I am currently in Canada, and I feel the weather changing already here. I love the cool nights and changing of the leaves. But along with all these lovely things comes the anxiety of possibly going back home to Texas for Thanksgiving. I have not seen my family in almost 2 years and they do not know about me having WLS 2 months ago. If I do go back home I know that they are going to be wondering what is going on with me if I don't eat as much as I usually do at Thanksgiving. Also I am worried about not being able to control myself around that sort of buffet of my favorites.

I am seriously considering just not going home this year and maybe wait until next year when I am farther out from my surgery and stronger in dealing with my cravings.

Any advice how yall have dealt with the holidays?

You will be able to control yourself. i felt the same way. Just tell them you are on a very special high protein diet and if you get off of it, it will end all your hard work. This is one reason alot of of us are overweight. Eat eat they say. No more....Are tell them in alittle bit you will eat. Go have fun. My family was happy to see me thin. 15 years I have been over 200. dont worry have fun girl

I hear you. I come from a family of big eaters. I think it will be easier this year since I will still be in the "honeymoon period." My plan is to have a little turkey and a bite of my mom's unbelievably delicious homemade rolls. One bite, not 3 rolls like usual. I will just push the other food around, and maybe slip some to the dogs :ph34r: Honestly, most people are so busy eating and talking, I don't think they will notice. Worst case scenario, I will sit at the kids table with my neices and no one really will notice. I'll just keep so busy with them I won't even have time to worry about food.

We can do this! We are stronger that food!

Jip.The sleeve will not allow you to overeat much.I went back home for 3 weeks in July and lost more than 15 pounds in that time.We ate at restaurants at least twice a day.I didnt track my food.ordered what I felt like.Ate too much a few time.Had some pain.

I personally think food,even if you just eat Proteins,prepared with the higher fat they use in restaurants made me fuller much faster and I ate less.

Just relax and enjoy!

You'll do great! I like the "high protein diet" idea. Just don't overeat.....you'll be miserable.

I have a very beautiful little plate made of Depression Glass that i found at an antique market. I bring it with me to gatherings (I'm crafty so i actually made a little padded bag for it with an inner pocket for my baby fork and spoon! LOL) I whip it out and use it. It is the perfect size that if I fill it moderately full, it's the perfect amount. If anyone asks, I just say that I'm trying to psych myself out with a full plate. They usually buy it. I'm pretty open about things though so most of my friends and family know I had the surgery.

i like the tiny plate thing lol that's cute!

i'd probably just be like -- i'm trying to eat healthier so i had some nuts before i came over, so i wouldn't eat so much... or "hey, i'm trying that roca labs thing where it fills up your stomach, so i can't eat too much!" lol

Lucky for me, I hate Thanksgiving, and most of the foods associated with it! ANyway, you THINK you will pig-out, but trust me, overeat once or twice, and you won't do it again! Our eyes are bigger than our stomachs. You can't eat volumes of food anymore. Have a bite or 2 of what is on your plate, and keep it movings!

If anyone comments on your eating pattern, just tell them the truth, that you have decided to get healthy, and no longer eat large portions. If they keep asking questions, ignore them!

Last year I was less than 1 month post op on Thanksgiving, I told my family I was on a diet but I still put food on my plate and poked at it so nobody really noticed I was not eating. I also made a platter of deviled eggs and that was what I poked at from the appetizers, everyone was so into just enjoying no one really payed attention to me or what I ate. You will be fine, you are losing weight so they will totally believe you are on a diet.