Depression about Christmas

Well here it is Christmas Eve and I am sitting over at my house all alone as my family has Christmas Dinner. I just could not stand to be there with all that food I cannot have. I know I will be alright, but I cannot help but feel a little sad. I know that in the long run it will most definitely be worth it. Anyways...I hope all of you have a Merry Christmas tomorrow!

Charles A very Merry Christmas to you my friend. I kind of know what you are going thru since I had my surgery last year just before the holidays. You need to understand that you received something much better this year for Christmas than food and pigging out on all that food that has put many many pounds on us. I do think that the more I faced food and taught myself some control that it made me a better man. Even this year, I find myself very selective about what goes into my pouch. So hang in their, there is much more to Christmas than food. Dan

I am sorry you're having a rough time of it for Christmas. Food can be so integral to our celebrations. You are still in a rough stage where you can't have most anything. That will get better. Soon you will be able to sit at the table with your family, while making small, healthful choices. I know what you mean though, about sometimes just not wanting to be around it. I have to do that when my husband gets pizza. I just can't be in the room. And if that's what you need to do, well sometimes it really does help. Take care of yourself tonight and the rest of the holiday season, and know that you *can* do this. Linda Vicory

Charles, Hon!!! Go be with your family! Guess What? The food they are eating would make you so sick that it isn't funny! You want that? Nope, didn't think so. So...bring your own food, eat slow, and enjoy the fellowship of your family. The holidays are about being with your FAMILY, NOT your Food. I know it's hard having a holiday this close to being post-op. Mine was the end of September, my sister's was a week before Thanksgiving. But as we learned, you CAN have terrific holidays AND stay within the boundries of your pouch. So...I have my batch of sugar-free cookies ready to go to the kids tomorrow. I have my smoked ham in the over in which I will top with a sf brown sugar glaze. I will make my sf salad and my sf deviled eggs to bring. My sf banana pudding is about ready. Oh! And I'm making my first ever green bean casserole. See? You can eat within the boundries of your pouch, and enjoy every bite! Don't look at the food choices as a punishment, but rather a reward...a gift. Happy holidays Charles...and all the newbies out there. We grew up with food being the center of EVERYTHING. Use this holiday season to put it where it belongs. Sherri

What a great attitude! Linda Vicory PS. I tried two bites of sf pumpkin pie (w/o the crust, but with whipped topping). It was heavenly. I think it was better than all the pie I've ever had.

I can sympathize with you. This year I am one year out, I was right where you are last year. I remember hearing people comment the whole time about just eating a medicine cup full of mashed potatoes. It was hard for me, but so easy in other aspects, I was on the road to recovery. Last year Linda made the comment that she ate like a regular person at Christmas She had a bite of everything then played cards or something like that. She commented that it was neat to sit and play cards and not focus on food, while others kept going back for seconds and thirds. She was sitting with the people who had had enough, one trip was enough for them. I tried to focus on that this year, to be aware of what the "normal" weight people ate, and its true one trip up for food and they were done. It will get easier. Sarah