holiday fear

Okay everyone, I'm scared for the holidays.  Since having my surgery in March, this is the first time I have to deal w/ holiday food.  I mean I was okay at Easter, but I'm really worried about Thanksgiving and Christmas.  How did everyone get thru their "first" holiday meals???? 

Any advice would be wonderful. 

Thanks everyone!

 Thanksgiving wasn't that hard really...eat your protein first (turkey with a little gravy) and some veggies.  Then a small sliver of dessert.  I did the same for christmas.  Be careful of liquid calories...egg nog etc, is a slider and gives no restriction.  If you're at holiday parties, I aim to hang out at the shrimp ****tail (doesn't everyone?) have a glass of white wine. Some of my entree (chicken or beef) and a few bites of veggies.

One thing about being banded, food isn't as much fun and I really look for items that are worthy of my pouch and high in protein first.

It is scary tho...still is.

 
As coachgirl said, get your protein in first. And she is right about egg nog. Tons of calories in that! :-( I was really shocked by it when I read the calorie count.

Everyone has their own approach to weight loss. My advice is find what works for you and do it. Some totally avoid unhealthy food. Some just do it special occasion. Some have it on a regular basis............just not as much.

As far as me............I will be enjoying the holiday meals. I will eat what I want and enjoy it. I will try to cut back more before and after the holidays so that it won't be that much of an issue.

 As Maria says - what works for you. It depends really on your individual psychology. If you get burdened down by guilt, eat with great care and continue to feel virtuous and lose weight! And for some a few days of splurging makes getting back on track very, very hard.

My own philosophy apart from the first few months has always been " be normal". So just like those around me, I eat all the wrong things at Christmas! Thoroughly enjoy them. Say rude things to the scles at the end of the week. Then get back to the business of good eating.

It isn't the Xmas meal - in the UK we almost all have turkey, ham joint or sausages, roast veggies, stuffing, gravy. Very high protein and so easy to eat well. For me it us the nibbles!  The extra meals, Xmas cake with a goass of wine etc.. After dinner liqueur. Meal time champagne.

But in my 5+ years of bring bsnded, it has always been the case for me that quick gain with  a quick return to band eating has resulted in the excess going almost as quickly a it went on. The key word is auick! Getting back on track without delay.

But you have to find your own way.

Ate

Thank you everyone for your responses.  I really not worried about eating unhealthy, I don't like egg nog and I'm not much for cakes and cookies or pies.  My downfall is stuffing.  My gosh I could eat ALLLLLL stuffing and be completely happy!  LOL.  I was worried about portions.  I would love to hang out but the shrimp, because I love shelfish, but after my 3rd child was born, I have become very allergic to shelfish!  Doctors dont know why, but I LOVEEEEE(d) shelfish! 

I was scared too, with going out to eat the first time.  I guess, I'm worried I will be getting judged by my family that I don't see often. 

Anyway, thanks again everyone!! 

 Stuffing's actually pretty easy.  Eat your turkey first with gravy till you feel satisfied.  Then take a little stuffing and some veggies.  You'll be happy, satisfied and probably a little full...but careful not too full.

Your relatives will make comments, so be ready with your answers.  If they know about the surgery, they may want to know specifics...what you can/can't eat.  If they don't know...they will be dying to know how you did it...low carb, eat less, move more...true, right?

My dh's family doesn't know how I lost the weight.  None of their business.  It has been driving my SIL crazy.  Which somehow makes it all that much ..better? ;)