Holiday check-in - how are folks doing???

Kix, you crack me up - your comment of bloating up like a parade balloon had me visualizing you puffed up, floating in mid-air, and being led down Main Street as the hit of the parade.   I can totally understand not allowing certain things in the house.  There are some things I still have a hard time leaving alone, ice cream being the worst.  I was a serious ice cream junkie before surgery, and it's something I still struggle with.  I don't buy it, but my roommates will occasionally bring some home.  Thankfully they understand my struggles, so they buy pints and stash them in the basement freezer.  Usually they've eaten it before I ever know it was in the house. 

I'm also struggling with keeping my activity level up.  I'm not challenged by bad weather and a crowded rec center (my gym was empty last night), but by all the other things I have to get done for the holidays.  I'm going to the gym whenever I have time, and look forward to getting back into my regular routine after Christmas.  Of course then I'll have to contend with all the folks at the gym who make New Year's resolutions to exercise.  Fortunately, most of them only last for a few weeks then it's back to us regulars.  I, of course, chat up the new folks and encourage them to keep on coming!  But I still give them the evil eye when they are using "my" machines...   I'm sure you'll have a great time on Christmas.  One of the traditions here for Jewish folks is to go for Chinese food and then to the movies.  Is that also common in Colorado?  Not sure where the tradition developed - perhaps because those places are open on Christmas.  Anyway, I'm sure you'll have a great day -

Kellie

When I lived in San Francisco, my fellow "members of the tribe" would attend the Kung Pao Comedy Show at the New Asia Restaurant.  I don't know if they do that here in CO. Our family celebrates Christmas as a winter holiday celebration and not as Jesus' birthday, so we do the whole thing, including visiting friends, etc.  I tend to be more eclectic in how I spend the holiday -- my sister is the traditionalist who needs to be with family even if all the family does is sit in front of the TV. Kix

This is a great idea - keeping accountable is HUGE this time of year! I've been up and down with my eating, but part of that has been problems with my hypoglycemia. It has been causing me BIG problems the past couple of weeks and I'm having a hard time controlling it. Whenever I have a low I get these cravings and I want to eat everything in site! From my research that's pretty normal when you get lows, but it's driving me batty!  Last night was the last straw for me, I went to visit a friend at the hospital and in the middle of talking to her I had a major swoosh - went white, started sweating and getting dizzy - they had to find some hard candy for me pretty quickly. I was so ticked off I went into research mode to find how to improve this with my diet, so I'm starting a new 'diet' today that is specific for this issue, I'm hoping it helps. Ugh, this is such a pain. Other than that lovely issue it hasn't been too hard - I let myself have treats every now and then and I'm maintaining pretty well. I make sure and document EVERYTHING! It doesn't matter if it's just a few chips, I write it down. I really think that helps, makes me more accountable. So, how are you doing? How's that plan doing, has is helped??

I hope your new plan helps with the hypoglycemia; that sounds like a real challenge to manage.  Do you keep hard candy or something with you at all times?  My roommate is diabetic, so I always try to keep something in my car in case her sugar gets low while we're out.  I'd be interested in your new plan when you have time to post it.   I'm doing pretty well.  I haven't been able to stick to my regular exercise routine because I've got too many other things I need to do (shopping, errands, wrapping, baking, visiting friends, etc.)  But I am going to the gym when I have time.  I'm also doing okay with food.  Like you, I have treats sometimes and I keep track of everything.  My goal for December was simply to maintain my weight and I've been doing that.  The next week will be the toughest, as there are lots of parties and celebrations that involve food.  But I will survive! 

Having the plan has helped me.  It gives me a center to go back to, instead of trying to address each situation as it arises.  If I have a plan for how I'm going to react to certain stimuli, I'm much less likely to do something I shouldn't. 

By the way, your new picture is fabulous - you're smokin' hot!!!!  Sizzle -

Kellie

Thanks for this post Kellie!!!  I'm hanging in there.  I'm not depriving myself but I'm not eating like a hog either. I'm trying to balance it and keep my workouts up to at least 5 times per week. For example, I have a dinner date tonight at Olive Garden (never been there) so I'm trying to watch the snacking/sweets today.  And I'm weighing twice a week now to help keep me in line. Any ideas on what to choose from Olive Garden???

Your plan sounds a lot like mine; exercise as much as possible and eat reasonably.   Olive Garden has some good choices.  I'd avoid pasta, just because of the calorie density.  A couple tasty options include the following: Venetian Apricot Chicken:  Grilled chicken breasts in an apricot citrus sauce. Served with broccoli, asparagus and diced tomatoes. Herbed Grilled Salmon:  Salmon filet brushed with Italian herbs and extra-virgin olive oil. Served with seasoned broccoli. Steak Toscano:  Grilled 14 oz choice center cut Strip steak brushed with Italian herbs and extra-virgin olive oil. Served with Tuscan potatoes and bell peppers. Mixed Grill:  Skewers of grilled marinated steak and chicken with a rosemary demi-glace, served with grilled vegetables and Tuscan potatoes.  (could ask for a double order of veggies and no potatoes if you want) Pork Filletino:  Grilled pork tenderloin marinated in extra-virgin olive oil and rosemary. Served with Tuscan potatoes and bell peppers.  (could ask for an order of veggies instead of potatoes if you want) Enjoy your dinner, whatever you choose!  The struggle for me at Olive Garden is always the endless salad and breadsticks...   Kellie

I usually keep hard candy with me, but lately I've been so stable that I haven't worried about it. That changed a couple of weeks ago when my whoosh's started changing to all out dizzy spells. And they started hitting so fast - usually I can tell when it's coming on but not anymore. It's very sudden and scary. Today I've been sucking on candy all day - I had more problems later this morning and I can't exactly eat all day (tried it, all I did was make myself sick!) and candy doesn't bother me, so this is my current solution. Not a great one but at least I feel ok My plan is still being formulated   - it's mostly me watching what I eat together. I have noticed certain foods, combined together, really get me off track. So I am ALWAYS eating a protein with a carb - I usually try to do that but I've gotten off that for a while. And I'm trying to add  more complex carbs like veggies and fruits and stop with the crackers and cereal - I'll treat myself every now and then with these but I'm going to try no treats for a while. I think it's mostly when and how often you eat for me, and I need to watch that a bit more carefully. Ugh. Good for you for staying at the same weight! That's a big accomplishment! Although next week will be big, for me as well. Luckily the family I am visiting don't do the 'tons of food' thing so I should do ok. I just have to keep up with my running! And thanks for the compliment - that was my fav dress and I loved how pretty I felt in it. Now I just need a date so I can show off how I look!

I'm curious, because I've done a lot of reading about this reactive hypoglycemia stuff (what little I can find..).  Did you dump from the beginning?  And were you a super-sensitive dumper or did it take a good bit of sugar?  I have yet to read anything clearly relating the patients who dump to the patients with hypoglycemia - but it seems like the few people on here I've read about with these problems were also people who dumped pretty strongly right from the start.  I also wonder if you dump frequently, if that maybe causes the pancreatic hypertrophy? It really seems like more and more people are reporting the hypoglycemia symptoms.  Its like many didn't realize that was what was going on with them until they read about the same thing happening to other people.  Or people who self-treat and didn't realize that was unusual - always eating a piece of candy a little while after a meal because otherwise they feel "funny"  If it gets worse do you think you'll consider getting part of your pancreas chopped off? 

I've never dumped, ever. And I can eat tons of sugar (unfortunately) and have no problem at all. The only problem I've had is the sugar lows - mine hasn't been as bad as others but it's still frustrating. Actually, I felt I had it pretty much under control until a few weeks ago and then it just changed on me - symptoms were completely different and it happened much faster. Kind of weird, I don't know why it's so different now then it was 6 months ago. I just have to keep experimenting and see what works. I'm surprised at how often it has come up - no one in my support group seems to have the problem and my nutritionist has only seen it a few times before. But if you read the boards here it is everywhere! It makes sense with all the changes made to our bodies that this would happen and I'm glad it's becoming a more talked about subject. I can't imagine getting my pancreas chopped off, I will try everything before that happens! Candy has been a big deal for me and it does help, even after I've eaten. I haven't had a problem exercising since I eat some high protein pudding right before and that seems to work - no dizziness yet!  Actually I have noticed I do really well when I hike - I don't have to eat as often and I have never had it happen, although I do take tootsie rolls just in case. Kind of weird when you think about it. It's all a mystery, I tell ya!

HEY KELLIE,         GOOD POST SISTER..... I FOR ONE JUST HAD MY SON IN LAW TASTE TEST MY PEANUT BUTTER BALLS OR DEER BALLS SOME CALL THEM... JEEZ THE CHOCOLATE SMELLS WILL KILL YA... BUT AM USED TO IT BY NOW. LEON IS A SWEET HEAD AND HAS TO HAVE SWEETS AROUND THE HOUSE SO GET USED TO IT... BUT SENT HIM HOME WITH THREE BOXES OF RITZ CRACKERS LOL... YES AS I TOLD YALL ... IM A CRACKER CRACK HEAD... WHY ME AND LEON HAVE DONE DOVE IN ONE BOX.. I BOUGHT THE HUGE ONE AT SAMS... THATS A TOTAL NONO WITH ME... GOTTA HAVE IT FOR SQUASH CASSEROLES AND BROCCOLI CASSEROLES AND THE ROTEL AND CHEESE DIP FOR CHRISTMAS EVE... SO YES... ITS A TOUCH AND GO THING IF ITS IN THE HOUSE.. AND LIKE KIX SAID... DOESNT EFFECT ME UNTIL THE SODIUM HITS YA OR IN MY CASE CONSTIPATION WILL TAKE OVER WITH ALL THAT BREAD... BUT WHY CAN I EAT THAT AND NOT SANDWICHES??? WHAT THE HELL... I BUY THE DOUBLE FIBER BREAD AND TRY TO EAT ONE SLICE WITH AN EGG OR TURKEY OR HAM LUNCH MEAT AND IT BOUGHT KILLS ME... WHO KNOWS...IM ABOUT THRU WITH ALL MY BAKING.. JUST THREE RED VELVET CAKES TO GO... FREEZER IS PACKED ALREADY... DONT KNOW WHO I THINK IM FEEDING LOL.. THE LOCAL MARINE BASE I GUESS LOL... TWO CAKES I GIVE AS GIFTS... IVE GAVE TO MY SON IN LAWS FAMILY SINCE MY DAUGHTER AND HIM WERE DATING NEARLY TEN YEARS AGO...MY GRANDSON KEEPS LOSING HIS TEETH AROUND HERE AND CANT TELL IF ITS HALLOWEEN OR CHRISTMAS WITH HIS JACKOLANTERN SMILE LOL... WELL THATS ABOUT IT... TAKE IT ONE DAY AT A TIME AND STAY BUSY,,, PAINTING A HOMEMADE CRADLE FOR MY GRANDDAUGHTER NOW... SO SWEET. HAPPY HOHOHO HUGS MARGE