Okay, now we all know that official start of the food laden holiday season is upon us as we approach Halloween. How are you handling the temptations that come with the inevitable bowls and goody bags brimming with goodies calling to us?

I have a list of things I'm doing to help me make sure to enjoy the holiday without running me off the road so that I can sustain my journey.

First, I'm starting each day with one item from each of the following buckets that I want to focus: health, quality of life, and appearance. Each of these things is just one of the many reasons I want to stay on track, but making the conscious effort to articulate these things helps make them more tangible for me and helps me focus on WHAT I want to do and WHY I want to do it. I then try to think of these things before I put anything in my mouth and determine if what I'm about to eat is going to help me fulfill these goals or short-change me.

Next, I've decided not to bring candy/contraband into the house until a few days before the holiday and have made sure to get things for the neighborhood kids that, to be honest, I don't really like. I'm not much of one for sweet tarts, gummy bears, etc. The kids will enjoy, but it won't be nearly as hard for me to resist as if I had a dish full of dark chocolates calling to me.

Finally, speaking of dark chocolates. I am able to eat it without getting sick, I opt to go get a piece of Godiva... that's just because See's isn't available on the east coast... but what I'm saying is I get a piece of REALLY GOOD dark chocolate and savor it. Really enjoy it. This allows me to not feel deprived, but not have a bunch stuff in the house that could undermine my goals of living a healthier, fuller life... and still fit into my closet of size 4/6 clothes ;-). Now that I'm at goal and maintaining my weight, it's important to have some balance. Enjoying some chocolate is fine, but I also need to know my limitations and not put myself in harms way, which is why I don't keep bags of Dove chocolates in the house as I did before.

Please share any tips to navigate what can be a SCARY side of Halloween so that it's not a frightful journey.

 

 

Have you contacted Dr. Husted? He's in AZ now. The ring at the bottom of a Fobi can erode, but I don't know what symptoms that causes.

     SWAP  don't  SHOP

What: Clothes Swap with GA Losing for Life OH Support group

When: Saturday October 16, 2010  11:00am - noon

Cost:    FREE, but  please bring a few items if you plan to swap.

Bonus:    FREE bariatric samples and door prizes!

Where:             Henry Medical Center 
           
                 1133 Eagle's Landing Parkway
                             
                   Stockbridge, GA 30281

We will meet in the Foundation Education Building. Take the stairs or elevator to the 2nd floor.   We will be in the first classroom.

Due to the clothing exchange,  will not have out regular meeting on October 16, but we invite you to join us the 2nd Saturday of every month thereafter for support meetings. 

            

 

It's  Clothes Exchange time!!!  So, clean out your closets, and ask your family, friends, and co-workers to donate their gently used, clean clothes to your wls buddies.


It's so hard keeping up with your wardrobe as the pounds shed, so a clothing exchange is a great opportunity to give and take a few pieces to get you through your transition.


Pre-ops this is a GREAT opportunity to get all the awesome clothes others have shrunk out of.     Our loss is your gain:-)  The last clothing exchange I attended had tons of bigger sizes to share.


Your non-wls family and friends are welcome to participate in the swap too, but please ask them to share some things if they are planning to take a few things away.  

Please spread the word with your surgeon's office and support group. You do not have to be a member of the GA Losing for Life Group to participate. Everyone is WELCOME. 

 
Feel free to share:
business & casual clothes, especially fall/winter  sleepwear
fittness wear, sports bras, sweats, etc.
work out videos, and fittness equipment 
bras, and hosiery
swimwear
shoes
purses
accessories
unused protein products, vitamins, and other wls friendly products
wls books, magazines, etc. 

**** Please be courteous and only share clean items,  and current styles in good condition with no rips, stains, or tears.  You do not have to place items on hangers. 

                                               


                                        

  

    Please come join us!





We will meet for lunch after the clothes swap at Azteca Grill across the street. 
                                Azteca Grill
                        1745 Rock Quarry Rd.
                    Stockbridge, Ga 30281 
                      http://aztecagrill.net


*** please rsvp for lunch if you plan to join us
 

Thank you Barbara for posting this..I REALLY needed to read it. My positives...

I am healthy
My children are healthy
I have a wonderful man in my life
I have food to eat when i am hungry
I have a roof over my head

 Hunger is not an emergency!  (Read the Beck Diet Solution for more on this.)   Seriously, just because you feel hunger does not mean you have to respond to it by eating.  You can do like most of the people in the world and wait until meal time.   This has been the MOST IMPORTANT concept that I have adopted.  Hunger will not kill me.  It is mildly uncomfortable, but not something I can't stand.  I eat about every 3 hours, and I can surely wait 2 or 3 hours with mild hunger.  

Our brain chemistry gets used to whatever we do, so if we respond to mild hunger by feeding it, the brain comes to expect it.  You have to do something different.  If you were an alcoholic, you would likely feel cravings for alcohol.  That doesn't give anyone the license to drink.  Get through the discomfort and come out the other side, and eventually your brain will catch up.