On Christmas Day, I’ll likely shift from OMAD to 16:8 or 14:10 to accommodate my family’s tradition of having Christmas brunch as well as Christmas dinner. I’m completely OK with occasionally flexing to a shorter fast period on holidays. I’ll still log my fast in the app I use (Zero), just like I do every day.
On New Year’s Day, my family usually just has a special dinner. Since I usually do OMAD with dinner only, that’s what I’ll do on that day.
We don’t do a lot of holiday parties outside of those two days. But at other social gatherings that have happened outside of my eating hours, I’ve dealt with it by drinking hot tea, black coffee, or sparkling water while others are having alcohol and snacks. As long as it’s just snacks/hors d’oeuvres and not a sit-down meal, no one really notices or cares if you’re not nibbling on anything, as long as you have some sort of beverage. And at least among my social circle, no one particularly cares if your beverage is alcoholic.
If you do have friends/family who will try to pressure you into drinking alcohol (rude), a glass of club soda with lime is good camouflage. It looks like a vodka soda or a gin and tonic, so people will see a drink in your hand and leave you alone.
Or volunteer to be the designated driver. People generally understand and appreciate that.
Going to stick to my fasting and workout schedule… but ohhhh that calorie count will be going up!
This is my time during the year to not count the calories and enjoy what I want, but will still get that 18 hour fast in.
Fast till Xmas lunch, eat well but don’t overdo it - this will take a few hours, and then fast again. Main issue will be watching everyone else eat snacks in the evening - but I’ll be fine saying ‘no thanks’. My main change will be not maintaining a calorie deficit, but hey, it’s Christmas!! 🎄
In a 48 right now, OMAD the rest of the week (but the “meal” can be a whole family event). I expect to have a family breakfast and dinner on Christmas Day. Planning to start my quarterly multi-day fast on January 2.
I have no structure during that time so I let myself just enjoy things. I’ve tried to have a structured diet and eating time, but I’m just so out of my routine that it’s hard to keep it up
I’ll be back at my regular routine come January 2nd though
Currently at hour 65 and will break it tomorrow evening. I did this before Thanksgiving and it worked out well. I felt no desire to binge and easily went into a short fast the following day. I am enjoying smaller portions of more flavorful foods. I no longer feel the desire to eat anything just to fill up.
I like the way the holidays act as goals. I will probably do the same before NYE. My fasts have shrunk a bit as I have. I like the shorter more frequent ones and I like to mix them up. I am 15 pounds from goal weight so just stair-stepping down little by little.
Happy Holidays everyone, stay healthy and be happy!
I will be flexible and kind to myself regardless of what or when I eat. Giving myself that permission makes the treats less appealing, as they’re no longer “forbidden”. But I’m also a 58f who has been on every diet, starting with Weight Watchers when I was 10, and to me, IF isn’t a diet. This is a way I can eat for the rest of my life, as long as I’m flexible when I need to be. It really is a revelation! I’m so happy to have discovered IF and this community. I’ve felt support just from reading your stories.(And I’m SO happy to say: SW: 265, CW: 195, GW: ?!)
I do 16:8 fasts only eating lunch and dinner. I’ll be less strict with my fasting and my do 14 hours rather than 16+ hours but it doesnt hurt to be less strict once in a while. When I did OMAD I kind of just didnt fast on holidays, because eating within my usual 4 hour window just wasnt doable if I wanted to enjoy the celebrations.