Now I know a lot of people will probably tell me off here, in that Halloween hasn't even happened, and I am talking about Christmas ?

BUT, I adore Christmas, and I realised that this will be my first Xmas post-surgery.

Has anyone got any advice as to how to still feel included in all the festivities when so much revolves around food etc?

I still feel excited for it, I just know it is going to be SO different to all the other years! ?

As an British-American, I'm going back to the US for Thanksgiving in one month and I pretty much have the same concerns. Food, Food, Food is all it is. Come to find out my stepmother had the sleeve two years ago (she kept it real quiet but judged my mother for having a bypass 15 years ago, but I digress) so having one other bariatric patient at the table could be helpful for portion size recommendations.

But Christmas, I'm with Italian friends. Italians (not to generalise, but something I've observed) love to feed people so I'm going to have to practice stern "no thank you".

I have the same concerns going into the holiday season; all 3 holidays in a row always feel hard and gluttonous. I'm going to avoid candy on Halloween and for Thanksgiving and Christmas, I'm going to ask for a salad plate instead of a big on and just take small scoops of what I really like; planning on starting with my protein first.

6 hours ago, Bypass2Freedom said:

Now I know a lot of people will probably tell me off here, in that Halloween hasn't even happened, and I am talking about Christmas ?

BUT, I adore Christmas, and I realised that this will be my first Xmas post-surgery.

Has anyone got any advice as to how to still feel included in all the festivities when so much revolves around food etc?

I still feel excited for it, I just know it is going to be SO different to all the other years! ?

Now I want to know what you’ll do about Halloween first!

But at every food based event, I try to hydrate as much as possible then focus in only the foods I really want (even if it is dessert). In the early days I would bring protein shakes along because there’s almost no protein in pies. ?

i had my surgery in October 24 (2018).

halloween was a non-issue...i did not have any interest in eating anything, let alone candy/chips/chocolate.

come Christmas i was about 2 months post. and i truth be told i ate too much. from a regular-sized persons perspective i hardly ate anything at all, but for post-wls me, it was waaaay too much. went to 3 xmas meals in 2 days and i logged 800 cals day 1 and about 1200 day 2. but i barfed both days, so...

also had my first (and worst!) dumping episode from a couple sips of a sugary cocktail (i ended up on the bathroom floor and carried upstairs to bed by Mr. where i passed out...good times ?)

sooooo...mark me down as a cautionary tale. take it easy, eat slowly and small amounts.

aside: btw, im 6 yrs out now and food parties and outings have long ago no longer result in nights on the bathroom floor for me. i can eat (taste) anything and everything and be perfectly happy.

Edited October 22, 20241 yr by ms.sss

10 hours ago, NeonRaven8919 said:

As an British-American, I'm going back to the US for Thanksgiving in one month and I pretty much have the same concerns. food, Food, Food is all it is. Come to find out my stepmother had the sleeve two years ago (she kept it real quiet but judged my mother for having a bypass 15 years ago, but I digress) so having one other bariatric patient at the table could be helpful for portion size recommendations.

But Christmas, I'm with Italian friends. Italians (not to generalise, but something I've observed) love to feed people so I'm going to have to practice stern "no thank you".

No thanks would be ideal hut if your family and friends are like mine and just won’t let up sometimes a little white lie Iis in order. What i did with my sleeve at Thanksgiving and Christmas was just to take the food, eat my tiny portion say it was delicious and tell them I will be hungry in another hour and I plan to finish it at home. (I tossed whatever my hubby wouldn’t eat but it spared them feeling as if I didn’t enjoy it). There was WAY too much food so it would’ve ended up getting tossed anyways. Even after leftover week. If you haven’t told anyone about your surgery you can just say that it’s delicious but your stomach just feels a bit off and again take a plate with you to eat later and give it to someone who can have it. If it will tempt you though, just say no thanks and be persistent.

I was actually thinking about a holiday dilemna too. I am always invited to an annual cookie day. Everyone brings their supplies for a recipe and makes like 2 dozen cookies and the host makes tons of sugar cookies the night before for the kids to decorate while the cookies are baking. It’s a while day of eating junk, drinking and smelling cookies. I don’t think I can do it this year, I’m too early out. I think I’m just gonna be honest since they do know about my surgery. Tell her I will pop by and say hello but I am not gonna stay.

29 minutes ago, ShoppGirl said:

No thanks would be ideal hut if your family and friends are like mine and just won’t let up sometimes a little white lie Iis in order. What i did with my sleeve at Thanksgiving and Christmas was just to take the food, eat my tiny portion say it was delicious and tell them I will be hungry in another hour and I plan to finish it at home. (I tossed whatever my hubby wouldn’t eat but it spared them feeling as if I didn’t enjoy it). There was WAY too much food so it would’ve ended up getting tossed anyways. Even after leftover week. If you haven’t told anyone about your surgery you can just say that it’s delicious but your stomach just feels a bit off and again take a plate with you to eat later and give it to someone who can have it. If it will tempt you though, just say no thanks and be persistent.

I was actually thinking about a holiday dilemna too. I am always invited to an annual cookie day. Everyone brings their supplies for a recipe and makes like 2 dozen Cookies and the host makes tons of sugar cookies the night before for the kids to decorate while the cookies are baking. It’s a while day of eating junk, drinking and smelling cookies. I don’t think I can do it this year, I’m too early out. I think I’m just gonna be honest since they do know about my surgery. Tell her I will pop by and say hello but I am not gonna stay.

I always make Christmas cookies for my neighbors, but I usually sample them along the way. I’m going to have to have a lot more resolve this year and not sample the goods!

28 minutes ago, Chatterboxdea said:

I always make Christmas cookies for my neighbors, but I usually sample them along the way. I’m going to have to have a lot more resolve this year and not sample the goods!

After my sleeve I did go to this day but I was about five months further out. I brought deli meat and cheese, fresh fruit and veggie trays so I would have something to eat. I had a cookie and brought home a couple but I don’t know if I should be tempting myself this easily out. You’ve got more willpower than me. You could always do them jats where you put all the dry ingredients in and it has the recipe instead if you think you will be tempted.

Edited October 23, 20241 yr by ShoppGirl

18 hours ago, NeonRaven8919 said:

As an British-American, I'm going back to the US for Thanksgiving in one month and I pretty much have the same concerns. food, Food, Food is all it is. Come to find out my stepmother had the sleeve two years ago (she kept it real quiet but judged my mother for having a bypass 15 years ago, but I digress) so having one other bariatric patient at the table could be helpful for portion size recommendations.

But Christmas, I'm with Italian friends. Italians (not to generalise, but something I've observed) love to feed people so I'm going to have to practice stern "no thank you".

It does definitely all revolve around food unfortunately! Very interesting that is how your stepmum acted considering everything! But, either way as you say, would help to have someone around that has also had weight loss surgery!

A stern no thank you is always a good one haha

16 hours ago, Chatterboxdea said:

I have the same concerns going into the holiday season; all 3 holidays in a row always feel hard and gluttonous. I'm going to avoid candy on Halloween and for Thanksgiving and Christmas, I'm going to ask for a salad plate instead of a big on and just take small scoops of what I really like; planning on starting with my Protein first.

That sounds like a solid plan to me!

15 hours ago, GreenTealael said:

Now I want to know what you’ll do about Halloween first!

But at every food based event, I try to hydrate as much as possible then focus in only the foods I really want (even if it is dessert). In the early days I would bring Protein Shakes along because there’s almost no Protein in pies. ?

Well, because I don't have kids I can quite easily avoid the Halloween temptations! BUT - I do have a nephew and this will be the first Halloween that he will be able to actively participate in, so I may go trick or treating with him!

I also have bought my kitten a Halloween costume, so we plan to take her for a walk ?

I think that may be one for me - to hydrate as much as I can - I am very bad at that haha! Thank you for the advice!

8 hours ago, ms.sss said:

i had my surgery in October 24 (2018).

halloween was a non-issue...i did not have any interest in eating anything, let alone candy/chips/chocolate.

come Christmas i was about 2 months post. and i truth be told i ate too much. from a regular-sized persons perspective i hardly ate anything at all, but for post-wls me, it was waaaay too much. went to 3 xmas meals in 2 days and i logged 800 cals day 1 and about 1200 day 2. but i barfed both days, so...

also had my first (and worst!) dumping episode from a couple sips of a sugary cocktail (i ended up on the bathroom floor and carried upstairs to bed by Mr. where i passed out...good times ?)

sooooo...mark me down as a cautionary tale. take it easy, eat slowly and small amounts.

aside: btw, im 6 yrs out now and food parties and outings have long ago no longer result in nights on the bathroom floor for me. i can eat (taste) anything and everything and be perfectly happy.

Ooof that sounds rough! I shall definitely be careful and take my time then!

I think in terms of tasting and trying things, I am super strict on myself anyway just because of the high chance of dumping with the bypass, so I don't even go near any food or drink that may contain more than 7g of sugar per 100g ? I shall just have to come prepped with anything that I want to eat or drink that is within those guides!

Really good to hear that you are now able to enjoy things freely and happily!

8 hours ago, Bypass2Freedom said:

Well, because I don't have kids I can quite easily avoid the Halloween temptations! BUT - I do have a nephew and this will be the first Halloween that he will be able to actively participate in, so I may go trick or treating with him!

I also have bought my kitten a Halloween costume, so we plan to take her for a walk ?

I think that may be one for me - to hydrate as much as I can - I am very bad at that haha! Thank you for the advice!

I love halloween! The dark and spooky matches my soul! But I've never done a lot of candy on halloween. I usually just wear my skeleton onesie all day and hang halloween lights!

4 hours ago, NeonRaven8919 said:

I love halloween! The dark and spooky matches my soul! But I've never done a lot of candy on halloween. I usually just wear my skeleton onesie all day and hang halloween lights!

You sound just like my friend. She has a black tree with purple lights and decorates it with crystals and Halloween stuff.