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| Shelly's Strawberry Cannoli Santas |
1. Plan your meals including any holiday snacks or indulgences. If it's not on the day's plan. It shouldn't go in your mouth. One of my post op mantras: Don't trade what you want most, for what you want at the moment.
A few tips and thoughts on Post Weight Loss Surgery Menu Planning
2. Eat protein dense meals. I want to snack less when I've eaten a protein dense breakfast, lunch & dinner.
Protein Packed Grab & Go Breakfast Ideas
More Eggface Bariatric Surgery Friendly Breakfast Recipes and Ideas
3. If possible bring a weight loss surgery friendly dish to a party, that way you are assured of something yummy you can eat. Lots of ideas here and here. Remember even healthier goodies can be overindulged in so stick to your plan for the day and proper portions.
4. Learn to say "No Thank You" when offered non-weight loss surgery friendly items. "Oh Aunt Suzie thank you those look soooo good but I'm saving room for some of that *insert food you can eat* (Ideas: delicious turkey, cheese, veggie...)" and don't feel guilty about saying No. It's not your job to make everyone happy and certainly not at your health's expense.
5. Parties, visitors, phone calls, kids concerts will mess with your schedule. Treat exercise like a VERY IMPORTANT appointment put it on your calendar. Don't break the appointment.
Move every chance you get... take a neighborhood night walk to look at holiday lights. If your weather is not cooperating turn on some music and dance, do some rockin' around the Christmas tree. Here's a simple video that talks about creating a fitness calendar.
Stocking stuffer idea: Buy everyone in your family pedometers or if you already wear an activity tracker, every night chart how many steps each person walked. Give a non-food prize to the highest step taker each month (movie tickets, choice of game on game night, day trip of their choice, etc.)
6. Don't skip the basics. Drink your water and take your vitamins.
7. Don't drink your calories: 80-150 cals per glass wine, 140-200 cals per beer, 150-200 cals each shot, 300-800 cals per mixed drink and that doesn't include any poor eating choices made while feeling a buzz.
8. If you dread the holidays you probably need to rethink them. They shouldn't put you into debt, make you feel awful or anxious, or be something you are forced to do out of obligation. As we lose weight we often find our voice. IT'S OK TO SAY NO to activities and extras that might stress you out. The world won't come to an end if you don't go to that holiday party or event.
9. Take the emphasis off food, booze, material things and onto reconnecting with those you love (put down the smartphone & TALK)
10. Remember that it's a holiDAY not a holiMONTH. Wrap up leftovers, freeze for use in other meals (ham cubes for Bites aka Crustless Quiches or Soups) or give them away (invite some teenage boys or college kids over they will be gone in a blink.) I hate waste but feeling bad for tossing a few baked goods and wasting some money now or co-pays for Dr's from the results of obesity-related health issues later. Not really a choice.
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| Shelly's Thanksgiving Turkey Day Leftover Bites |
11. Party foods unless you are in control of cooking them can have lots of hidden things in them... sauces high in sugars, fatty cooking methods, and could be a ticket to dump city. Best bet: Bring something you can eat. If the holiday get-together is not a potluck (or what is you guys in the Midwest call it... a "pitch-in") then consider eating before the party or be sure to eat something you have eaten before. You don't want to try something new at a party, have it not agree with you and end up feeling sick instead of enjoying your friends and family.
Oodles of Healthy Party Food Recipes and Ideas
12. Eating (in the first few weeks especially) is not something to be done on the fly. Picture this scenario...
You pop a shrimp in your mouth and start to chew chew chew as directed by your bariatric team but Auntie Suzie comes over and starts oohing and ahhing about your weight loss, how good you look, sooooo.... gulp. Down goes a big hunk of shrimp. You start to thank her and talk but soon realize that hunk of shrimp is sitting like a rubber ball and not moving... she still jabbering away and you try and smile but you are in pain, sweating, nauseous... you excuse yourself and make your way to the bathroom and you spend the next few hours praying to the porcelain Gods and swearing you will never eat another shrimp (it wasn't the shrimp's fault.) This is a hard lesson to learn. Trust me.
We're entering some hard months... lots of triggers, foods, family, events, stress, it's TOUGH stuff. Remember: YOU ARE TOUGHER! Hope these tips help you have a great post weight loss surgery celebration! We have so much to celebrate!
Check out my Pinterest Boards for even more holiday ideas.
