Feedback please...

I would like your honest feedback on  yesterday.  Now is the time for constructive criticism. Was my presentation helpful? How could I have made it better? Did it add to the meeting or would you have preferred that we skipped it? Would you like me to do this again at other meetings? If it was not a solid addition to our time, please say so. I am a big girl and I will understand.

HI Charlene,
I think it is really very kind of you to make this type of presentation to help all of us.  I honestly think this topic - eating for the holidays was a point that we all need to address.   Or more specific....making the right food choices... BEcause...we all need to make the right food choices. And my right food choices are not someone elses. 

We all make wrong food choices.  We need to accept that, and plan for it, and try not to do it, but if we do...live with it and move on.  

With a DS, holiday eating is pretty easy for us.....it usually involves the big protein filled meals, we can do gravy, skip the potatoes, stuffing and bring on the turkey....it is all those little sweets that are laying around that are the really big challenge....so...I especially like your point about plan for it.  Don't beat your self up.

As a suggestion going forward for someone gathering information it would be good to understand how the topic fits to each of the different surgeries.  So this gives everyone a good idea of what the sins are for each.

I liked your presentation, I thought it gave substance to our afternoon.  I did feel it reflected a dieting theme...which does not really happen with all surgeries..but as most were preop...it fit for them.

Maybe a suggestion is we pick a topic...like holiday eating...and see if we can get a volunteer from each surgery to suggest how to handle the surgeries.   I will explain what I mean...lets look at my food coping for Christmas...that I am already thinking about...

For me I would say things like:
-eat pudding if you want a sweet instead of shortbread cookies.
-make big peanut butter balls instead of fruit bread
-Serve gravy with your meats, you can eat more
-if you really want that mashed potato, mix alot of sour cream with it.
- divide your Christmas dinner into several courses, starter, main, desert...you can eat more that way.

As you can see...my plans for Christmas are totally different from others...but, still...same concept...make the right choices and don't beat yourself up after.

It was great Charlene for you to do this.  And I liked it.

I like your idea about tailoring it to the various surgeries plus to the preop diet. I tried to make it generic but I used my own examples, so it was more reflective of the pre-op diet. What I liked about the author's approach was that it allowed you to have some no-no Holiday treats but in a controlled, mindful way. Let's face it Christmas is THE food holiday and so many traditions and Christmas feeling are connected to food.
Thanks for the feedback.

and as most in the room were preop...I think it was a good target audience!

I didn't intend to do that, it evolved that way because I drew my examples from my own situation. I don't know enough about other surgerys, I guess. I should have asked the audience for their examples. I was also trying to keep it short.

I think that is what made your information most helpful..was you were drawing from your own situation...and for the preops this is especially important.

and I think we ...or at least me...put in our own examples....so...all in all...very good exercise.

I think it is especially helpful after Lori told me/us that 2 people were refused surgery at the door after making all their surgery arrangements but last minute were gaining 1.5 pounds.  With that pressure any and all holiday tips at all are really really important.

Thanks Charlene...I was especially impress that as busy as you are, you took the time to help eveyrone in the room.  That is what makes you special!

Charline,

I agree with clawerence.  Your presentation was very helpful, and I look forward to more in the future

Thanks amary, and it was really nice to meet you. I only wish we had had more time to talk.

I found it very helpful.  I know for me eating at the holidays is usually an all out sweetfest.  I even gave Mom the info as well.