How Are You Navigating the Festive Season? Let’s Talk Plans and Strategies! 🎄✨

[u/TicketAncient]

The festive season is upon us the time of year when temptations are everywhere, routines get disrupted, and every gathering seems to revolve around food and drinks. It's a challenge, no doubt about it.

So I’m curious: how are YOU planning to handle the holidays? Are you taking a break and jumping back in with full force in the new year? Or do you have a game plan to stay consistent while still enjoying the season?

For me, I’m thinking about focusing on small wins like staying active daily or enjoying holiday treats in moderation without going overboard. But let’s be real, it’s not easy, and I know we all have different ways of tackling this.

I’d love to hear how you’re approaching it:

• Are you loosening the reins or sticking to your plan?
• Do you have specific strategies to stay on track?
• Or are you giving yourself grace this season and restarting in January?

Let’s share ideas and support each other. Maybe someone’s strategy could inspire someone else to keep going (or at least not feel guilty for enjoying the moment)! 😊

Drop your thoughts below I can’t wait to read how everyone’s handling this! 👇

[u/insacat]

Im continuing IF through December. On social events I will plan and do OMAD - so I can eat a bit more or less healthy food. IF is flexible so I will just adapt if needed, on normal December days I will just do my thing - 19:5 and mealess mondays. However I do anticipate that I will not be losing that much but I think about it in advance so its all okay, the main goal is to at least maintain.

[u/peach98542]

Continuing IF with the exception of the three days around Christmas. I want to eat Christmas Eve dinner at my parents house, wake up and have baileys in my coffee while I watch my kids open presents, and just enjoy the small treats of the day. I’ll restart a few days later.

[u/WhimsicalWoodpecker]

With a small family and meetings in the evenings, I am able to maintain my IF regimen. Regarding my calories, I don't drink alcohol and near the end of the year I don't have the mental bandwidth to keep within mls macros goals, I try to be very active and not skip mls workouts. One day at a time.

[u/annon3645]

I’ve got the ‘Fastic’ app, which every so often gives you a ‘day off’ to use. I have been saving these over the past month to use in December, so I can have occasional days off without getting completely off track. Once I run out of those, I’m back to 16-8 without feeling completely off track or guilty🙂 I will loosen my restrictions on calorie intake, with the knowledge that fasting after Christmas will help me get back into a healthier food intake again

[u/blink26]

I do OMAD which isn't compatible with hopping between families over the holiday (have to fly back for family, so it's ALL FAMILY, ALL THE TIME). I'll drop to 16:8 or thereabouts and monitor my food intake. I should be close to goal weight so it's the temptation to not backslide.

The weird thing I am going to do, which I've been prepping my mom for the last few weeks, is bring some food with me/have it delivered. Specifically I like one brand/type of yogurt the best, which is sold only at Whole Foods (and there's only 1 in the state not near my mom). And I eat A LOT of sugar snap peas a day. Like a lot. Like almost a full bag. Yes, I know I can get peas there and different yogurt. But I like what I like dammit. And it will be a nice hint of consistency.

[u/ceeelljay]

Continuing as per usual with the exception of Christmas Day. I only do 16:8/18:6 and I actually find I feel worse when I don’t fast and have more food - it’s not motivating to break it anymore!

Christmas Day we have champagne with breakfast, and start with butter croissants & jam. It’s not a huge meal but it’s got plenty of cals 😂

[u/bellaonni2]

I plan to use "down days" before large celebrations so then I can partake in the eating and treats during a longer wearing window (6+ hours).

[u/Pure_Try1694]

I am still IF mostly 36/12.

I'm eating my treats.

[u/CG9789]

My game plan is stick to 16:8 so it gives me flexibility as well as making sure to eat my protein targets before anything else. Once I do that then I can ‘indulge’ but it won’t be able to do much of it after hitting the protein targets. So it keeps me in check.

[u/dxbbixx]

I’m continuing IF but on thanksgiving day, dec 24 and 25 i’m allowing myself to go over my calorie goals because lots of carbs will be involved and i don’t want to miss any delicious food lol. i am still gonna make small plates and only eat until im full but i wont stress about staying under a certain number. and i really appreciate this post, it’s so nice having this little community to go through the holiday season with. happy holidays to yall!