I never missed the snow once!!
    
    This will be a New England Christmas this year..
    
    Peace to All
    
    Ann
    
    

    This year will be a grand departure for the usual for me.  My folks
    passed away a few years ago, and I had been spending the holiday
    with my fiance and his parents in Florida for the last two years.
    This year, however, I am working on a project where I have been
    asked not to take any extra time off between now and the middle
    of January.  This means that I cannot go to Florida.  Gerry said
    that he didn't mind missing our usual week off from Christmas to
    New Years, but I figure that there is no reason for him to miss
    out on all the fun.  After all, I'll be working my you-know-what
    off anyhow, so I encouraged him to go (now _that_is_ love if I ever
    heard it!).  This means no big meal to cramp my eating style.
    What I am doing, however, is probably the neatest thing I can think
    of.  I have contacted an organization in Boston, and on Christmas
    Eve and Christmas Day, I will be visiting elderly people who can't
    or won't get out to visit.  How's about *THAT* for putting me in
    the Christmas spirit!
    
    Marion   (oh what fun it is to ride ....)

    
    
    Time is really getting near now.. Next week is Christmas.
    I have been doing alot of Caroling at Nursing Homes and 
    I will be doing a Hospital..  
    
    My group even got a few of the old people dancing in the Halls..
    Most of them seem to enjoy it..
    
    
    I have almost all of my shopping done, just a few odds and ends.
    
    
    
    Ann
    
    
    

    
    Well Jolly Noters this is it the final weekend to get 
    those last minute items.. Are we ready or will we still
    be shopping Christmas eve and they kick us out..
    
    I have done that before and my luck I probably will
    again..  
    
    Don't get too down we get the fun part of returning broken
    toys and you name it..
    
    Good luck to all the Last minute shoppers..
    
    Ann
    
    
    

the last minute frustrations come out...

Friday I finally found some towels close to what I was looking for in the
JC Penney catalog.  Went with a friend to the local catalog store, showed
her the towels to get a second opinion, and she liked them too.  I figured I
should bring a catalog home and show Bill, too (they're for his mother), but
they didn't have any catalogs to bring home!!  I spent too much time looking
for matching bath rugs, finally found some in the same official color, and
called them on the phone in the catalog store.  They aren't expecting the
towels until mid January!!  forget that idea!  If we won't be getting them
in time for Christmas, might as well just show her the catalog and see if
they're what she wants, if we can get a catalog somewhere!  sigh...

Saturday morning things went better.  We decided to go to the mall first thing
in the morning before it got real crowded, called them just after 9am and found
they were open already.  Rushed through breakfast, and got there in time to
find a good parking space, and not horribly long lines.  It went pretty well,
I'd say.  I even bought Bill some jelly beans in flavors I don't like but he
does, so they are really for him! :-)

But of course, at about the time we were supposed to rendezvous and leave the
mall, I thought of another good gift idea!  Oh, well, maybe sometime this
week, or next year :-)

Jill

The ultimate test of strength...

My Weight Watchers meeting this week conflicts with my building's Christmas
party (a lunch buffet!).

Judging from the variety of food (and desserts) at the last one, I think I'd
be a lot better off going to WW and having lunch in that cafeteria or with a
friend afterwards!

wish me luck!

Jill

    I can sympathize, Jill!  Our department Christmas party on Friday was
    an amazing food fest.  I was a good doobie, though, and ate my WW lunch
    before hand, then just had veggies someone broght, and a sip of Lite
    EggNog.  Not too bad, in my humble opinion!!
    
    As for the shopping, I think we're pretty much done.  It was bad this
    weekend, but not nearly as awful as I'd expected.  The snow on Sunday
    probably helped a lot, which means evenings this week will be worse!
    
    Beverly
    

    
    
    My Christmas didn't turn out so well as my parents and myself
    were sick part of last week and through the weekend..
    We are just starting to feel stronger and better..
    
    It was the worst Christmas I ever had.. My parents and I spent
    Christmas in bed as we didn't feel well enough to wrap gifts
    or anything..  We are hardly ever sick but we had it this time.
    
    Well Saturday night we did try to have a little Christmas ..
    
    We managed to open our gifts..
    
    
    I hope you all had a better one then I did..
    
    
    I did lost 9 pounds over the weekend but it wasn't the fun way..
    
    Well there is always next year..
    
    
    Ann
    
    
    

            Ann, sorry to hear that you and your family were sick for
          the holidays. But glad that you are now overcoming and feeling
          better. Hope your New Years will be great!
            
          Chris
    
     

    Hello to all the Weightloss noters out there and Happy New Year!
    I've been out the last few days, so I'm in the process of catching
    up on all the notes I've missed.
    
    Ann, sorry to hear that you were sick over Christmas, but I'm glad
    to hear that your weightloss has now reached 20 pounds.  Way to
    go!  Keep up the great work!
    
    My holiday season was an enjoyable one, but also a busy and hectic
    one, as my wife and I moved earlier this week.  
    
    Christmas was very enjoyable; we spent Christmas Eve over my wife's
    family's house, and Christmas Day with my sister.  
    
    Got a lot of nice clothes in my new smaller sizes as presents. 
    A story about a pair of black jeans my wife bought for me: she picked
    them up back in October at an outlet in Maine, at a time when my
    waist was 36.  However, as I continued to lose after that time,
    she had to make another trip there and return them in exchange for
    a size 34! :-)
    
    Between the holiday season, and the million things to do that come
    about with moving, my strict adherance to careful eating and regular
    exercise hasn't been what it usually is over the last week or two.
    However, the scale at home says I'm only up 1-2 pounds, which
    is a lot better than the 10-15 pounds my WW leader said that one
    could gain over the holidays by not being careful.  I plan to weigh
    in at WW for the month of January either next Wednesday or the
    following Wednesday; by sticking to the minimum exchanges this weekend
    and early next week, I should be able to get back to normal by then.
    
    Hope everyone out there had an enjoyable holiday season!
    
    
    py

    
    
    PAUL,
    
    That must have been a great feeling that you had to get a smaller
    size pants... Good for you.. (Paul Newman)  (+:
    
    I didn't have a good Christmas but I have lost weight and I am still
    losing.. So I am happy.. The only problem I have right now is
    I feel better and seem to be craving sweets again.. I will learn
    to live with it..
    
    If any of you haven't read the stories about the 100 pound losers
    you should.. Both 9 and 10 are gifts to all of us!!
    
    
    Ann
    
    

Glad to hear you lost weight during the holidays, Ann!  Glad to hear you
also fared well, Paul!  (I lost too, but not as dramatically as Ann did).
I wasn't sick (thankful for large favors) but my Christmas (inc. day before
and 4 days after) beats Ann's for the worst by a long shot!  (just wanted you
to feel better about yours, Ann :-))

We did finally open our presents on the 30th, and my clothes all fit because
I've been maintaining pretty well, and told people what sizes to get me!  The
only thing that needed to be "taken in" was the beautiful ring Bill gave me
(3 weeks wait to have it sized!!!)

well, lots more catching up to do.

Jill