Anyone getting nervous cuz those holiday calories are coming?

This is going to be my first holiday season after WLS.  Although I am excited that this year I am under 300 lbs, I am nervous that I will make bad choices.  I have to plan out my holiday meals and bring my own healthier versions of foods that I can eat. 
I don't dump. So I know I can eat sugars and fats.  That's what makes it harder for me.

I saw that Marie Calenders makes sugar free pies.  I'm not much of a cook so I will definately be ordering one.

I know I shouldn't be worrying so soon but I am a slow looser and I can't afford to get distracted.

To those of you that had your wls before last years holidays, how was it?


~Cynthia

Remember when restaurants say things are sugar free they usually add more fats to make it taste better. I have a friend that is manager of a famous pie restaurant and she says sometimes the sugar free isn't the healthier choice.

It's mind over matter when it comes to making the best choices. You can get through the holidays no problem if you plan ahead.

I'll never forget my first Christmas after WLS, for the first time ever I LOST weight instead of gaining the normal 5+ lbs!

Good luck to you, you can do this!!

I had my first holiday season last year at about 3-4mos out and just starting to get hungry. It was surprisingly easy for me. I had a bite of whatever I wanted at Thanksgiving but was full so fast that I didn't get more than that of any one thing (besides turkey which I ate between bites of the yummier things).

I do dump, but a bite or two of something sweet has become quite satisfying, once you detox from a lot of sugar and carbs everything seems too sweet IMO.

Consider a few modifications - instead of egg nog get soy nog (which tastes rather good). Make your pumpkin pie as a sugar-free or low-sugar pumpkin fluff or pumpkin cheesecake. Concentrate on meat first and you'll be so full the other things will just simply not fit. Skip side dishes like mashed taters and stuffing or replace them with mashed sweet potatoes for the extra vitamins.  A slowly cooked sweet potato needs little or no sweetening, just some cinnamon, yum and its a good source of fiber and vitamins. Focus on veggies instead of carbier sides, and keep the sauces and butter to a minimum. Skip the dinner rolls and breads, they fill you up so fast and then leave you hungry again an hour later. And if you want a treat, portion out ONE treat and put the rest away. Don't keep temptations around for your family, they will live without it and you might end up in it. You'd be surprised how much junk food will fit in a little pouch, I know I was!

Good luck!

I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE HOLIDAY FOOD TO START!!!
I had the DS, so I don't have the same concerns as a non-DSer with food choices, but notice my surgery date:  December 13, 2007.
Last Thanksgiving, on was on the pre-op liquid diet -- totally sucked!
Christmas, on was on the post-op liquid diet -- which didn't totally suck because I didn't want to eat anything anyway (all I wanted to do was sleep).
But, I love, Love, LOVE food -- especially big family meal food, and I am so looking forward to shoving in as much as I possibly can!
If I gain weight, well that is what January 1 is for every year.  Ha Ha!!

I'm actually not too terribly concerned.  This is my first holiday season post-op, too, but I have a very large, very southern family that loves their southern cooking even though we live in the midwest now!  I have been dealing with this from day one.  I have just learned to prepare ahead of time. 

I try to time my meals so that I eat just before arriving at the home of whomever is hosting the a party.gathering.  If I'm full from the start, I just can't snack.  I also carry Power Crunch protein bars in my purse so if I'm there long enough to get hungry or I'm feeling deprived, I nibble on that. 

If I'm hosting the gathering, I never make it sit down, it's always more like appetizers or something while people mill around and I try to make mostly things that I either can't stand or am allergic too.  I also eat something just before the party. 

I am sweating about it already too.  We are Polish and that means a meatless mostly STARCH vigil supper on Xmas eve at Grandma's.  The menu is usually

greasy fried fish, Cohens seedless rye, pierogies (homemade-KILLER GOOD) which are also fried and liberally slatherd with full fat sour cream, kapusta, mushroom soup that contains 1/2 a lb of butter and 2 pints of heavy cream, and cookies for dessert.

I am bringing a plate of WLS friendly foods for me to eat.  Grandma is already offended.  She doesn't get it.  Food is love to her.

 

Mmmm, pierogies. 

I guess I'm lucky that my Italian half came from my Dad and I never learned Northern Itialian cooking. My Mom is a Swiss/German/English WASP and not a good cook. All my cooking skills were self taught, but I do have memories of visiting the Italian clan (several hours away in the Mon Valley) and the Aunts competing to see whose ravioli was best.

Good luck with Grandma. Can you interest her in a sparkly pencil?

Lol..."sparkly pencil"  

I am not so much nervous about the foods, it is the people. My inlaws cause a lot of stress for my husband and I. They do not know that I have had surgery and if I can get out of this weekend, they will see me until Thankgivings at our house. the last time they saw me was before surgery...I am not sure how my MIl is going to react. She is a big time fat phobe...so she may not say anything at all.

Thanksgiving is at our house, so I will make sure we have something I can eat. We do Christmas Eve at my parents and my mom is very supportive (other than her Fantasy Fudge, I am not worried about that). Christmas Day is at my brother in laws (with the inlaws). Hopefully it goes well.

ooooo, fantasy fudge!!
bring some home for me??  :)