Two Holidays down, one to go!

So we made it through 2 food tempting holidays with one more to go!  Can we do it??YES we can!! 

It is hard for us trying to lose the preop weight and those who have had the surgery....either side of this is hard for all of us right now.
I am so lucky to live alone and don't have to feed others. I really admire all of those who are having to cook for your families and do this. What will and strength!
I have to cook for my family, but its just for the day and then I send it home or leave it there and usually rarely eat when I cook large quantities of food like this anyway.
I look forward to the New Year, the many changes I am making ahead, starting my new life and spending time with friends.

Last year was a year of lasts for me....last birthday that I will be heavy, last Thanksgiving and Christmas, last time my health will be such an issue....on and on...This year, will be about FIRSTS!  They used to say there is a first time for everything....Well this year, EVERYTHING will be a first for so many!
 
May God bless you many times over in this New Year! I pray for a better year for everyone both physically and financially.

One more traditional food day, and I can focus on getting a date for my surgery and starting a new life! What are your plans for this upcoming new year?

I plan on riding horeses again,
Skydiving on my next birthday,
Finding a wonderful new job,
Discovering who I am all over again,
Facing so many fears that I have from my past, and last but not least, wearing many size smaller clothes!
Oh and if Prince Charming comes along and wants to sweep me off my (much lighter feet) then I would consider that too!
Happy New Year my new found friends!

It is a blessing to live alone when you are trying to change your eating style and I recognize that my journey has been easier because of it.  

The holidays, foodwise, have gotten easier for me.  Last year was challenging because I was till figuring out how to eat with this band, but this year I pretty much knew what would work, figured out what treats I wanted to have and what I could pass on.  One of the things I noticed on this second banded holiday season was that I also thought about the after effects-I don't really care so much for heavy treats that just sit on the stomach any longer.  After trying a couple of pieces of "real" pie at Thanskgiving, I bought a sugar free coconut cream for Christmas, because I don't like the icky feeling I have the next day as I go through sugar withdrawals.

We haven't even opened the sugar free peanut brittle, although I'm sure we will at some point.  But that is a change too-we don't need it ALL NOW.

I'm looking forward to the new year and the changes it will bring, some endings as well as beginnings.  I'm loving the fact that I will still be able to wear my Willie Nelson T-shirt next year at this time, because I'll be the same size.  After a year and a half of transitory clothes, I'm ready to settle down with a few good t-shirts and jeans. 

Yes we can. I made it through Thanksgiving on purees and well Christmas was much harder as I can eat food again but I did it. Luckily we wre all tired of teh stuff from thanksgiving that we did a untradional dinner yesterday. I had the center of a chicken pot pie, some yummy beans mom cooked especially for me to have something she knew was easy on my new tummy and a deviled egg. But oh the yeast rolls were so good smeeling and I wanted on so badly but I sufficed with simply smelling them all around me. In our family New years isnt a real food day so I have it made for the bad holidays this year well till 4th of July which is a huge at the lake cookout food fest in my family.

Not me, i had a very rough time saying no to all of the sweets and chocolate at the office parties. 

Sometimes the mail man would come in carrying all of these boxes of chocolates for the office and my office sits right in front of the office snack table where the office manager would open up the boxes and let everyone graze for a while on honey baked ham, chocolates, or harry & david's candy. 

I ate too much of the bad stuff.  it hasn't shown up on the scale, but i know it's coming.  More pilates for me this year. 

At least Thomas has been putting up new recipes in the cooking forum.  I just bought new jeans and 2 new bikinis for this spring.  Longer pilates classes around the corner for me.

Sarah

I found myself with a completely different attitude towards all the holiday food this year.  Normally I would be head first in the middle of the "eating all you can eat" contest that usually happens during family gatherings.  It was interesting to see that all eyes were on me when it came time to sit down for dinner.  My family is completely supportive of my decision but many of them have not seen me since.  I had alot of explaining to do that, yes, that was enough food for me and I was in no immediate danger of starving.  I did find myself grazing at some point on Christmas day but I quickly turned my attention towards all of the kids and the Rock Band session that was going on.  It's amazing to me how food has taken a complete and total backseat to actually living life. 

I hope that everyone had a safe holiday and wish everyone the best for the new year!!!