NOTE: If you are in the Michigan area and would like to grab a friend, maybe head out for some great outlet shopping in Birch Run and then attend a free Advent by Candlelight evening this weekend in Frankenmuth—that totally cool and Christmassy town– click here for details. I’m speaking at the event and I’d love to meet you!

ANOTHER NOTE: Be sure to check in tomorrow (between checking in on that turkey in the oven!). I’ll be giving away two really sweet treats for Thanksgiving….and the are completely calorie-free!!!

Welcome Weight Loss Wednesday gals! (If you are just happening upon this site  and want to join us, click here to get caught up or simply leave a comment today. We’d love to have you!!)

Today will be short. I know we all have places to go, groceries to get and food to prepare.

Tomorrow is probably one of the most challenging days for those of us trying to see the scales head downward. Between the potatoes, dressing, rolls and pies, there are enough calories and carbs calling our name to sink the Mayflower itself! What’s a gal to do?

Have a plan…that’s what. Statistics show that those who are most successful at not gaining weight over the holidays (or actually losing weight that week) are the ones who have a plan in mind before the table is spread with all things fattening, but oh so good!!!

So how about it? What is your plan? Hop on and tell us.

Mine, is to have a yummy appetizer– spinach dip made with low-fat sour cream instead of regular and scooped up on raw veggies instead of crackers. At the meal, I’ll enjoy a serving of turkey, some fresh, chopped cranberry salad ( a yummy recipe with chopped oranges, celery, and jalapenos and sweetened with Stevia instead of sugar.) I’ll also go for the fresh, cooked veggies and end with some crustless pumpkin pie.

What I plan to pass on? The bread-y, potato-y, empt-y carbs and cals. I will pretend they don’t exist. When they call my name, I will politely, but firmly, ignore them.

As a reward, if I stick to my plan, the next day, I’ll sip on a tall, decaf, something— all sweet, creamy and piping hot while out and about shopping. And it won’t be sugar free.

It will be the real deal.

With the whip this time.

I’ll savor and sip and record the calories. Even though that drink may be 250 calories or so, I’ll be rewarding myself with those  250 calories for skipping over 2,000 or even more I could have stuffed myself with the day before. (Results vary when searching for the average calorie count of a typical Thanksgiving dinner, but most put it at 3,000-5,000!!! YIKES!! That is 3-5 days worth of calories I am trying to consume each day—-all at one meal!!!)

So, that is my plan and I plan on sticking to it.

Oh and as for this week’s weigh in….the scale headed south again. And I have you all to thank. 

I am so  stinkin’ serious.

Knowing you are praying; that you too are fighting the urge to splurge; knowing that you are being intentional to eat less and move more; it kept me going when I wanted to quit or to make a bad food choice. (The peanut butter apple crisp I made for my guys Sunday especially called my name this week. I pictured your sweet faces and then ignored it. Thanks!!!)

Anyhow, I do appreciate and thank all of you, because today when I hopped on that nasty weighing device that is the bathroom scale, it showed the same loss as last week for me– 3.4 pounds.

So, since we began our journey together five weeks ago, I have now lost a total of  13.6 pounds. And moved down one size in my jeans. Yeah!!!

We’re gaining momentum gals. And just in time. We may think Thanksgiving is tough, but the entire month of December, with its endless array of calorie-laden lusciousness, is just around the corner….

Speaking of Christmas, it is time to announce the winners of the giveaways with Sylvia Lange.  They are:

Winning the advent devotional package with the single CD of the song Have Yourself a Blessed Little Christmas:

Pearls; timestamp: November 23, 2009 at 11:35 am

And the gal who will enjoy the Pure Christmas CD? 

boonstraj: timestamp: November 24, 2009 12:51 pm

Congrats you two! Please email me your address asap at karen@proverbs31.org so I can ship those gifts out pronto.

Okay WLW sisters…your turn. How was your week and what is your plan? And remember, if the week was a disaster, pleeeeeease…. still check in.

All you have to say is “restart” and we’ll all know what you mean. 

And, we’ll pray extra hard for you this week!

And, I’ll enter your name twice in tomorrow’s sweet, calorie-free giveaway if you do. You need a motivating boost.

Thanksgiving Blessings,