13 replies to this topic

[MichelleK1014]

As an avid NY Giants fan, we are fortunate to host a play-off game on Sunday. However, the tailgate leading up to the game is filled with all sorts of challenges...

Trying to plan the event to minimize disaster.... (I have my first weigh in on Monday night, so that alone, should be enough motivation, right??)

My JCC today suggested taking the chicken/tuna salad kit....I said, "Oh, that's a great idea", but inside was thinking, "Are you kidding me?" (I have read numerous posts regarding these kits and I haven't tried one yet but didn't envision it would be a tailgating experience)!

Advice?????????

[I Called Jenny]

Michelle, look, this is just one of many, MANY challenges you're going to face with food throughout your weight loss and maintenance. So you have to get YOUR head in the "game."

How much do you want to lose the weight? How much do you want to be thin and healthy for life? Are your goals worth it to forgo all the fattening food while you're tailgating or at other times and celebrations involving food this year, next year, and for the rest of your life? That's the question you really need to be focusing on.

Is it going to be difficult? Yes. Is it impossible? Not at all.

Fine, you want to tailgate, you can bring the lunch kit with you. You want to have something that's grilled? Fine, bring a turkey burger. Want fries? Make carrot fries. Want chips? Bring some JC chips or popcorn. Pack up some fruit for yourself.

It's what - five - six hours out of your life, or more to the point, out of your week. Are you willing to possibly screw up a week's worth of eating well just so you can pig out on Sunday? Does that sound like it's worth it?

So what if the Giants move ahead and there are other playoffs and Super Bowl parties. What are you going to do? Backtrack on all of your work? It just doesn't make sense.

The Giants trained long and hard to get where they are. They (and their families) undoubtedly made A LOT of sacrifices for them to get this far. How much do you want your dreams? Aren't your dreams worth fighting for and sacrificing for? More to the point, aren't YOU worth making some small sacrifices for?

No one is saying that you have to be a martyr but you do have to be smart. So make a plan, pack your food and focus more on the people - the tailgating players - more than the food. THAT is going to be YOUR victory!

Tailgating is fun and it's very exciting to have your team in the playoffs, but I don't think it's necessary - IMHO - for you to blow it all (for days or a week) just so you can "celebrate." You can cheer the Giants and have fun but you have to figure a way to do it smartly. I think you can do it. I hope you BELIEVE you can.

[nancy5012]

My "tailgating" party is at home!! For the next few weekends its all about football - and the hubs has chips and dip, nuts and all sorts of other goodies that I love for the games.

I love chips. I can eat a whole bag at one sitting. I HAVE eaten a whole bag at one sitting. I CANNOT DO THAT ANYMORE!!!!!

I'm going to keep my hands busy during the game with either my knitting or some craft project. I'll have my regular JC meals and snacks and lots of water but I am DETERMINED not to go down that road of snacking mindlessly.

You can do this!!!

[nycgirlkat]

Hi Michelle!

My husband and I are big Giants fans too!! GO BIG BLUE! I'll start off by saying I have a HUGE problem with social eating. So I can't offer too much advice, only sympathize with you on the struggles of facing something as fun (and food and drink-filled) as tailgating.

I think Phyllis' food suggestions for tailgating is a good idea. Bring a turkey burger to throw on the grill. I think its a late game so, maybe bring bring both your Jenny lunch and dinner and eat them while tailgating (although I'm not sure how early you start). Then during the game, break out a bag of Jenny popcorn or chips? If you like to drink beer or other fun beverages, I'd say have one. If you are going to the game, maybe buy it in the stadium (since I heard they are so expensive) so this way you REALLY enjoy that drink!!! Also, I've found a new secret weapon, low-sodium V8. Maybe bring 2 small cans with you so you get your veggies in too (and tell everyone its a bloody mary).

Like I said, my advice probably wasn't that helpful, but know you have support here! And if you do go a little overboard, I usually just step up the working out and water drinking for the week. Have fun and I hope we are congratulating each other on Monday!

Kat

[MichelleK1014]

Hi everyone,
Yes, I DO want to get back on track and there is something very beautiful about being in control. I also am extremely motivated since Monday is my first weigh-in and I don't want to sabotage what I've done all week. I haven't strayed at all from the JC foods this week and I think I'm going to probably do one of the salad kits and take it with me. The idea about the low sodium V-8 is a great one!

There WILL be many challenges and my issue is social eating. I can feel in control at home and at work because both are very predictable; it's when I'm with friends or my husband out to dinner that control is a necessity...

As always, thanks to all of you for steering me in the right direction....

GO GIANTS!! (Kat, hope we can celebrate together on Monday!)

[I Called Jenny]

As a former New Yorker, and since neither the Dolphins or the Jets are in the playoffs - go Giants!

[I Called Jenny]

Gooooooo Giants! They kicked butt!

So how was tailgating and the game?

[MichelleK1014]

Thanks Phyllis for checking in with me!

The NY Giants DID kick butt! And so did I!!!

I did exactly what my JCC suggested and listened to you as well. We got to the game and met the rest of our group (all volunteer firemen). The menu for the day was "breakfast"; complete with scrambled eggs (on the grill), home fries with onions and peppers, bacon and taylor ham, NYC bagels, cream cheese, and stromboli.

I helped with the food prep (because I always do) and then walked over and talked to everyone for the rest of the tailgate. No one even noticed that I didn't eat and wasn't drinking. Only one person asked and I told them that I was OK and just wasn't "ready yet" which satisfied their need to keep checking on me!

I took the chicken salad kit out of the box at home and brought all components in my own container and had an excellent time!

Went to weigh in tonight and AGAIN, kicked butt! 7# lighter tonight and feeling motivated for the next week!

Thanks again to you and to the rest of this group ~~ This support is so important and I hope to be able to give it to others as I have been given...

The Giants dominated "the swamp"; now it's time to go to the "fields" of Lambeau!!! We'll see.....

[Free of Concern]

Congratulations Michelle on following your own plan with the TailGait Party. Doesn't it feel great to be in control of your own life? Congratulations on the weight loss too!! You are off to an awesome start. Have a great week and I hope that you enjoy next weekend's game!

[nycgirlkat]

YAY for you, Michelle! I thought about you on Sunday night after the big win. You did SO well!!! Such will power (I'm jealous). Did you eat breakfast before you left for the game? What did you think of the salad kit (I'm not a huge fan, but it works well in situations like that).

Congrats on sticking to you plan and on the weight loss! Keep at it!

On to Green Bay!

[I Called Jenny]

Michelle, I'm so proud of you!!!! That's fantastic!!

It wouldn't have dawned on me to remove the JC kit food and put it into another container. It was a BRILLIANT solution.

I'm so glad you did so well and still had such a good time.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You kicked butt yourself! The Giants would be proud.

[mindymdc]

Congratulations, Michelle, on a great week! A huge scale victory and a huge non-scale victory!!! You are way up there with the Giants!

[MichelleK1014]

Hi everyone,
I have to just thank all of you for your kindness and hope that each one of you knows how very much all of this means. Something tells me that at some point in your journey, other people supported you as you have done for me....Pay it Forward!

As for my history, I think that most eating plans/lifestyle changes actually start on the second week; you can't be deluded by the amount of weight lost in the first week. So again, I find myself looking forward to this week.

I continue to love the food and feel satisfied. Admittedly, I am avoiding social situations right now until I feel more convinced of my own self-control. I am certain that in days/weeks to come, I will be able to do these things and make the choices I need to make.

Again, you guys are the best!

And by the way, thanks for all the "Giant" support!! GO BIG BLUE!

[mindymdc]

MichelleK1014, on 11 January 2012 - 06:48 PM, said:

Pay it Forward!

This is oooooh so true!!! Another thing is that helping others with their journey can help those of us who've reached goal stay there. By helping others we help ourselves.

Michelle, there is nothing wrong with avoiding challenging social situations for a bit while you are re-training yourself about healthy food choices and proper portion control. The longer you work at this, the stronger you will be when confronted with those snacks at all those football parties!