It's the holidays.... No doubt if you are a banded person in the losing stage... You have survived holiday office, neighborhood and family parties over the past few weeks by making good decisions and forgoing the sweets and booze. Or maybe you are on liquids, newly banded and struggled through sipping your meals out of a straw.

Either way You have continued to lose during this time and you should be very proud of yourself. But we are down to the wire and the cooking for Christmas is beginning and all you can do is think about everything you can't have when really you should think about everything you can have.

If you are on liquids during this time... I can relate. I was banded on dec 9 two years ago and wasn't allowed mushies until January 1.... So I found other things to do while people ate on christmas day and while I was feeling pretty sorry for myself I made the most out of it and kept telling myself it would be worth it in the end. I remember I took all the children outside while the adults were going for round two!

If you are on solids... You can eat just like everyone else. You can have the same things everyone else does...just smaller portions of it. Spend your time looking up calorie counts and smile to yourself knowing your meal cost you 300 calories... Your uncles pile of food cost him 1500!!!

My point it...the holidays are a time to Celebrate friends and family...being together and sharing time with loved ones. You are on a journey to increase your time on this earth...dont waste it on fretting over what you cannot have. Focus on what you do have...and that is will power and momentum to have a better you around for many more holidays to come.

Excellent post!

Very well put Floridays! TY

And look at you now, it was "all worth it in the end"huh

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, Floridays!

I agree. I have some of everything just very little and it still taste good. A spoonful goes a long way. I have learned to enjoy food now instead of inhaling it.

_{good post ty}

Great post.... Merry Christmas all!

I agree, excellent post, Floridays! Merry Christmas to you all!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Love it! Thank you I needed this right now! Temptation is everywhere!!!!!

It's the holidays.... No doubt if you are a banded person in the losing stage... You have survived holiday office' date=' neighborhood and family parties over the past few weeks by making good decisions and forgoing the sweets and booze. Or maybe you are on liquids, newly banded and struggled through sipping your meals out of a straw.

Either way You have continued to lose during this time and you should be very proud of yourself. But we are down to the wire and the cooking for Christmas is beginning and all you can do is think about everything you can't have when really you should think about everything you can have.

If you are on liquids during this time... I can relate. I was banded on dec 9 two years ago and wasn't allowed mushies until January 1.... So I found other things to do while people ate on christmas day and while I was feeling pretty sorry for myself I made the most out of it and kept telling myself it would be worth it in the end. I remember I took all the children outside while the adults were going for round two!

If you are on solids... You can eat just like everyone else. You can have the same things everyone else does...just smaller portions of it. Spend your time looking up calorie counts and smile to yourself knowing your meal cost you 300 calories... Your uncles pile of food cost him 1500!!!

My point it...the holidays are a time to celebrate friends and family...being together and sharing time with loved ones. You are on a journey to increase your time on this earth...dont waste it on fretting over what you cannot have. Focus on what you do have...and that is will power and momentum to have a better you around for many more holidays to come.

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I love this post! I'm not banded yet, but I can imagine how difficult it may be during this time. You always seem to come through with the utterly amazing and motivating posts full of wisdom and personal experiences that we all at some point or another face. Thank you for taking the time to share your words with us! Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a very happy new year!

I love this post! I'm not banded yet, but I can imagine how difficult it may be during this time. You always seem to come through with the utterly amazing and motivating posts full of wisdom and personal experiences that we all at some point or another face. Thank you for taking the time to share your words with us! Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a very happy new year!

Thanks...just want to be able to help others get through the tough times ...and to know that it is SO WORTH THE EFFORT!!!! happy holidays to you too!

Thank you great post, it's so hard this time of year, I am really struggling with all the lovely goodies, I need to keep focused ....

Just had dinner with my in laws and the entire family. Tasted just a little of everything...but mostly had the turkey with no gravy. Took a bite of my husband's dessert and that was enough. The three hour car ride right now is a lot more comfortable because I didn't stuff myself!!

Happy Holidays!!

Excellent post!

Tomorrow I'm cooking for all my family, 25 people and this is my first Christmas with the band. I know I will have my Protein first then veggies or salad. It's not even going to worry me if I have any sweets or not. For the first time ever I'm not going to be complaining I'm going to explode from all the food and just watch everyone else suffer lol. To be so not interested in all the food is such a blessing.

I really needed that tonight. Awesome post! My family came in tonight and while its great seeing them they are a reminder of the way life used to be. As I type this, my brother is in the kitchen fixing himself a snack. It is 10:47 right now. A year ago, a month ago... I would have been in there with him. I was banded Wednesday and this is the beginning of MY journey. I cannot stress that to my family enough. We all have our cards to play, this is my hand and I have my eyes set on the jackpot!

We had our Christmas dinner on Eve. I ate everything that everyone else ate...but instead of a huge plate, I had just enough on a small salad plate and couldn't finish it all...huge change from 3 years ago. I love how my band stops me from eating more. It's tough at times, but it's there to remind me.