Calories Don’t Take Holidays (But We Can Still Celebrate)

This week was another reminder that while every bite, taste, and lick matters, we also can’t omit or skip layaways just because life gets busy. Program works best when we follow it fully—not selectively—and that includes eating all of our food and meeting our daily water goals.

As we get closer to the holidays—with family gatherings, parties, and packed schedules—it’s even more important to remember to take care of ourselves. That means fueling our bodies properly, eating every layaway, and drinking all of our water, even when it feels inconvenient.

The 40 oz Bottle!

Last week, I was house-sitting and dog-sitting and, sadly, left my beloved 40-ounce beast of a water bottle at home. Anyone who knows me knows how attached I am to that thing. Without it, I relied on random water bottles and glasses, and I struggled to stay on top of my intake. I didn’t consistently track my water, and I can say with confidence that I didn’t hit the 48-ounce goal on any day.

My food planning also suffered. I skipped grocery shopping and didn’t set myself up for success with the foods I needed. Instead, I relied on whatever was available, which made it much harder to follow Program the way it’s intended.

Program places limits on certain foods—like hard cheese, eggs, and starchy vegetables—not to punish us, but to protect us from ourselves and ensure balance throughout the week. Last week, I chose to look the other way on that guideline. Despite paying the cheese tax to the dogs, I exceeded my weekly cheese allowance… and probably dipped into next week’s too.

Little slips like extra cheese, skipped layaways, and inadequate water may seem minor in the moment, but over time, those habits can become real obstacles on Program. While I didn’t gain this week, I also didn’t lose—and that alone is a reminder of how important balance truly is.

As we head into an especially busy holiday week, it’s imperative that we plan ahead and use our food sheets to ensure every box is checked. Planning isn’t restrictive—it’s protective.

That said, these holidays are about making memories and spending time with friends and family, and we should absolutely enjoy that. For those of us following Thin’s In, here’s Victoria’s holiday tip: become the official party photographer. Grab your camera or open the app on your phone and capture the moments. When your hands are busy and your focus is elsewhere, you’re far less likely to grab a bite, taste, or lick from the serving trays.

And remember—as I mentioned back at Halloween—if it’s not on your food sheet, it’s not yours to eat. Stick to your foods and let everyone else enjoy the off-Program finger foods and desserts.

Whenever I bake for work, Hanukkah gatherings, or Christmas, I remind myself that if I eat a cupcake or a cookie, that’s one less for someone else to enjoy. I’d much rather receive praise for baking something delicious than see the numbers on the scale go up.

I wish everyone and their families a safe and Happy Hanukkah and a very Merry Christmas.

Since next Thursday is Christmas Day, there will be no post—but I’ll be back on New Year’s Eve with a post-holiday, end-of-the-year update.

Stay tuned!

This week’s loss: 0 pounds

Total loss so far: 46 pounds