WE'RE GOING TO "SEAL-TEAM 6" THAT WAISTLINE!!!

 Which simply means:  Control it! With the least effort and pain possible!!!

If only shopping walked off enough calories to make it through this weekend, weight-free!

It doesn't.

BUT....

Who cares? It's one weekend. So for this one weekend we relax with family, eat, drink and be merry and shop... hang lights.... decorate...  Chill-lax.... rock babies....visit shut-ins.... Take cookies or candies to others....

And Monday we dig in with PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE!

Pre-emptive strike is my way of pre-dieting for the holidays. The first day or two seems tough after a weekend of languishing around the refrigerator, but I promise:  THIS WORKS....

I go lo-carb. You can co low-calorie if you prefer. That all comes down to body type, metabolism, etc.
Remember my bowl of pre-mixed salad that I keep in the fridge at all times?

broccoli slaw, cole slaw, celery make the base... this doesn't get soggy or weird if refrigerated, covered for days. That makes grabbing some out, easy... I use my big, covered Pyrex bowl and then add fresh cukes, apple chunks, sunflower seeds, almonds, and lots of cheese... I like extra sharp cheddar... and sometimes grilled steak or chicken...

I make a big one Monday morning. I make sure I have a bag of almonds on hand for munching. I might have a bag of pre-grilled chicken strips, or (more likely) I'll grill up a chicken breast with a black pepper marinade or pepper and garlic blend or Montreal Chicken seasoning... your choice, it's all wonderful!... and keep that in the fridge.

Diet Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash soda is the BEST SODA EVER at holiday time because it tastes like a party and no calories. I don't drink water, so this is a great substitute...

I use the salad during the day. All day. Eat as much as you want because it's mostly cabbage and broccoli and it's really good for you! Literally NO CARBS... So few as to be uncountable. And because oil/fat doesn't count on low-carb (no carbs in mayo/oil/butter) I use as much of ANY DRESSING as I want because it's not about calories... it's about tricking your "bod" into harvesting fat patches instead of the harder to break down proteins and veggies. I do avoid the high sugar veggies:  corn, peas and carrots.

Supper.... I eat what everyone else is eating (on the nights I cook, some nights I don't and white tuna with celery and mayo on lettuce is the best game in town! I buy the gold label Bumble Bee because it does not taste like cat food. 'Sall I'm sayin'...)

Only I eat less of the carbs. If there's pasta or rice, I take a little. That way I don't whine and cry and turn into a big baby-pants because I'm being careful, and I stay on course for fewer mid-section rolls on December 24th...

It's amazing how much more in control you feel by December 20th if you've done this for four measly, easy-peasy weeks. (Okay, there are some not so easy-peasy days, but we're tough!  We'll get through them together!)

I always figured if you're in a sit-down job, you need to be twice-careful with weight gain. It's sneaky! So if we do little things to thwart it here and there, it never catches us full unaware with a surprise! surprise! twenty-five pounds we found along the way.

It's always easier to shed five than fifty.

Baby steps, right?

So have fun this weekend, then bite the bullet. Or the cabbage. Grab the Splenda. Stock up on high-bulk, low-cal or low-carb. Being careful doesn't work for me if I feel hungry. I'm a grazer. I nibble all day. But if I've got fresh greens (very rabbit-like!!!) in the fridge, then I'll nibble them.... NOT CHOCOLATE.

But I'm not afraid to reward myself with the occasional little scoop of ice cream or chocolate piece as long as I'm being good.

Tell me what you do to stay on top of things... Share your ideas, your methods. Anything that helps us enjoy life and still be healthy, well... I'm all for it! Then we can gather 'round the tree together with a little less guilt!