It's a brave new world out here post surgery. I've now hit a couple of milestones (hit the 50 pounds lost a few weeks ago and today am under 300 for the first time in....well, quite a while) but the question is how do you Celebrate now? It used to be that for special events, anniversaries, birthdays, work events, promotions, etc it was off to a restaurant, have a cake, etc to celebrate. That, obviously, won't work anymore.

It hasn't been a major issue so far, I just pass on the cake at work (although someone brought a HUGE carrot cake the other day...and carrot cake IS the devil...but I wasn't even tempted), eat sensibly at restaurants, etc but I know it's going to come up at some point.

I know, there's go to a movie, take a romantic walk, have a sugar free Jello... But what do you REALLY do?

I felt the same way. All of my milestones (onederland, certain pant sizes, goal weight) have kind of been anticlimactic because I don't know how to celebrate now. No cake, no alcohol, no huge steak dinner. I never went with the "buy yourself something" advice because 1) I don't have a lot of spare $$$ just lying around and. 2) shopping can certainly become a cross addiction...no sense starting up a bad habit.

So I end up just sharing the news with my sister or a close friend, posting on here, and quietly embracing the warm fuzzy feeling and pat myself on the back. On the flip side, I'm hoping I can handle life's sad/ disappointing moments as non-destructively as the good times, since food and alcohol were my go to's for those also.

how do you celebrate???

@@VPenn

when i reached GOAL - this grammy got her first tattoo!!

I had the first letter of each of my grandkids put on my wrist with a heart under each letter!!

M organ A ndrew E than

no heart on board

smiley stands for heart

how cool am I ??? :D

kathy

Edited August 23, 201412 yr by proudgrammy

I am fine with a 'normal' celebration that involves food. Just can't overdo it.

Proudgrammy....that is SO cool! And a very good idea. My sister and I have been trying to talk my mom into a tattoo for years. Maybe you should give her a call.

I'm bad, I shop! But I am at goal and have such a tiny wardrobe that I actually need to shop. Now I can justify spending a little money because I'm not gonna donate the clothes to goodwill in a month. Other ways I celebrate is with a pedicure or brag to my boyfriend! He is the only one I will brag to because he is so supportive and loving and won't get jealous. Or take a selfie lol! I'm loving the new me, I am in my college size. Now the long road of maintenance.

@@Kindle

my hubby wasn't that thrilled that i got a tattoo

i promised him i wouldn't get another one for the next 60 years

i guess my confidence has gone up so much.........

a few months later i got the word "survivor" (small pretty italics) above my right ankle!!!

i am a proud breast cancer survivor

btw - what is your moms phone # ????

kathy

Edited August 24, 201412 yr by proudgrammy

Great answers! I've been putting off a tattoo for almost 20 years till I find someone that can do just what I want. Maybe when I hit my goal...but there are a lot of celebrations and I'd hate to have that be my go to. I'd look like a biker in no time! ha ha

Appreciate all the input. It's part of what makes this forum so great!

Oh, and since I forgot...when you go thru clothes sizes and need to donate them PLEASE don't donate to Goodwill. If you work for them, or someone you know does, hear me out.

Goodwill Industries, while doing good work by employing the handicapped also take advantage of a 1939 law that lets them pay employees as low as 11 cents per hour. Yes, you read that right, eleven cents. Under that law they "test" a person who is considered fully functioning, say at folding towels, and if they do 100 in 15 minutes whatever percentage a handicapped person can do in the same amount of time is the percentage they have to pay them. It's criminal.

That and the fact that the CEO of Goodwill Industries makes in the neighborhood of $5 MILLION a year.

Thus ends my rant for this evening. I now return you to your normally scheduled programming.

I was about to respond that there is nothing wrong with celebrating by going out to dinner but then I thought of my first experience in a restaurant since surgery and I get why that wouldn't be much fun. Some ideas:

1. Buy yourself something

2. if you are married.....get the wifey to do something special for you...

3. Get a massage

4. Still nothing wrong with having a drink once in awhile

When you are celebrating weight loss related occasions perhaps you could try doing things you couldn't or wouldn't do before....amusement parks, dance classes, heck taking off my shirt at a public pool, sky diving, etc.

GUYS ROOM GUYS ROOM GUYS ROOM!!!!!!

Hey, some good ideas here. never thought about how to Celebrate. I guess celebrating in the past always included calories!!! I assume, that I can celebrate by buying the next size down and donating my clothes.... I donate to the Vietnam Veterans of America. I bag it and set it out front. They drive by and pick it up. Very convenient.