BariatricEating.com Health & Nutrition

Rant - Have a miserable Thanksgiving.

"I had a terrible Thanksgiving Day. I didn't have this surgery to be on a diet, so I tried to eat a little of everything but I got heartburn and had to throw up. I tried again, nothing stayed down, and then I felt sick the rest of the day. This surgery has made me miserable."

Your backwards thinking is what made you miserable! This surgery creates the need for a LIFESTYLE change. What we couldn't eat was NOT a punishment... what we COULD eat was actually a reward for the smaller sized clothing we were so proudly wearing and for the way we now feel after losing the equivalent of EIGHT 15 pound frozen turkeys.

Many of us did very well with the carb overloaded Thanksgiving holiday by planning for a few post op friendly dishes scattered throughout the day... shrimp trays during the nosh phase, turkey moistened with a little gravy and a few green beans (ok, a forkful of fav stuffing is okay too), and a lot of sugar free pumpkin custards and pumpkin pies were baked and consumed by the sliver. So a HUGE round of applause for all of us who did well and celebrated their new LIFESTYLE.

However, a smack in the head to everyone who was sad and complaining about sitting there watching everyone enjoy themselves. SNAP OUT IT and WAKE UP! You had better turn around that 'stinkin thinkin' and get the point of this surgery. We made a calculated tradeoff... gluttony for health... fat clothes for thin clothes... mountains of food for a taste of the foods we would really like to sample... quantity for QUALITY... size 28 for size 10... a bowl of stuffing with gravy for a slice of turkey with a light drizzle to moisten... Lane Bryant for Macy's. CELEBRATE what you CAN eat, and don't be sad over what you CAN'T eat. Positive versus Negative will get you a lot of mileage in LIFE, and this doesn't just apply to weight loss surgery post op-ness... but in ALL aspects in your well being.

Soooooo... if you need any reason to NOT eat and a boost to do better for the rest of this landmine filled season... head to the mall and accentuate all the POSITIVE aspects of your LOSS.

I have news for you if you were sad yesterday... we didn't lose potato chips, stuffing, candied yams, and mounds of mashed potatoes... we GAINED health, self respect, dignity, and additional years to enjoy with our families.

Have a great holiday season... this is just the start... plan for the next big event... have plenty of protein, make some cocoa out of the good chocolate proteins and you wont know you are drinking it... have a little sugar free chocolate... no one wants you to be the freak in the corner not eating or celebrating... JUST PLAN AHEAD THIS TIME.

Remember that absolutely 'Nothing tastes as good as thin feels!'

Susan Maria