Strategies for surviving Thanksgiving??

[Becca 108]

So I will be celebrating my first Thanksgiving sleeved next week. For some reason, I am very nervous about it! All that food that I love will be there. Even though I am ten months out, I would like to know if any of you have any tips for surviving holiday meals. I am so close to my goal and I don't want to walk away with a gain. Thanks!

[wishes 125]

Follow the plan. I would say Protein first then see what you can fit in after that. Don't deny yourself, but also look out for your health. That's what I am going to try and do.

[GetInMyBelly 80]

I asked my mom to try to make it healthier and simpler this year. I will have her famous turkey stew with barley in it :0) that's it.

[LissaD 1]

Lord forgive me but I feel Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful, merry, and happy. I do not plan to exclude any of my family"s great cooking! I cant physically eat as much as I did last Thanksgiving so Im not worried about th few bites here and there of my momma's famous dressing ! YUMMMM

[Lissa 2,631]

I'm actually cooking for T-day this year, so I am making it easy on myself. I'll be cooking a turkey breast, making deviled eggs, and stuffing. If anyone wants something different, or more, they'll need to bring it.

I can have the turkey and eggs, and a little stuffing if I have room. Since it will be me, my son and husband, and a few very close friends, I sat down and figured out what I really wanted to eat from the traditional dinner. I've always done the huge feast and had tons of leftovers, but I don't want to deal with them for weeks. I offered to cook more, but noone else wants a ton of leftovers either.

If I have leftover turkey, that's easy to deal with. The eggs and stuffing will undoubtedly be gone that day. I'm not making mashed taters, pies, or cakes. I don't need the temptation from them. If someone else brings them, they can take the uneaten food home with them.

I'm just NOT that into food this year. Can you tell?

[shellnsons 7]

I am trying to figure this out..my in laws are coming to my house and doing the cooking this year. I am so nervous they do not know I had the surgery 11 days ago.

[lsereno 2,525]

I'm in the same boat as you Becca. I'm 6 months out and I can eat more. I have yet to stay the same or gain since I've had the surgery, and I really hope to not break that trend on Thanksgiving week. We are having Thanksgiving at my sister-in-laws, but my husband and I are cooking most of the dishes.

I am making everything I usually make, but I will not be bringing chips and dip as I usually do. I am not going to eat everything from dinner. For example, I won't be wasting room on dinner rolls or mashed potatoes. For Breakfast, I will have my usually yogurt and a Soy Latte. At lunch I will eat the turkey liver and 1/4 cup of macaroni salad that I am making for dinner. Dinner is early in our family, around 3 p.m. I will have turkey with a bit of gravy, cranberry sauce, and a bite of stuffing. Later in the evening I will have a bite of pumpkin pie and maybe a piece of sees candy. I will be working out Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday Thanksgiving week. The next day for lunch and dinner, I will have turkey and a little something else, but not as much as on Thanksgiving.

My goal is to eat Protein first, limit the bad foods to 1/4 cup or less of only my favorites, and to NOT GRAZE. If I limit the number of times I eat during the day, I will automagically have more Portion Control. Additional goals are to limit the indulgence to Thanksgiving and the day after and to work out as many days as I can that week.

I'm looking forward to a fun family holiday. I'm toying with the idea of adding a new craft for the day: Maybe a little branch and a bunch of paper leaves. People write what they are grateful for on the leaves and then tape them to the tree. My family may find this too hokey. Other possibility is some little Christmas craft I can do with my nieces. They are in their late teens now, but sometimes still like to make a craft.

Lynda

[GetInMyBelly 80]

My brothers don't know either. My parents and I will tell them we r all on a diet. ;0) I had the surgery 15 days ago

I am trying to figure this out..my in laws are coming to my house and doing the cooking this year. I am so nervous they do not know I had the surgery 11 days ago.

[iegal 460]

Great topic. This will be my 2nd thanksgiving sleeved. Last year at 3 months out - I finally confessed to my mom that I had VSG surgery, she was clueless before then. My dad still does not know. So, my story is one of not everyone knowing about WLS.

Now how to survive. First of all, rejoice you are sleeved so restriction is in place. Take a little bit of everything you might enjoy skipping the breads. Smash it down, not piling up high like before. Don't let foods touch, don't let foods run over to the rim. Plate will look full and your eyes will be happy. Educate yourself before hand with fun topics. Remember your new habits of eating slowly, taking small bites and chewing for the count of 20 for every bite. Talk a lot, be the one with upcoming holiday news, memories of past holidays, a current event. Most of all enjoy the feast. Feasting is not about how much we consume, but about savoring the tastes. Those of you newbies who are not eating full solids yet, take along a dish of butternut squash Soup for all to enjoy and say this is all your tummy can tolerate since it feels a little different. That is a truthful statement.

With the sleeve you will be able to take a bite and enjoy. Yes, just a bite because our sleeve makes this possible. Savor the goodness. Thankful for my sleeve.

[DisneyAddict 10]

Lord forgive me but I feel Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful, merry, and happy. I do not plan to exclude any of my family"s great cooking! I cant physically eat as much as I did last Thanksgiving so Im not worried about th few bites here and there of my momma's famous dressing ! YUMMMM

That's my plan too for Carbogiving (aka stretchy pants day). I debated this for MONTHS now. Use splenda & low carb item substitutes where I can? Or just cook normally since I can't eat very much as it is? I finally decided on cooking normally since I can't eat much. I'm sending lots of leftovers home with my mother in law and keeping the turkey around to avoid temptation. I jokingly told my husband several days ago that it'd take me a whole week to eat the thanksgiving plates I used to fix myself but there's also some truth to that. I'm figuring a small spoonful of the sides will be more than enough for me. That morning, I'll probably stick to my usual coffee or pumpkin Protein coffee. I may have some almonds rather than Breakfast to get me through as I'm cooking. We'll probably eat at 12 or 1. I'm going to have to rely on my husband & mother in law to do my "tasting" for me as I'm cooking so I don't fill up on that which is entirely possible. I'm not so worried about having pie. Rarely did I have any pie in the last several years. Between my husband and brother in law, I'm sure they'll make quick work of them.

[kemo46 82]

Hey Becca, we have all been there. The way I handled the big family dinners is I tried everything and anything I wanted. The 4 ounces still does not do too much damage. I exercise before the meal to get my metabolism up and I exercise after. I did not deprive myself from anything I wanted to try. I actually lost two lbs. at our last big get together just because of the quanity that I had eaten and the exercise. Enjoy family and the great food.< /p>

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,282]

Hi Becca, well there's tons of foods you can eat to stay on plan. Thanksgiving and Christmas are surrounded by wonderful Protein filled foods. Just pick and choose wisely! Like, turkey (white meat if you want to be super good) and a tiny bit of gravy would be ok. You know, things like that. Being that you're in weight loss mode, do the Protein first rule and a few bites of your other favorite items.

You will be fine. I got through last Holiday Season and believe me... if I can do it - anyone can do it!

[mnbsleeve 87]

Thanks Becca for starting this thread and thank you all for the great suggestions!!! I am under 5 & 1/2 months out and this will be my first Thanksgiving. I will be cooking and hosting so I got something out of every post! The topic caught my eye because it was on my mind. Thanks guys!!!!

[minniekitty 44]

These are all great suggestions! I also have wondered about what I'm going to do for Thanksgiving. In the past, I used to eat soooo much. Now it's physically impossible for me to indulge (good thing!).

[lsereno 2,525]

Excellent tip to bring Butternut Squash Soup if you have recently had surgery. It's festive but can be tolerated easily. If you make it savory with sage and rosemary, you can dollop on some greek yogurt instead of sour cream to up the Protein content too.

Lynda