A pre-Christmas diet (well, sort of)

Like Babs758 I have given up wine in the week and cut down on portion size, lost 10 pounds since middle of November, but still a long way to go. Christmas is going to be a trial, but will buckle down again straight after!

I'll start in new year as too much temptation through December. Firstly tree goes up, tubs of sweets go under it plus I've got all the Xmas treat shopping in, but resisting it, well for now anyway. Haven't had alcohol from August so looking forward to having a couple drinks on Xmas Day.

I did lapse last night, had a couple of spuds to mash into lovely gravy. They were only boiled, though, so no oil or butter.

I nobly resisted crumpets at the supermarket earlier ?, but dh has just been out too, and bought 2 packets of chocolate biscuits (milk and dark) and a bar of M&S chocolate. ?
I can just about resist those - just as well it wasn’t crumpets or doughnuts.

Merlotgran I've never made mince pies before the 24th as I am worried they will go all soft. How do you store yours; that is the ones you manage to ignore until Christmas?

We are both underweight, so no diets here.

I haven't started my Christmas baking yet, and don't intend to until next week.

@Grossmama, yes, I know fats are not the enemy, but what do you put butter on if you’re not eating bread or potatoes - not to mention the likes of crumpets?
I don’t like butter on vegetables, or anything fried in butter.
I just like lots of it on bread, potatoes - especially jackets! - and crumpets.
Still, this sort-of-diet is only until Christmas.

@4allweknow, my mince pies keep well in a tin - I’ve been known to buy the M&S Christmas tins of shortbread largely for the tins - they can fit 3 dozen of my trad little ones nicely.

Not that mince pies usually last long in this house, but there have been times when some have been left for quite a while.
Unless they’re only recently out of the oven I often warm them briefly in the microwave.

Fizog you could try Bulgar Wheat instead of rice. It still has some carbs but less than rice. We use it on our low carb diet if we don't feel like Brocolli rice.

4allweknow

Merlotgran I've never made mince pies before the 24th as I am worried they will go all soft. How do you store yours; that is the ones you manage to ignore until Christmas?

I freeze them.

I'm trying to reduce carbs too, because I have type 2 Diabetes. Finding it really hard, especially breakfast. I used to eat either Crumpets or Cinnamon & Raisin Bagels! I now try to make (a) an omelette with (one) tinned Plum tomato (heated in the microwave), or have 2 rashers of bacon or one sausage (cut open and cooked on both sides) with tomato, or (b) one the above with beans instead of tomato. I then have a similar problem with supper. We eat our main meal mid-day ( meat for himself - quorn or similar for me, plus lots of veggies) so that there is a chance of using up the calories before bedtime! I have always been a "picky" eater (I have a long list of "don't like - can't eat foods) and potatoes are my very favourite food, which I really struggle without. Does anyone have any further "meals" advice?

I was 20 stone when I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. All dieting had failed and I felt hopeless. Went to a course on how to handle type 2 where it was suggested I cut out carbs by never eating bread, potatoes, rice or pasta. A certain amount of carbs are necessary for health, but can be found in root vegetables and bananas. Over the past 28 months I have steadily lost 3 stone, and still going down. Probably only about half a pound each week, but slow and steadily down. BMI a lot better (but still not good). Very easy to incorporate in daily life.

Always tempted by mince pies, but since Mum passed on I have never found any to match hers, so seldom buy.

Well, I did so well with slimming world last year , I lost 2 stone. Wonderful, but oh no, I’ve put most of it back on. Which is what a always do. Lockdown was my down fall, I just craved cake, and had far too much. ??

Feeling chuffed . After gaining a few pounds in early November that I couldn't shift - then suddenly out of the blue I lost a pound and that inspired me to cut back on 'extras' and I've now lost 3 pounds so I'm hoping to lose a further 2 or 3 pounds by Christmas Day.

@Kim19
Bravo GL. I'm curious as to your motivation. Was it an irritation thing with yourself or has your sweet tooth abated? I'm hoping the latter.

Neither really, I'd made slightly different pastry and just wanted to check how it tasted. I've never been a dieter and have no willpower whatsoever but this way of eating has made such perfect sense to me that somehow I have lost almost 3 stones. I keep finding slightly sharp bits of me which have been hiding for years....

Not a pre Christmas diet, but I’ve stayed the same weight for 5 months, because my acid reflux kicked up, the drugs I was taking have been discontinued for now. So, smaller, lower fat meals, a mantra I’ve been trying to follow for 30 odd years; with a bmi of 23, which is ok, it’s rather ironic really. Probably helped by not having a sweet tooth and loving veg.

Lucky me- can't stand mince pies. If only I could keep my hands off the cheese tho.

Make mince pies using Filo pastry, far less fat and not stodgy!