How I Lost 40 Pounds Over Christmas After My Doctor Restricted My Exercise

Shortly before Christmas last year, I suffered a stress fracture in my foot, for reasons that were never clear. One day I felt fine, the next I was in agony, my foot throbbing. After taking X-rays, my doctor bluntly told me there'd be no more walking, jogging or any type of exercise that required me to be on my feet. I was also told not do anything that would add extra weight, pressure or stress on my foot. Not being a sports doctor, my physician wasn't able to provide much information about how to lose weight during Christmas season without my usual exercise routine.

My heart sunk. I'd struggled to lose those first 5 pounds (at that point) and exercise had been a key part of my diet plan. In fact, I was convinced it was a necessary one. While I still think exercise is important, I am 40 pounds lighter, much of it lost during that last holiday season - even with limited exercise. To top it off, I couldn't imagine getting ready for the holidays, let alone dieting, with limited mobility.

But I did.

Here's how I lost weight during the Christmas season and how I plan to keep it off this year:

1. I didn't give up or lose heart, at least not after that first sobbing fit in my doctor's office. After the initial disappointment, I decided I would do everything I could to help my foot heal. I confess I had an immediate impulse to go to the nearest source of chocolate (a store containing massive amounts of Hagen Daz chocolate ice cream or any kind of candy) and eat everything in sight. But I stopped myself and stayed on my diet, even though I wasn't optimistic that the weight would continue to come off. I looked at articles here and other places about how and why I should stay on track during the holiday season. Here is one I found helpful:
thyroid.about.com/od/loseweightsuccessfully/l/blholidaydiet.htm