Need Some Help for my Talk

I am talking at Dr Braders Support Group tomorrow night. The topic is Surviving the Holidays.

I am looking for tips. I have some already from people and have some of my own. The main thing I want to know from you is how you survive them emotionally, There are tons of food tricks out there but very little on the emotions.

I have a good outline but would like personal stories or feedback

humm - you got my one off Roll Call the other day?

As far as the emotional, well keep yourself busy, but on the same note take time for yourself. The holiday's tend to be crazy with invites to parties, office parties etc so plan which one's you'll accept and which one's you'll pass on. Make sure that time is scheduled in for you to "un-wind" or "detox" as I call it and get back on track. This also lets you plan so when you do walk into one of these parties/dinners/events you are prepared. I also remind myself that love is the reason for the season and that we should focus on the accomplishments we have made, the friends and family that we love and cherish and the positive things.

can't wait to hear how your talk goes! I know you are going to do great!

Liz

I like that Liz I may use it.  " love is the reason for the season " NOT FRUIT CAKE LOL 

I need to come to your meeting. I need advice!

This is my first holiday so can't offer help except...we are going out this yr so that I am not tempted to cook Paula Dean fashion.....It's just me and my husband tho...kid is going to his dads so that makes it easy for me....

I'll be there I hope in the front row....bringing a banded friend....You'll be great as usual but if for some reason you're not...shove Jason up there cause he's a hoot too!!!!

LOL....C'ya Thur

I have a bander and a friend coming also, so sounds like I will have lots of support. Maybe yal could do a role play LOL

You certainly do young lady! :) Especially after all the havoc you created with the food porn! And by the way you forgot to mention Wilbur buds in Litiz!
Chris

I have a huge family... that only get together for holidays.. or weddings (hehe)  So when we are all together.. there's food EVERYWHERE.

My first thanksgiving, and christmas post op made me very very anxious..   I wasn't sure how I was going to function around all that food!  Or how I was going to deal with people constantly saying "oh did you eat?!  did you try aunt so-and so's whatever that she made especially for you?!"

Here's how I got through. 

I realized that the holidays, just like Liz said, are for celebrating family..  not food.  How many holidays did we stuff ourself away on a stairwell hoping no one would see our plates, or how much we were eating, or how many times we went up to get more food?  Now...   We are free.  we're free from that constant...  well..  weight that food puts on us.  we're not the ones being held prisioner by food..  It's an amazing feeling when you accept that.

Now..  to act it out was another thing.  Thankfully for christmas, we usually had a buffet set up at my aunt's house..  so what I did that first year was put a little food on a plate, and carry that around with me the ENTIRE night.  I put just what I knew I was able to eat on there, and between talking to family, and bouncing around between stories, and catching up..  no one had the time to pay attention to what I was eating (and honestly looking back..  no one really cares, it's more paranioa in our heads)  But when that question came up "did you get enough to eat??  did you try this or that??"  the answer was simply YES.  yes, and it was delicious.  It's not a lie!   Why??  because think about it....

Do you know how cookies taste??  Yes... you've had them before.   Do you know what chocolate, and deserts, and pie, and all the casseroles in the world that your family makes taste like??  YEP you've eaten them every year for the past however many thanksgivings, or holiday parties you've attended.  You KNOW what everything tastes like, and yes, you have tried it all... just not necessarily this year =)

I don't need to eat to have a good time, or tell a story..   I'm there to enjoy the time with my family...and feed off the love they have to offer :)  NOT THE FOOD!

(Sorry for my little tangent Nicole.. but hopefully this helps in some insanely crazy way)

Thanks mary for your craft manipulation of the truth LOL 

You are right though, you kind of know what it is all about so you really dont need to do it again.

I like the idea of having a plate in your hand all day. You never feel deprived...........and no one nags you about food because you always have some.