Tis the Season....

 

O'boy...How do we make it thru the holiday season? The list just went up here for the "12" Days of Christmas. That means 12 days of treats. Right after that a cookie exchange sign up went around. Now a "Pot Luck" sign up!  How do we deal with all this?? I'm 9 months post op and don't want to get myself in big trouble. "God Grant Me the Strength" to make it to the new year. Any suggestions on how to handle this????

 

Rose  :(

Great question - I have been wondering the same thing.  I am involved in a Dinner Theater production at the local bible camp and we get to eat the meal as well.  That started on Thursday (last) and went until Sunday, and I get to start all over again this Thursday - so far so good - just have to watch what you eat and avoid the other stuff.  I did have 1 dessert one night, and it made me a bit queasy, so that was enough to keep me away from the dessert table the rest of the shows. One thing I just thought of - bring something to the treats that you can eat - fresh fruit or something that is made sugar free...you never know - others might like it too!

My boss, and his boss are hosting a Christmas breakfast for our department, and she actually came over and asked what I could eat, so she would make sure there was some food there for me to eat - wasn't that sweet!

This is my first year of holidays of being able to eat (I was on cream soup stage last Christmas).  A few tips that I will be using is: 1) NOTHING tastes as good as skinny feels 2) Enjoy in moderation.  Making sure it is things that you don't dump on, but not denying it as that will make you want it more. 3)  Or go ahead and enjoy and eat as much as you like and well, if ya dump you won't make that mistake twice!!! (J/K...not good advice!) This surgery wasn't about NEVER eating again, but rather making better choices.  Healthier, smarter choices.  SOOOO much can have substitutes that you wouldn't know the difference!  Anything that has sugar you can use Splenda (Splenda even makes brown sugar!!!).   Best to you!  Hang in there!  You are just struggling with head hunger!!  That will be a life time!

I made a cheesecake for Thanksgiving that rocked!

I used low fat cream cheese and sour cream and splenda instead of sugar. I also used sugarfree shortbread cookies for the "crust" with a little melted butter. it was to die for! my family didn't know it was sugarfree and low fat. For me making "me friendly" items helped alot. that way if I really really wanted them I knew I could eat em without alot of guilt.

Lisa I totally agree, that recipe ROCKS so much. I too made some, but didn't put the crust on, and it tasted just as great and I justified eating two pieces over two days because of that. I left the rest at my parents and they loved it as well. Dad told me I have to make it again.

HIJACK....... Nicole I love your new Avatar pic...so cute!!! Hugs, connie d

~HUGS~  You'll get thru it - I believe in you!

Think of this as YOUR opportunity to bring in something healthy for others and they won't even know they are eating healthy.  There are SOOOO many great SF and or FF recipes out there.  I know when I've been in situations (like Thanksgiving) I brought my own desert...my calcium chew.  *S*  It's like a little brownie and is delicious.  Then...I didn't feel deprived.  You'll do fine....you KNOW what you can and can't eat. 

Hello Rose...I think Linda Anne has the right ideas...moderation is the key.  Good luck....you can do it!! Hugs, connie d

Great comments and suggestions, and SOMEONE better post that cheesecake recipe!!! The thing I think might be MOST important is to re-focus our priorities for all these gatherings - shift the focus from the food, to the fellowship.  Why do we get together with all these people at the holidays?  To eat ourselves silly?  Well, maybe in the past, but isn't it really about spending time with people?  Enjoying their company, laughing, hugging, catching up with things you don't make time for on a day-to-day basis?  If you go into it for those reasons, the food becomes an afterthought.   I'm not on the "never take a bite of anything evil" boat.  I'll have a tiny bit of whatever I want.  But I make sure that what I WANT is something special!  Something I wouldn't normally get to try!  And then?  Just a taste.  Really enjoy the taste, then you won't need a lot!   YOU CAN DO THIS, ROSIE BABY!!!  They'll all be busy marveling at your fabulousness, anyway!!!