Thanksgiving survival!

Hi Members

I can't believe the holidays are here Planning ahead is key to staying on track and eating well. Here are some links that I hope will help you with your Thanksgiving planning.

Articles

Threads with recipes and suggestions

Do you have a favorite recipe or suggestion for Thanksgiving survival? Thanks for sharing

Regards,

Kathy

I try everything at holiday meals. I focus on the protein items first and enjoy at least a bite of everything else. By eating the protein first, there isn't a whole lot of room to get too indulgent, and having a bite prevents me from feeling at all deprived, right down to the pumpkin pie.

Thanks Valerie

My Thanksgiving survival is work. I'll be working nights for Thanksgiving, avoiding the whole thing entirely. Work all night, sleep all day. Now if I can just ignore the Southern Comfort eggnog that keeps calling my name!

Well while that works that stinks Southern Comfort? What Southern Comfort?

Chris, Chris, Chris, if you are going to do it, do it right!!!

https://youtu.be/ybXrrTX3LuI

I'm only six weeks out so I'm hoping this lasts for me, but I did find a method of dealing with temptations that allowed me to go ten weeks before surgery on a diet of just white meat chicken, turkey and fish, no dairy, no fruit, and only non-starchy vegetables and protein drinks (I lost 62 pounds before surgery) . I carried that same method into my post surgery world and have lost over 40 more pounds.

I don't deny myself. But, I do make choices. As an example, my mom loves cheez-its. And I used to be able to eat an entire box in one sitting. Of course, now I'm physically incapable of doing so, but I could eat a couple handfuls if I chose to. So, instead, if I absolutely have to have some, I eat one or two. I eat them consciously, log them and savor them. Two Cheez-its are 12 calories, 2 carbs and 1 gram of fat. It allows the craving to be satisfied and I know in a few days I can indulge again (I have found that the craving is satisfied for more than two weeks).

So, for Thanksgiving, I will have a smidge of this, a teaspoon of that, and a taste of everything that appeals to me. But the difference is I will NOT mindlessly eat anything. If I decide to put something in my mouth, I will enjoy it, savor it, consciously eat it and log it. I will remember eating it. That is the promise I made to myself. And if I do take a taste and don't like it, I will very quietly, preferably unseen, spit it into a napkin and not swallow. I refuse to eat anything and consume calories for anything that I do not enjoy (or at least tolerate - like protein powder).

For thanksgiving dinner I am making 2 turkeys (one stuffed and roasted and one spatch-****ed and smoked) and a ham. We'll have gravy, a green bean casserole, roasted mashed butternut squash (with stevia and cinnamon), some kind of bread or roll and some other green vegetable (probably roasted brussel sprouts).

When I decided to do this, I fully embraced the idea that I would be changing my relationship with food and using the WLS as a tool to fall back on when I was weak. I have found for me that knowing that I can not eat 8 pieces of fried chicken in a sitting has been liberating. I can't do it. Not that I'm not allowed to, but that I physically can't.

I'm hoping that this Thanksgiving will be different for me than any other I have ever experienced.

Thanks for sharing