For many of us, Thanksgiving takes an enormous amount of emotional energy to get through, since it has traditionally been the one time a year that we were “legally allowed” to stuff our selves (along with the turkey)! Now I am no mathematician, but even I can figure out what might go haywire when you add cultural “permission” to over eat (Thanksgiving) with the stress of reuniting with family members!



With families come emotional buttons that have been embedded since childhood and are visible only to a select few. This can affect the depth and tone of how we communicate with those who have impacted our lives the most. Add to this the expectations of having the perfect family holiday and it is no wonder that Thanksgiving can feel more like a minefield than a celebration for those of us who struggle with our relationship with food. 



So, how can you show up for Thanksgiving this year in a completely different way and leave feeling nourished (instead of stuffed) and joyful (instead of disappointed)? By changing one simple but profound thing: your focus.

What might your holiday be like if you were to intentionally shift your focus from your relationship with food, to your relationship with the people that matter most to you?

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on our many blessings, not the least of which are the important relationships in our lives. You can increase the prospects of having an emotionally connecting and satisfying holiday with your family by doing only one thing in advance. Noticing your profound (and authentic) gratitude for the people who make a difference in your life. 



Here are three simple steps that can make gratitude and appreciation tastier than any prize-winning stuffing at your Thanksgiving table:



1. Make a list of the people you will be seeing who have made a real difference in your life.


2.Write down bullet points of the contributions each of them have made and how their support has impacted you.


3. Express these sentiments to them – in a letter, email, call, poem, conversation at the dinner table, etc.



What better way to set the emotional table for a heartfelt and meaningful holiday than by telling people how much they mean to you. Even if there have been hurt feelings in the past, if it is equally true that there are examples of loving acts, kindness, and compassion toward you, than remembering and being present with that reality will shape your life (and theirs) in immeasurable ways.

If you are willing to share what you love about the people closest to you, and how their presence in your life has made a difference, you will be amazed at how great you feel and how much easier family gatherings can be when people are in a state of gratitude and appreciation for one another.



Warning: This approach to being with others might feel so nourishing, that you may want to use it in daily life, rather than saving it for special occasions!

Have a wonderful and connecting Thanksgiving!

i suggest to the my fellow bandies and anyone with WLS

to eat a bit of everything...eat slow and enjoy and DONT stress over it

we are not on a DIET

we are merely eating

and we need to eat to LIVE

that does not mean we have to clean out the mashed potato bowl

and if you go overboard a bit, its OK...the world will continue to spin...GUARANTEE IT

one (over indulgence) will not make you gain a zillion pounds

one (meal of lettuce) will not make you at goal tomorrow

its day in and day out eating

3500 calories ate/drank is a pound

so this thanksgiving or christmas

EAT

let your WLS and your common sense say when (stop signals)

This will be a weird Thanksgiving for me. I really cannot overeat with my sleeve at this point but I really have to think through exactly 5 bites of "what" I will have. =)

This Thanksgiving will be my first after lap band. I intend to try a tiny bit of whatever catches my fancy and not feel guilty about it.

The band is the band is the band...no matter what the day or occasion....

Knowing I will be able to eat so little, I will make it a point to have a taste of everything there...just for the love of it!

Whereas everyone's plate will be piled high, a real belly buster of a day....those are just memories for me.

I am not a calories counter, just make sure I eat the best, healthiest foods I can....not blow my opportunity on junk...

but this is one of the days of the year even that goes out the window....especially the home made Desserts....

And of course, I'll be at the gym first thing in the morning before, and the day after.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. This year as I divorce, I am going to be surrounded by family of choice. I am hosting and cooking. I love this idea of expressing what each person at the table means to me. This is my first Thanksgiving banded. It will be very different from earlier years.

I survived my family Thanksgiving gathering this weekend. Towards the end I was wishing I had brought some jello, but overall considering I'm on preop liquids, I'm proud of myself.

This year will be my first thanksgiving after bypass surgery. I do the cooking and my mother n law comes from New York every year to be with us for all of november. Can anyone tell about what I should eat while every one I eating normal food.