Part 2: I've owned a BodyBugg since March, and have worn it daily. Will get back to really monitoring the calories in versus calories burned, for the rest of the month. 

Today I went back to my diet-eating mode: eating more veggies with high water content, to fill me up before eating; soup and a cup of tea before my entree; etc.  

As for Christmas, I plan to do what I didn't do at Thanksgiving: Initially take one "official" portion of each of my favorite foods, instead of just piling up the plate. Then pay attention to when I think I am actually full, then waiting 20 minutes.... I expect to do more of a controlled splurge, than the way-out-of-hand splurge of Thanksgiving desserts.

I'm making sure to wear zip slacks all month (and not elastic-waisted slacks) so I stay well aware how well my clothes fit, or don't.

Thanksgiving worried me. I've worked too hard, to start a downward spiral.

Starting this week, I'm practicing the "power of attraction" thinking for the first time, since I just finished listening to "The Secret."  I'm thinking, "I will stay slim," and I think of an exact weight range, versus thinking, "I will not gain weight."  Hmmmmmm: Supposedly, thinking the word "weight" will attract it to me.  :)

Part I: I definitely went overboard at Thanksgiving. Since I've lost 40 pounds since June of 2007 through July of 2008 (down from a size 14 to 12, 10, 8 to 6), I plan to keep it off. So this week I've upped my workouts from the 3 per week I've done the last few months, to 4 or 6 a week, to get rid of the few extra pounds I gained recently.

Instead of doing my normal treadmill running, I'm switching out the type of aerobics I do after every 7 days of working out, and will increase the intensity for each workout: I ended the stationary bike today with a workout of 5 min. level 20-30%, 20 min. at 75%, 20 min. at 100%, 5 min. 20-30%), will do the Stair Master for 7 workout days, then the treadmill for 7 days, then jumping rope (I really dread that!).  My ongoing mantra when I kick up workouts: "I love the results. I love the results!")  Since I switched to the bike, I've noticed the scales moving down, closer to my maintenance weight again.

I quit logging my calories a few weeks ago. I started back logging everything today.

Jacki,

I work backwards from an event.  In my case, I've chosen a running event in February that will take a few months of training. 

Then, I put it on a calendar and worked back to last month - with vacation plans, travel plans, and days off included - and literally put every workout I'll do on every day until the event.  I review it every Sunday night to see where I need to adjust (illnesses, unplanned events, etc.)

As far as the eating, I have to keep it a little simpler - I just committed to bringing lunch at least 3 days a week, which forces me to prepare better meals the night before.  In regards to the holiday eating "opportunities", I just keep referencing the workout schedule - it's a great deterrent to overeating, when I know I have a workout scheduled the next morning.

I'm sure everyone has different approaches - but the method that's worked for me is to pick a date in the distance, work backwards, then let my minute to minute decisions center around that plan - as opposed to committing to "doing better" indefinitely, which invariably crumbles in the face of my Mom's holiday cooking!

Oh.  And cheat once in awhile, it's a lot different (read: more fun) when it's the exception to a plan instead of the default behavior.

Happy Holidays!