12/03/08.   "WHY DO WE OVER EAT DURING THE HOLIDAYS?"       I  happened to mention to a friend, that although I hadn't officially weighed in yet, I felt like I had gained about 22 pounds over this past Thanksgiving Weekend. She said she wasn't far behind me, & then quipped: "Why Do We Do It?"  That was all I needed for enough inspiration to write this guide. I decided to interview everyone that I would have contact with over the next several weeks. I would include correspondance by phone, e-mail, letters, text message, facebook, & even in person.  I will be updating this guide several times, to add the new information as I collect it.    I suppose I can start with myself right now, although I too may have more questions than answers. Questions like - based on my past experience, I do know in advance that I'm going to overeat, because I always do, But Why Do I?  UH.. cause it tastes good? or, cause it's there?   I have overindulged mostly during the following holidays: (Now please bear in mind that these are listed in no particular order), Christmas, Easter, Memorial Day Picnics, Independance Day (4th of July), Labor Day Parties, ST. Patricks Day Parties,  Thanksgiving,  &  there probably even have been some other made up holiday celebrations that I've attended. I have noticed that my overindulgences seem to happen most often in the party atmosphere with family or friends. One conclusion I have already is: Maybe it's their fault!    Some of the things that I do know - before, during, & after overindulging are: It is not healthy to overeat; Over eating makes you feel physically uncomfortable; Over eating causes excess weight gain; Over eating has an immediate effect on clothing fit; And because we do have knowledge of all of the above, when we do it anyways, we can also damage our self esteem.    If you want to come along for the ride, stay tuned, as I am quite curious as to what others will have to say.    The very 1st person I interviewed got a bit defensive, I must say. When I asked him why he over eats at Holiday / Party gatherings? He replied, "What makes you think I over indulge?" - I simply responded - "You've been to my house"...  The interview abruptly ended... (name left out to protect the guilty)...  I'll have to get a whole lot better at this...   (TBC)  Atticus Alberts                                         12/4/08.  Eddy Says: " I overindulge during the holidays, just to be sociable, cause that's the kind of guy I am".                                                                                    12/4/08.  Doug says: "What are you gonna come up with next Alberts?"                                                                            12/4/08.  Mel says:  "Me over eat? I'm just trying to keep up with everybody else."                                                        12/4/08.  Cheryl says: "Because it's fun!!!  Occasional overindulgence just plain feels good & is celebratory.  If you overindulged every day it would become a burden, (weight gain, drunk all the time, etc.) but when reserved for holidays it's something to look forward to.  My mother, sister, and I spend all kinds of time planning the holiday meals and deciding who's going to make what. Even planning it is fun!"                                                                                    12/5/08. Sarah says: "There always seems to be so much food, but I choose not to eat it, even though I hate to see anything go to waste. Instead of eating, I just have drinks. But then I get half loaded & lose my discipline of not eating. Without realizing it, people have told me the next day, that I ate everything in site. They also told me about other things I supposedly did, but I'm sure they were just making stuff up".                                                                                     12/6/08. Lynn responds: "It's an interesting and embarassing question. I overeat because every year I think that as soon as the holidays are over, I am going to be starting a new diet, and I may as well live it up now. When the parties are over and the new year starts, I know it is going to be hell. My clothes are tight anyway and its not like I'm giving up a perfect 10 body. So to hell with it. The now 4 bod goes to a 3 bod. Whether I'm a 3 or a 4, every year at the holidays I convince myself that by my birthday in April, I will be sporting a new figure approaching an 8 or a 9. (I hope no one reading this sees me on or after April 11th.)   This is how I justify why I overeat at the holidays!!!                                  12/8/09.  Peter says: I truly wish it were only during the holidays that that I over ate and drank! Whenever there is an abundance of good food around, I love to gorge. It doesn't have to be a holiday.                                                              12/9/08.   Jerry says: I have a portion control problem to start with. Our family serves most Holiday meals buffet style as a convenience. A large table of food triggers a need for me to try some of this, and some of that. That's not good, as I always eat more than I would during a regular meal. Too make matters worse, I have 3 or 4 drinks during the day and a dessert or two to finish it off. You do the calorie math!!                                                                                12/10/08.  Andrew responds: Who on earth would find these guides and how?!!!  Anyway, I'm not sure I overeat only during the holidays. In fact, I'm sure I do it more often at non-holiday times. For example, today I started work at 7:00am for a breakfast meeting. It wasn't my meeting but I had to be there to open my restaurant up for the group. I didn't have time to eat breakfast myself so I waited until they were done and then "snacked" on some left over pastries. Then a little later I ate a couple of mini snickers bars. Still no real food yet. I had a sample of today's special which was Cheese Ravioli with a garden veggie sauce or something and some garlic bread. It was delicious! I probably chewed up some hard candy suckers throughout the morning/lunch as well. I snuck a few french fries in too. Never really had time to eat lunch or eat appropriately for a healthier body. At about 3:30pm, since it was Taco Tuesday, I finally had something with substance! 3 tacos!  Then I got home at around 6:30pm and shared a Totinos Pizza (from the freezer) with my Fiance! Since I could normally enjoy one of these on my own, I followed it up with a half a dozen cookies from the cheap section of the cookie aisle. I've found that you eat fewer cookies if you buy the least desired ones available. Then I'm checking email and see this survey and wonder, could the question at hand really be any worse than what I just did today in terms of my food intake? Who knows, but right now I'm trying to decide if I should have buttered popcorn or a caramel sundae for my next snack! I'm not sure about that, but I'm willing to bet Atticus is quite ready for a big bite to eat after reading this!                                             12/12/08.  Paul explains: It's not an intentional thing. The only reason I overeat is because that's what you're supposed to do. Let's face it, if it were'nt for food & drink at a holiday gathering, would anybody really be there? I think not. Yet if they were, they'd probably be spending the whole time trying to figure out how to get some food & beverages. Really now Atticus, go ahead and throw a party with no food & drinks. See how long anybody sticks around.                          12/15/08.  Sue says: Now that you bring the subject up, I always make my #1 New Years Resolution to lose weight. That's because without realizing it's happening, it seems like I gain weight every season between Thanksgiving & New Years Day. Thank you for reminding me. I'm not eating another thing from now until January 2nd! & Oh - HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!                           12/17/08.  Edward writes: I don't over indulge for every holiday, only around Christmas time. That seems to be the time of year when the most entertaining is going on. Whether we are hosting, or someone else in the family is, plus friends having parties, the exposure to food and drink is phenominal. I believe the more there is, the more I consume. You're making me sound like I'm a pig. Alright, I'm a pig! Are you happy now?                                                                                12/18/08.  Joseph says: This is the strangest survey I've ever participated in, and I'm only participating because what I've read so far is quite amusing. I'm surprised that people for the most part, are even admitting that they pig out during the holidays. I surrender that I too over eat, over drink, over sex, over smoke, over bet, over swear, and even over hangover, during the holidays. Why? That's the only part that I don't know. I'm just going to have to see if anyone else in this survey does.                                                                              12/19/08.  Ray writes: I don't know how to not over eat at any type of holiday gathering. Doesn't everybody do it? I was taught that when you go to somebodys' house, proper etiquet is to stuff yourself because it's free stuff. I don't remember  who taught me that, but someone must have. I could'nt have possibly come up with that on my own.                                   12/20/08.  Robert explains: Asking people why they overeat is no different than asking people why they smoke, or why they drink, or why they bite their nails, or why they gamble, or why they use drugs. The answer is the same to all of the above. It's called habit, or better yet, addiction! Until any of these habits, aka, addictions are properly dealt with or professionally treated, they will most likely continue through out ones life. Habits & Addictions you must realize can be either positive or negative. You're survey isolates a negative one. I am submitting this information to you as a Professional & Licensed Addiction Counselor for the past 16 years.                            12/21/08.  Lillian writes: I over eat during the holidays because its the last time I can. You see every year on January 1st., my first New Years Resolution is to lose weight. It's kind of a tradition with me and a few of my girlfriends. It hasn't really worked over the last 20 years, so now we all wear sweat shirts that say: "I beat both, Anarexia & Bulemia."                                                           12/22/08.  Edward writes: When I see people over eating at anytime, holidays included, it disgusts me. As a matter of fact I get so disgusted that it causes me to over eat. So that's why.                                                                                        12/22/08.    A SHORT NOTE FROM THE SURVEYOR.  As I will be out of town for the holidays, I will continue to post your comments on this forum after January 2nd, 2009. This survey shall run through 1/31/09. This will allow those of you who are currently over eating to have first-hand knowledge to share with us.  Keep sending your comments as to: "Why You Over Eat During the Holidays" to: stores.ebay.com//photosbyatticus-2008               Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to You & Your Family!    Atticus Alberts                                 1/2/09.  Earnie writes: I did over eat during the holidays, I was conscience of it too at the time, and even though I tried to think about why I was doing it, I could not come up with a reason.                              1/2/09.  Jerry says:  I do over eat around the holidays, but I have a good reason. The more that I eat, the more I can drink. That's my answer.                                           1/3/09.  James writes:  There is more food around during holiday time. If you don't eat it, what else you gonna do wit it.                                1/5/09.  Jenn writes: I consume more food and drink during holiday season because it all seems to be part of the partying atmosphere. You also could have asked why I spend more. Shopping and spending is for giving to others, where as eating and drinking is giving to me!                                             1/7/09.  Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer writes:  I have to overeat during the holidays, so that I have enough energy to pull the Fat Guy and his toys all around the world!                   1/7/09.  Robert writes:  Me and  my family don't over eat during holidays or any other time. Many people have forgotten that over eating is a sin. The bible calls it GLUTTONY. I personally think there would be an end to all of the deaths caused by hunger and starvation throughout the world, if  some individuals amongst us would stop eating enough to feed three!                            1/8/09.   Mary says:  The holidays are a great time to vist, have company, exchange presents, and chow down!  That's the way I was brought up, and thats the way I'm bringing my kids up. I think the whole thing is great. Doesn't everyone?                       1/8/09.  Little Donny says:  Most people probably overeat at Christmas because they don't have to go to work and they could probably lose the pounds before they go back to work. Personally, I don't eat much over the holidays. I never really overeat.                                                                                         1/8/09.  Richi says:  I eat a little more around the holidays because number 1, it's a festive time, and breaking bread with your family seems to be quite a social act. That's why I would eat more around the holiday season. Also, there seems to be more availability of not only good food but very fatty foods, and if  it's available when you have your foods of sweetness and whatever, you tend to let your guard down and start picking. So that's why I gained my 12 pounds. Thank you and I hope this satisfies your survey.                                                   1/9/09.  Joanie writes: This is a good question that I believe there is one & only one answer for. All of us that over eat, (and I am including myself here), do so simply because we lack dicipline. We know it works against our health, weight, looks, self image, image to others, clothing fit, etc., etc., etc.;                                1/9/09.  Dave says: If over eating is wrong, then I don't want to be right! I just enjoy the hell out of it. Even Oprah Winfrey has publicly admitted that food is her "drug of choice".                               1/9/09.  Lou & Linda write:  We actually got in to that bad habit of eating more than we should some years ago when we started going out to eat.  Restaurant food is so expensive that we ate all that we were served. Starting with the basket of bread they brought to the table before we even ordered. It got to the point where we would frequent those restaurants that gave out the largest portions. When we finally realized what we were doing to our once lean bodies, we could no longer satisfy our appetites when we attempted to cut back to smaller servings. I hope it isn't true, but as of this confession, it seems that we are cursed for life. We have not been able to turn this curse around.                                                      1/12/09.  Gloria writes: I have read several responses to this survey, yet no one has mentioned my condition, that being "A Binger". While many people are afraid to be alone because of lonliness, my fear of being alone is because that is the time when I binge. It is totally uncontrolable, it is disgusting, which is why I don't do it when others are present. During a binging session I can't get full. I will go from one food to the next. I only stop when I'm interrupted, or I run out of food. This situation does get worse during holidays because there's more food around. I really don't understand what causes this condition? Does anybody out there? Help!                                                        1/13/09  Mary writes:  Food is supposed to sustain life. That it does, but for some reason, eating is also an enjoyable process. A lot of us celebrate a promotion, a birthday, an anniversary and the like by going out to dinner. A wedding reception entails food, drink, and dance as a way of giving the newly married couple a good supportive start to their marriage. Now getting to me and over eating during holiday season, I guess the same applies. I love getting together with family and friends. All of these gatherings not only include food, but special foods, foods prepared with that extra love we all want to bestow on those most important to us, those that we really  care about. There also is an abundance, including desserts. My eating more than usual is simply my way of saying thank-you to the host, or to those who have joined me in honoring the holiday tradition!                                     1/15/09  Dave & Carrie write:  We have analyzed this question since we ran across your survey a few weeks ago. We find some of the responses quite amusing, yet others are so sad.  Unfortunately, I think we fit into the sad category. We think the closest answer to our problem, (of overeating), was stated by that counselor, who suggests that we have an addiction that needs to be professionaly treated.                           1/15/09  Barb writes:  I am and have been a fat person since I was a child. I can't accomplish anything during times of food cravings. I must satisfy them, and that doesn't happen if I only have so called "Normal Sized Portions". In satisfying my insatiable appetite, I continually overeat and that includes the holidays.                                     1/15/09  Jim writes:  The whole country is over weight, so what's the big deal? People have always come in all shapes & sizes and probably always will. Even at birth, baby weights can vary considerably. One comes in at 5 pounds, and down the hall another weighs in at 11.5 pounds.  Now which one do you think is gonna eat more during the holidays! This whole thing is kind of dumb if you ask me.  My wife gets fatter every year, but I still love every pound of her.                                       1/16/09  Lisa writes: I personally believe that people over eat more during the holiday season because they have more leisure time. I know that I try to get as much time off as I possibly can. Although people may be partying for different reasons, the things you generally do at parties is uniform. You eat and you drink! Then you eat and drink some more. And then you eat and..... You get the idea.                1/16/09  Thomas writes:  I love the holiday season which if I understand it right, it starts at Thanksgiving and ends on January 2nd..  To be more specific it kind of breaks down something like this. #1) Wed. - Thanksgiving Eve,  #2) Thurs.- Thanksgiving Day,  #3) Fri., Sat., & Sun., - Thanksgiving Weekend  etc., etc.    Now we haven't even addressed Christmas & New Year's yet.  It ultimately turns out to be about 2 months of partying. Lot's of time for eating!                                 1/16/09  Bob writes:  If I could only figure out why I overeat not just during the holidays but most all of the time, I suppose I wouldn't weigh over 300 pounds!  The problem is that every time I was able to refrain from overeating for a significant period of time, I would lose about 10 pounds. You guessed it though didn't you? I would then gain back 25 or 30 pounds.  My honest experience has demonstrated that every weight loss was only followed by a faster rate of gaining. I wish it didn't have to be this way, but I've all but given up.                            1/17/09  A Note From Atticus - I have just been notified that this guide has reached the 20,000 - character limit. See Guide # 9 for continuation...