Let’s get honest.

Some morning’s your in-laws open up the See’s Candies and put it right in front of you and your favorite marshmallow, carmel, and dark chocolate combo stares at you

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Someday’s you start the day with oatmeal, eggs, fruit or veggies.

Someday’s you start the day with these….

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Cut up and put into these…….

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And also some of these…..

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Sugar Coma.

Here is for the honesty part.

I woke up this morning, got up and looked in the mirror.

Sunday’s are my day off from exercise.  I know you think I am super confident and about 98.77% of that confidence comes from exercise.  One of the many reasons I make it a priority in my life.

So as you guessed it Sunday’s my ego can actually fit into a room without pushing everyone else out.

I started thinking, “You aren’t working out today so that means you need to stay away from the sweets etc blah blah blah. You cannot let yourself gain weight over the break.”  You know the conversation.  I almost had yogurt and fruit rather than gourmet pancakes.

It is Christmas break and I am at my in-laws.  They are the best cooks/chefs ever and they always have the BEST food at their house.

We have SO many fun activities planned that I am not going to be able to always fit in my marathon work-outs.

GuEsS wHaT……THAT’S OKAY!!!

As long as I continue to get my fruits and veggies in, be as active as I can and respect my fullness…it’s okay to indulge a little every now and then.  That is healthy and we should view our diets in the big picture rather than a few days in a row of chocolate.

All we see and hear about is how to not gain the holiday weight.

I think I saw a magazine article yesterday that featured this on the cover:

149,987 tips to not eat anything at a Christmas party and how to make yourself miserable during the holidays by neglecting your family and going to the gym 3 hours a day.

-Is that truly going to make you happy?

Heaven forbid we gain a lb. or two over the holiday.

I am announcing to the world that I am going to be my own best friend and not freak out if I enjoy chocolate for breakfast and ribs at night.

My worth is not dependent on whether or not I turn down dessert or a silly number on the scale.

How about we all be a little easier on ourselves and rather than obsessing about food and exercise we OBSESS about spending more time with the people we love and allowing ourself to ENJOY life’s blessings (food is a huge blessing to me:).

What are your FAVORITE pancake toppings?

-Chocolate of any variety…I am thinking white chocolate and of course a little PB:)

How are you going to get past the guilt and allow yourself to enjoy this season?

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62 comments

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Moderation NOT deprivation is my motto. And moderation doesn't mean taking 3 bites and putting the rest of the cheesecake away. It means sometimes you just might eat 3/4 of the whole entire cheesecake (like I did at Thanksgiving).

My favorite pancakes I just finished eating :) Pumpkin pancakes with maple syrup. Simple and delicious!

And I have finally gotten to a place in life where food things and missing workouts cause no guilt. None. I have had to make some pretty drastic dietary changes for health reasons anyway. Bottom line is I prefer feeling GOOD. Guilt doesn't factor into feeling good ;-)

Enjoy your AWESOME pancakes! And enjoy some time off of your intense workouts! They'll still be there tomorrow… and the next day… and the day after that! lol

Have a super vacation! And I think you are The Smart and Speedy Runner Girl.

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Good for you and your breakfast splurge! Those pancakes look excellent.
Remember that excercise can always wait… But time with family is short and precious and shouldn't take the backseat to much of anything.
Don't feel guilty about enjoying everything about the Holidays, including the FOOD and you know what? You'll be able to run just as well after the madness of the season subsides.
(Also, I highly doubt that a few extra ribs are going to affect you negatively in the long run.) Diet is a big picture thing- and is not all about "today." (well, if every day is one of these "days" then it becomes a problem!)
SO:
You are SUPER fit, TALL, FAST, and THE BOMB FREAKING DIGGITY.
So find your room sized ego again and rock on.

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Maple syrup! My family & friends make it, so our family always has a gallon in our fridge. Yum!

I try to maintain my normal exercise & eating habits during the holidays with adjustments. I love special meals & desserts, and I'm going to eat them and give up a few days of exercise. I keep exercising & eating veggies during the holidays because they make me feel good. I enjoy holiday cookies & chocolate because they make me feel good too.

Also, See's candy is the best! My boyfriend always gets me some for my birthday & Christmas. I guess I'll keep him around :)

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I am Quebecer so real maple syrup for me

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Favorite pancake toppings are chocolate chips, syrup and butter! Yumm.

How I am allowing myself to enjoy the holidays is to continue working out as I usually do and eating the best that I can during my non-out to dinner or non-party meals. Also, since I am trying to lose weight, I set my goal at only 2 pounds for the month of December. I have already achieved this and am just going to try and maintain or even lose a little more. I think around the holidays it's good to give yourself some room to live your life. A healthy lifestyle has room for indulgences! Without them you will be unhappy and feel deprived.

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I don't really eat pancakes because my husband hates them. We tend to stick to omelets, but you know what, he's not home right now, so maybe it's time to make some pancakes or waffles for myself! Banana is my favorite.

I tend not to let myself feel guilty about eating. I figure, I exercise like a maniac, how much damage can 5, 10, 15 cookies going to do?

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You are going to disown me for real now…I hate pancakes, haha! I make them occasionally for the hubby. I'd just rather have eggs! I don't really love waffles, either :)

Ugh this cold needs to go away so I can get back to working out. Considering I passed out in the shower this morning while trying to go to the office for a few hours, I don't think I should head back to the gym just yet…

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Those pancakes look to DIE for! I want some now! And you're really right – we can't let guilt consume us. Every once in awhile it's totally okay to "splurge" a little! I try to follow the 90/10 rule: 90% of the time making good, healthy choices, 10% of the time having a little indulgence : )

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I might have to make those pancakes for breakfast tomorrow. I am starting to train for a 10M the beginning of April. I'm kinda training until the first of February, but I will miss a few days because the gym won't be open/have childcare/or the hubby's home. Since I am going to be doing so much I am allowing myself to have some yummy treats, than on the 1st it's back on!

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amen that sista!! You are so wise for really enjoying this break. A break for school, work, the routine. Your body will thank you for it and you will be stronger in the end. I applaud your honesty. You are such an inspiration to all. Now, if there were some way to pass me some of those pancakes via email, that would be great! CHeers!
LC

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amen that sista!! You are so wise for really enjoying this break. A break for school, work, the routine. Your body will thank you for it and you will be stronger in the end. I applaud your honesty. You are such an inspiration to all. Now, if there were some way to pass me some of those pancakes via email, that would be great! CHeers!
LC

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amen that sista!! You are so wise for really enjoying this break. A break for school, work, the routine. Your body will thank you for it and you will be stronger in the end. I applaud your honesty. You are such an inspiration to all. Now, if there were some way to pass me some of those pancakes via email, that would be great! CHeers!
LC

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Your pictures have really sent me into a cravings comma-put a warning label in your title for the preggo readers who have none of these scrumptious treats in the house-MUST go shopping now!

I love all pancakes and have a tiramisu waffle recipe I want to make one day….

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This post is awesome!

Yes, indulge a little bit :) You only live once!

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Good for you!!!!!

My favorite pancake topping is REAL butter and straight-up maple syrup.

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You rock!! :) I totally agree that the holidays are meant to be ENJOYED rather than survived. It's hard to say no to something delicious that was also made with love, for you! And you shouldn't, because you're a hardcore & awesome runner-person. Thanks for being so honest.
Real maple syrup on pancakes for me! Or, cinnamon + warm sliced banana + walnuts on french toast – yum! :)
My plan is to enjoy lots of tofurkey & homemade ginger cookies. I'll probably also run on my sister's treadmill – but more for fun and because I miss running when I stop than out of any feelings of guilt.

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No guilt. I bust my booty to stay in shape so I refuse to feel guilty about indulging. Have fun at your in-laws!

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OOOOH! you just gave me a GREAT idea for a new pancake recipe, since i have to make my own gluten/egg/dairy free pancakes.
i have leftover gluten free choc chip cookie mix….i could so add it to the batter!

as far as fave toppings=peanut butter. :)

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hey girlie!
YOU ROCK!! keep up the confidence, you are beautiful and no one but you knows the difference between 1 or 2 lbs! chocolate & banana in the morning is my favorite combo! :)
I love fruit and whipped cream on pancakes!
have a great sunday!
xoxo!

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For so many years I would freak out as the holidays came close. There is yummy food everywhere! But, I finally realized it's not the end of the world to enjoy it. Now I put "people first" and enjoy the company and food without guilt. It makes for a much happier season, family and me :)

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Number 349823409 why you are the greatest blogger ever.

I totally needed this today. I have been in a bit of "panic" mode about going out of town for 2 weeks. I totally freak when I am out of my routine, not eating or exercising the same way I usually do. So much more to say on that, but i'll spare you the details. ;)

I am going to make the conscious decision to enjoy time with my family and friends and not wig out over my food or exercise!

Hope you are having a blast!

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Moderation is my motto too! When we got to the "future" in laws they always make such great food and its hard not to stuff myself. But i try to get outside for a run everyday before everyone gets up so that I don't miss out on anything. Getting outside clears my head and helps me start my day on a good foot. But if I don't happen to get up, then I just skip the run and don't worry about it. Its a tough balance and sometimes its hard to not work out because then I feel horrible because I DO eat so much cause the food is just sooo good!

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SUPER post as always!! With gourmet chefs in the house, I think you HAVE to take advantage!!

The Pancakes look scrumptious!! My fave toppings are bananas, PB and honey! But, how can you go wrong with chocolate.

Stay away from the negative articles…I feel like they plan subconscious thoughts in my head making me want to eat more!

I have to catch up on all your posts!

Enjoy your time with your fab in-laws!!

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Seriously… I used to do the 'watch out for the holiday weight gain' but then I remembered that marathon training always starts in Jan (for Spring races) and I relax and enjoy myself… sometimes in moderation, sometimes not. :-) Just don't let the guilt get to you! The number on the scale is just that… A NUMBER!!

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Girl! We are so alike, we could be Siamese Twins! Ok, so here's the scoop. You know when I went to Austin to see my dad, I PIGGED OUT on EVERYTHING I could get my hands on (after giving myself a stern lecture when I arrived about eating healthfully, and not screwing up all the hard work I've put into this hard beach bod of mine..LOL!)

Well, that advice got flushed down the toilet the minute my dad asked me where I wanted to go eat on that first day. And you know what… YES, my pants fit tighter, and the button won't snap closed. But guess what? I had FUN and I have the rest of my life to whip my a$$ in shape.

Eat your pancakes, eat your chocolates, and forget eating the ribs…enjoy the whole cow!!!!

Nellie
http://midlifecruiser.blogspot.com
(36 year old fulltime RVer living la vida loca with a cute-butt husband and a stink-butt dog!)

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Amen!!
I am not really partial to pancakes, I prefer waffles (pumpkin please) and cover it in fresh berries with a side of maple syrup to dunk.

I plan to just do what I have been, be as active as possible while spending time with the family and friends. I have found that tossing out the scale and just paying attention to my body (what it wants/needs) works out way better. I don't mind my weight fluctuating around the holidays, because I know I can always work it off after I have had my fill of treats ;)

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Great attitude and who could resist all that yummy stuff you had in front of you? For me, it's never the holidays that get me, but winter in general. I think being cooped up depresses me and I tend to do some mindless snacking. Gotta stay on top of it!

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Great post! My fav pancake topping is also chocolate, heck I have chocolate almost every morningng on my oatmeal!

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i love those frozen (and i'm 99.99 sure that they're in tons of sugar) strawberries on top of pancakes. not fresh mind you, the frozen melting oozy ones.

great post for the holidays. although i never really have guilt over the holidays. mostly because i'm usually training for something. but in general the holidays are one day for me. and one day = one day. i mean, in all honesty, i probably eat more on a night of going out drinking (or consuming more calories via drinking) than i do at a holiday meal or party!

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I completely agree with you and with Caitlin from Healthy Tipping Point. I do try to make a point of doing something, but if I miss a few days it's not a big deal. Christmas is my favorite time of the year and of course I'm going to enjoy it and all of the delicious treats it brings!
Great attitude, enjoy your day!

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GREAT POST!! I finally got to that "comfortable" place you are where I can let go when I want and 1) not freak out about it 2) not go off the deep end and 3) just reasonably keep going and balance it out. I had soooo many of my blog readers ask me, when I mentioned in a video "Yea I'm not worried about the holiday parties and cookies and such"- asking "OMG How are you doing that??". I did like a series of little videos about this very topic because it sure feels GREAT to finally be comfortable with FOOD again and be able to enjoy life here and there when special occasions come along. LOVED the pictures and holy heck the pancakes are a work of ART!!! haha

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Love this post! I definitely understand traveling and being out of the normal food/fitness routine. I'm with you that it's so important to realize that Christmas is such a special time of year celebrating a miracle with our families…and lots of good food. :) Enjoy every minute and remember what our bodies do for us everyday. It's great to have some r&r and will make the marathon workouts even better when you get back into a routine.

I love bananas in my pancakes OR apple cinnamon compote on top. Mmmm.

xo

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you are adorable!!

i gained weight over the break but surprisingly I LOVE IT! its weird because im not sure if u can really psych urself into accepting it but somehow there comes a time where it just doesnt bother u as much… hmm its weird!

xoxo

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I'm not a big fan of stuff in my waffles, especially NOT chocolate! I like plain ole whole wheat pancakes with butter and just a little syrup. Sometimes I'll put leftover pancakes in the freezer then heat them up in the toaster and spread peanut butter on them for a quick-out-the-door breakfast.

Over the holidays I try to keep up my exercise as much as possible so I don't have to sweat the extra calories. The holidays are a time when you can truly enjoy foods you NEVER have during the rest of the year. I don't like to deprive myself of those things. I do, however, try to avoid the foods that just aren't worth it too me. If theres something that doesn't look awesome, then I'm not gonna waste the calories on it.

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Wow, Janae. This is exactly how I was feeling today..and I still am feeling this way. I didn't work out on Friday (went shopping with family instead), and so I am not wanting to take another rest day. One is my MAX and sometimes I don't even want one rest day. I know that if I don't go to the gym tonight, I won't gain weight and I will be okay tomorrow. But, honestly, I am feeling very restless right now and just want to run on the treadmill for a short HIIT session. I've been lazy all day and it does not make me a happy girl.

I've been worrying about my sugar intake, and have been noticing the difference in my body because of my excess of sugar the past few days. But, I know that I can't cut it all. So, I am going to keep with the dark chocolate in my oatmeal! Who says you can't have chocolate at breakfast?! :)

Love those pancakes, by the way. :)

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99.999999% of the time you are running/spinning/ellipticalling/stairmastering, etc. so why not take that .00000001% of time you are spending now and LIVE IT UP. put as much effort in to being carefree for a bit as you do in to your workouts. it's not like you do this every.single.day.
<>
hugs!

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My hubby makes the best pancakes…chocolate chip pancakes with vanilla ice cream on top, drizzled with chocolate syrup. It's my favorite lazy Sunday food coma. We usually go for a long walk together afterwards, so its always a great day when I see him making those for us. Yummy chocolate PLUS hand-holding and spending time together and feeling like we are still in 6th grade. Do you like me? Check yes…. Will you hold my hand at recess? Check yes….

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One thing you cannot feel guilty about either is saying no to food others make you when you really do not want it. People love to show they care by making you a special meal, or having your favorite dessert etc. But really only you can know your body in that moment as to what it wants or not. Respect that first, it is not selfish!!!!

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I love putting nuts and chocolate on/in pancakes :-)

For the holidays and with anything really, I enjoy things in moderation. For Christmas, I'll enjoy those seasonal things I know I like that only come this time of year.

I'm a huge food snob, I stopped eating junk for the sake of eating it a long time ago. About 10 coworkers baked goodies as gifts this year. I always keep the same ONE box. Coworkers wife makes the BEST homemade chocolates and candies. I eat those 1-2 a day until they are gone. the rest of the supposed goodies from the other people were shared with coworkers. Life is too short to eat mediocre cookies and candy. I WANT THE GOOD STUFF! In fact, I'm eating one of the handmade chocolate truffles coworkers wife made now :-)

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Loved this post girl – totally honest! It's nice to hear that others struggle with this too. I think I have gotten 100% better at this during the holidays thi syear than years past. While I'm not 100% confident in my own skin, I do know that having some negative self talk will only increase this!

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I just love good ol' syrup on my pancakes. Mmm sugar.

Thanks for the motivational pep talk – seriously, it's good for me to hear that even though I "know" it.

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Let's gain 5 pounds in December…marathon training will burn it all off very soon!

See's candies= good, Euphoria Chocolate truffles= The BEST. =D

You are so cute, hiding behind that candy in your jammie pants :)

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Man, I don't even like pancakes and those look GOOD!!!

Good post! Very honest! I definitely know where you're coming from here. I wish perhaps I would have had your maturity in regards to this at age 24 instead of finally getting it at 35 (I should say TRYING to get it)…..Wasted way too many years and I still can't say I deal with the guilt very well…. Anyway, you could use a little extra chocolate in your pancakes!!

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas break with your family!

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I'm glad to hear you went for the pancakes…

I've been having similar conversations with myself, especially since I haven't been training for anything in particular for a few weeks. I keep telling myself that I'm taking a break for a reason, that I'm letting my body and my mind regroup, and that's this is all okay. But sometimes I have a hard time believing myself.

My favorite pancake topping is homemade applesauce. My favorite pancakes, though? Whole grain cinnamon pumpkin chocolate chip. A-mazing.

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I love, love, love this post! Like most girls/women I just tell myself it's a few days or weeks of my life… I have the other 350 days of the year to run, walk, spin, etc.

Annnnnnd pancakes + butter + good 'ole Canadian Maple Syrup = HEAVEN!

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It's so important to embrace this perspective, especially during the holidays. Last year, I remember worrying about food and calories at holiday parties, sticking to veggies and hummus. Those aren't the holiday memories that I will cherish in years to come.

This year I am training for a marathon, but I am also loving cookies with my Christmas carols. It makes for a much more enjoyable season! Thanks for this reminder!

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Life is too short not to indulge a little! Enjoy- the holidays happen only once a year!

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I never worry about eating around the holidays because I know I'm running a lot and food that is THAT GOOD doesn't come around all the time, you know!

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love the honesty! i'm struggling with the same thoughts, not about eating chocolate in the mornings, but with not being on my regular workout schedule…in fact i've been downright depressed about my 8 day hiatus from running.

its shocking in those moments though, when i step back and realize how much my identity is wrapped up in something external. its like i'm afraid that i'm going to stop "being me" if i'm not training or exercising intensely. but the bottom line is, i am more that this. i am more than what i do! i am more than what the scale says. i am more than my finishing times or exercise regimen.

thanks for giving me (and everyone else) the opportunity to remember this!

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I completely agree with you!! While its not healthy to just completely pig out all the time, is it really worth denying yourself yummy food in order to avoid gaining a pound or two? I think not.
I like pb on my pancakes. Especially chocolate pb.

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I tend to indulge on the days I run long runs then I don't feel so bad. I know I shouldn't but geez I've been trying to lose 10 poundsfor 6 yrs! I try not to let it consume me. I can't eat pancakes unless I want to crawl back in bed :)

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Amen sister. I started to get frustrated earlier today because I wasn't able to do my run yesterday or today. I should have time tomorrow but missing a day or a few is no reason to freak : )

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I'm trying to gain weight over break bc when I go back to school I tend to loose weight with stress.
You are a beautiful, funny, and such a caring soul — you deserve to give your body what it wants, and what makes you happy :)

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Can I just say that these look absolutely heavenly and I wish someone would go buy all the ingredients for me right now so that I could make them lol. I really need to try to avoid sweets, because I am trying to drop weight which has become the impossible for me.

xo

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So your pancakes are amazing! And white chocolate with pb…how awesome can you get?! I have the same thoughts during the holidays…but I'm learning to adjust my thought processes where I can enjoy it!

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Those pancakes look awesome!!!!

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I loved this post – thank you! I have never been "okay" w/ gaining weight over the holidays but have read several posts like this lately and am trying to live this as well. I will lose it later but I just want to enjoy myself. But of course I get as much exercise in as possible not just to maintain my weight, but it also just makes me feel better!

Hope you enjoy the rest of the trip w/ your in-laws and all the delicious food!! YUM!

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I love strawberries on mine

I saved all my guilt for when my Mom arrives on WEednesday, then its watch out Momma's cooking, you dont stand a chance

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I'm def trying my hardest to enjoy the season and it's treats without any guilt, but it certainly can be hard. but hey, baby steps and one day that guilt will be pretty much gone, right?!

i would have dug into those see's candy too…they're some of the best!

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Chocolate chips, no contest!

I agree with this mindset, for the most part. It's too easy for a lot of people to use it as a cop-out too though. "oh I shouldn't run, I should spend quality time instead". Need to keep a balance of course but family>diet/exercise!

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I'm not a huge pancake fan, but I top mine with PB. Figures right…

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I think you read my mind with this post!!!! I am trying to keep my cardio up and still indulge and enjoy the holidays without feeling guilty!!!! Love your postive attitude :)

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