Okay, some of you may be a little shocked/miffed to learn that both Ashley and I lost weight over the Thanksgiving break (cough, *Kelly*). Frankly, we were both shocked. AND, to try and explain the phenomenon, I tried Google-ing “lost weight but ate a lot” and only came up with crazy, whacked out diet plans and pills.

But this morning I chatted with Kim, my BAD ASS trainer over at 24 Fitness on William Cannon in Austin. She read about my Thanksgiving fail-a-plenty (and subsequently paid for it dearly during my session this A.M.) and wasn’t that shocked by both Ashley and my weight loss during the week.

Fact of the matter is, we lost muscle mass. Both of us avidly use weights — and typically use MUCH higher poundage than the 5 lb. dumbbells most women use when working out. I “think” that Mere and Kristine don’t regularly do weight lifting as part of their normal routines, which could explain their small gains.

Personally, the one thing I don’t want to do is lose muscle mass, because that is what helps you burn more calories throughout the day. So, there you have it. The official explanation (as best we can find) on why Ashley and I lost weight during Thanksgiving. I fully anticipate Christmas will not treat us as kindly

(And I also won’t mention the fact that I started my period less than 24 hours before yesterday’s weigh-in, which completely negates everything that I posted above because I’m rocking the main-bloat right now; however it does explain why I was so ravenous during Thanksgiving. Stupid pre-bloat.)

No, I’m not talking about the food. I’m talking about being a bitch.

Notice anyone who gained a few pounds and nudged your significant other to snicker? See someone go back for thirds and fourths and maybe say something like, “Good grief! What a fattie!”

There was a great article in the NYT that should be recommended reading for anyone about to participate in a large family gathering involving food and unruly children.  And I realized, as much as I hate my grandmother complaining about my weight, children yelling and screaming, and fattening food all around — I don’t have it too bad. From mother-in-laws who hide food from you, fathers who tell you your fat, people telling you there is no more food for “you” to eat — even though you see plenty of it, I think my Thanksgiving was pretty normal

In fact, this article was so inspiring, I may do this at Christmas:

Betsy said her cousin also complained of holiday meal tension with her own family, so the two devised a strategy to help each other cope. Each made bingo cards, but instead of numbers, the squares were filled in with some of the negative phrases they expected to hear during the meal, like “That outfit is interesting” or “Your children won’t sit still.” As comments were made at the separate family celebrations, each woman would mark her card.

Like Kristine and Ashley, I too have been MIA the past few weeks, but because I’m lazy. And when I find I’m lazy posting on the blog, I’m also pretty lazy when it comes to working out and the foods I eat.

I started off the week of Thanksgiving strong – a workout with my trainer. And then nothing. As I write this, I still haven’t worked out. In fact, yesterday, I was in bed until 3 p.m. I actually texted my husband from the bed (he was in the living room) asking him to bring me food. I don’t think you fail any worse than that. And I’m not kidding. I’m looking at my phone right now and we had a 50-minute conversation via text. He was bumming on the couch, I had the door closed to the bedroom, lying in bed. Sad.

With grand intentions to work out, I brought weights, therabands, workout videos, jump rope for exercising out in the country, where the closest Wal-Mart is 15-20 minutes away. And the nearest 24 Fitness an hour away in Mesquite (a suburb of Dallas). And the only time I picked all that crap up was to put it in the house and then back in the car a week later.

But I did eat. And eat.  In fact, Let me give you a 48-hour period as an example:

• Wednesday night: Sat on my butt for two hours and watch The Blind Side with a diet coke (win) and a medium popcorn (fail). That’s despite the fact that Kim (@energeticspace) told me five days before that a medium popcorn is the equivalent of a cheeseburger. Then we went to Applebees where I had a margarita chicken – essentially a chicken breast (win) with melted cheese (fail) on top with a side of steamed veggies (win) and mashed potatoes (fail). Then I went home and had a piece of cake (uh, fail).
• Thursday: Nothing for breakfast in anticipation of Thanksgiving meal (win? Probably shouldn’t skip breakfast ever, but I needed to conserve calories). Lunch consisted of ham and two different types of potato casserole to sample (double fail), carrots (win) and stuffing (fail). Then after going back for seconds (double fail) I went over to the dessert table and grabbed a brownie and a small piece of cake (double fail again). THEN Justin’s mom had a barbeque spread set up for dinner (FAIL) and I ate some more cake (fail).
• Friday: Justin’s mom had a huge brunch spread set up for the family which consisted of bacon (fail), hashbrowns (fail), pigs in a blanket (fail), pumpkin pancakes (fail) and an egg/sausage/hashbrown/cheese casserole (quadruple fail). Then we headed over to my parents’ house in Sunnyvale (another suburb of Dallas) for Thanksgiving Leftover Lunch. Luckily, my parents’ are a  pretty healthy crew and I ate pork loin, mashed potatoes used with fresh vegetables from the garden (win!), green beans (no casserole!), salad and pumpkin pie (with none of the whipped cream my sister made from scratch… win?). Then we went back to the farm and had leftover barbeque with more cake. (Fail… duh)

I haven’t stepped on the scale for fear of the number; Justin did on Sunday evening and only gained 1.2 pounds. But I feel like boys have it easier. Ugh. I probably gained 7. SUCK. So this morning, I ate my pineapple and string cheese for breakfast, have salad ready for lunch and then it’s back to the workout grind.

BTW, for background, Justin’s family does a really neat set-up (or ultimate fail setup) for Thanksgiving each year. Justin’s great-grandmother (Nanny) had seven adorable children and obviously the family has grown ten-fold since then. And for the last several decades they have rented out the church gym where Nanny would load up the kids in the wagon (yeah…) and take them for Sunday services. Normally close to 70 people show up (due to illness and scheduling conflict, only a little more than 50 made it this year), but it is so awesome to see several sets of FOUR generations sitting down for Thanksgiving.

It also means there are four different types of potato casseroles, stuffings, turkey and desserts to choose from. Here are some pics of the spread:

Seriously. We're in a church gym. Note the basketball goal and the cross in the corner.

A long table filled with tea and fails.

I feel fatter just looking at this dessert spread.

We’ve been a bit quiet here at @fatroll, and personally that’s because I’ve had a fork or spoon in my hand since early last week shoveling food into my mouth preventing me from posting.

Yeah, there are way too many fails to document over the past seven days. GUILTY. Totally guilty of falling off the bandwagon and deciding to crawl behind it instead of jumping right back on.

It has been the typical too much food in one sitting syndrome, and I can honestly admit to feeling so disgusted with myself that I’m up at an ungodly hour blogging instead of shopping.

That ladies and gentlemen is the post-Thanksgiving guilt rearing its ugly head. Shopping for clothes would probably just make me cry at this point.

On the bright side, I think I’ve actually hit my climax for the holiday season on food comas. The realization came after watching a clip of Shakira on YouTube. She is one hot chick, and I’m pretty sure I covet her body more than anyone else (well maybe except for my friend Arlette). With that said, the new goal is to achieve THAT (please refer to picture below).

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfTzLzwDlX0]

It’s time to get up and shed what I’ve gained over the past week. In fact, I’m meeting up a friend in a couple of hours at a local gym for a punishment workout.

Soon we’ll all begin to see the ads for gym discounts and starting the new year off by prioritizing our health. I say, why wait? I’m going to look smokin hot for New Year’s..period.

Good luck to everyone emerging from their food comas!

I think it’s pretty clear when in heavy-eating/party mode, as evidence by our lack of posts this week. I’m crazy at work (and will begin my Thanksgiving food fest starting on Saturday), Mere is also slammed and Thanksgiving is at her house this year (oh, the temptation!), Ashley is going to New York this weekend to try and see DMB at SNL (good luck with that!) and Kristine is trying to wrap up her first semester of grad school, which ends on December 4.

So does that mean that our @fatroll workouts and diet have suffered? I’m only speaking for myself, but absolutely. I don’t have time to workout or make myself a healthy dinner right now and it pisses me off. And when I get pissed off, I eat more. Vicious cycle!

Anywho, I’m curious. What are your plans for the holidays?! Are you going to allow yourself to indulge, or are you planning to subject yourself hoards of food while restraining yourself?

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