What are your Plans for the Upcoming Holiday Gatherings?

Last year i went to boyfriends extended family Christmas gathering that lives 400 miles from us. There were 80 plus people, he has 14 brothers and sisters , yes you are reading this right, his mother had 15 children..

Well I gained a few pounds last year from that gathering, seems i always do , did the same when i attended his family reunion and his neice's graduation party. I don't want to do this again , I do great at home maintaining but when i get around a  bunch of others i get weak and eat what is at these gatherings, not much healthy stuff available. Most people are not understanding how important my maintaining is, im always hearing,, oh go ahead induldge this time, I get weak and give in and eat cookies and candy there ..I'm thinking ahead this time. I actually get in this situation even at my own families gathering right in my own home town. Im working on some ideas for this upcoming holiday season which is just around the corner..

Thanksgiving will be here soon, do i avoid the party or go to it? Either His or Mine...Lots of great food..I've always managed to take that weight back off but I dont want the stress this year..Thinking of just my boyfriend and me at "OUR" own little Holiday party this year.. I can make very healthy holiday recipes..Last year I made black bean brownies enough to feed half the people there and only 4 were eaten..Geeezz all that work...What are your thoughts , this question would be for Post Ops mostly.... thanks and Peace\/   Wendy

 I would go to the celebration with a plan in mind.

It is ONE meal.....you do not have to make a day or. Week of it.
Bring a veggie dish that is good for you .....and for others and surrender to the fact that no one else might touch it.

You will know that you contributed and that there is food there that is healthy for you.

Personally, I would not eat black bean brownies if they were the last food on earth.  I can't get past the smell of them.

Turkey is a pretty healthy food ....plan to have that and your healthy veg and a few spoonfuls of other things.

Distract yourself with activity or helping or watching Football.
Breath mints in your mouth will keep food out.  Brushing and flossing in private after the meal will keep food out.

Go and be with your (or your boyfriend's) family.

Holiday parties are difficult situations for those of us with food problems, but letting those problems get in the way of spending quality time with family is a bad idea.

Being prepared, on the other hand, is a very good idea. I agree that breath mints and brushing/flossing after a meal are both great ways to avoid the dessert table. My family usually serves holiday meals buffet-style since there is so much food. My mom and I often just get a plate with a little of everything on it and share. We enjoy all of the good food, but just a few bites.

My aunt got married last week and the wedding was at my parents' house. I kept myself busy by helping with all of the cooking, refilling drinks for folks, washing dishes so mom and dad would have less work later in the evening, lighting cigars for people, and going outside to talk with my cousin instead of being inside near the cookie table.

With that many people around, there are undoubtedly some good conversationalists in the bunch. My cousin's boyfriend and I have entirely different political/social views but we had a really great, constructive, and lighthearted chat.

Take advantage of the time you have to spend with family. Those huge gatherings won't always be there and you'll miss them more than you think you will.

Hope you have fun. Don't stress too much! If you make some...luxurious food choices, tomorrow is always another day.

Since I don't eat sugar or things with gluten my choices can be limited.  I just make sure there are things there that I can have.  Last Thanksgiving I brought sugar free, gluten free cheesecake and sugar free, gluten free almond cookies.  My daughter in law's grandfather is diabetic and he was so happy there were things there he could have.  I let him take home the leftovers.  I eat the same 365 no matter what the day, birthday, Christmas, whatever.  If I make an exception for my birthday and have things with sugar and gluten before long I will be making exceptions on international talk like a pirate day (which is today if you didn't know).  I did that in 2001 when I had been on a successful diet, well for me, I got down to about 170 lbs and then my mother came to town for Thanksgiving.  Her husband had just died and I was still reeling from 9/11.  We went to my cousins house and I told myself that I could have whatever I wanted because it was Thanksgiving.  Almost a year later I had my first WLS at 240 lbs.  I never stopped eating after that Thanksgiving.  There are no days off for me.  I make it work.

My only advice is to spend the time with family.  Develop a food plan then go enjoy the family time.  I had my last conversation with my 11-year-old neice on Thanksgiving last year (she passed from a car accident the next day).  But you'll love this, our conversation was about gravy.  After helping me make it, she was aware that there wasn't much gravy so she only took a little so everyone else could get some too.  She said if she wanted more she could come back after everyone else got theirs.  She loved the gravy!   But I will never forget her little face when she was explaining that she wanted others to get some because it's so good.  Her little heart was just amazing!  That....people....is what Thanksgiving is about - family and those awesome moments.  Don't let the food get in the way!  It simply enhances a family gathering but it is NOT why you're gathering in the first place. 

It would be sad to seclude yourself from the world for fear of eating. Read your thoughts aloud and hear how ridiculous it sounds. The best tip I can offer is to eat before you go to the gathering so you're not as hungry to be tempted

Wendy, go...you never know when something will happen that takes a family or friend from you.

As to your statement here:
I can make very healthy holiday recipes..Last year I made black bean brownies enough to feed half the people there and only 4 were eaten..Geeezz all that work

Did you tell anyone what they were made of before hand or just offer them on the dessert table?

I know from my point of view, I would not have even tried them if I had known ahead of time what they were...but if I thought they were regular brownies, I would have had a small amount assuming other desserts didn't call my name even more.

I've made stuff for gatherings and had most come home with me...but usually it's because there is so much to chose from and not everything gets eaten.

While at the meals, focus on protein...just eat so much of that that you can honestly say "I'm sorry...too full of the great turkey(/ham/whatever you had as protein) that I have no room for dessert." And just walk away from the desserts and keep a drink in your hand to keep it busy (even if you don't actually drink).

Liz

The first sentence of your post says I what I was trying to say much more concisely.

I don't like to eat in front of people so its a non-issue for me, and all the people in my bf's family are crappy cooks, so it makes it easy.

That's doesn't mean I don't eat, just not a lot, I always take simple things like ****tail shrimp, turkey, veggies etc. I just get full very quickly so my portions are small. I do eat a bit of dessert if it is something good. But honestly eating in front of people was never my problem.