So I know it's not even November yet but the silly season for me has started! As of the last month Weddings, Hens, 30ths, and then for the rest of the year - work Xmas, friends Xmas, family Xmas- it's all happening.

Does anyone have any tips on how not to get tangled up in celebration?

These events are so much a part of what I love about life in general, so not attending is not an option.

Tips on how you keep to one glass of bubbles and not 10? .... anything?

Cheers

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Good old-fashioned willpower? Aside from surgery, it's about the only weapon we have against the holidays. I was told not to even touch alcohol for a year post-surgery, so I won't be. I'll be staying away from sugary stuff because I don't want to get sick, and otherwise I think my stomach will enforce my portion control, so it'll just be about making good choices of what to eat, with a focus on protein.If you're not sure you can make good choices at these functions, my suggestion would be to eat just before you go.

--eat before you go

--don't have even one glass of bubbles -- not necessary to celebrate, and the first glass is enough to lower your judgment and inhibitions about what else to drink or eat

--practice what you will say to people who are pressing you to eat or drink so that you say it fluidly and without having to think about it beforehand. Examples:

no thank you

no thank you, I'm good,

sorry, I can't drink, doctor's orders

sorry, I'm driving tonight, no alcohol for me

no thank you, I don't eat that*

You might be surprised how much fun you can have at these celebrations with family and friends when you *aren't* obsessing about food or alcohol or sweets. It's very freeing, and it's great to have the focus be on the people around you rather than whatever you are shoveling in your mouth.

I eat before social events, and tell myself that if I see plain meat or green veggies offered, I can eat that, but everything else is simply a non-starter for me. That makes it easier -- no worrying, no stress. I remind myself that I am not going to starve to death if I don't eat for a couple of hours. And I have a great time!

*note -- I have found that food pushers respond much better to "I don't eat that" than to "I can't eat that" or "I shouldn't eat that." You say either of those last two things and people will start arguing with you. "Why can't you eat that? You can eat just a little bit." "Yes you should! Just take a little bit, it's the holidays." But when I've said "I don't eat that" or "I don't eat that way" or "I don't eat that way anymore" people take me seriously and stop trying to push food on me.

Good luck!