Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Recommended Posts

Hi all!

This will be my first major holiday post op, so I will be seeing a lot of people I haven't seen since last year, I expect a lot of looks, and side eyes but hopefully a lot of positive comments as well! I plan on doing the Turkey Trot in my hometown (3k walk/run) with my family in the morning, then get my Protein in first and share some of my fav sides and Desserts with my kiddos. Going to enjoy the day and not stress so much and be mindful!

How are you tackling Thanksgiving this year?!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'll be cooking Thanksgiving dinner! I'm not stressing about it. I don't think it will be too much of an issue as the types of foods I will be making (traditional Thanksgiving staples) are the kinds of things I like but am not crazy about. My bigger concern for overindulgence is probably the charcuterie board I'm putting out earlier in the day, along with the candy I'll have in the candy dishes. In my case, I see my family frequently and they all know about the surgery, so it will just be a normal experience in that sense. I'm looking forward to cold leftover turkey! Even though there will only be 8 of us and probably 3 people who will barely touch the turkey, I ordered the bigger one (16-24lb range) because I want leftovers for my lunches.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My hubby does all the cooking. I plan to prioritize turkey, then 1 standard spoonful of mashed potatoes (the big spoons, not the small ones), 1 spoonful of stuffing, homemade gravy on all of it, as well as 1 spoonful of cheesy peas, 1 spoonful of homemade cranberry sauce, 2 spoonfuls of broccoli and cauliflower gratin, and 2 spoonfuls of roasted brussel sprouts w/ bacon and parmesan. I know it seems like such a small amount, but I want to have a little of everything. I'm not having any rolls, tho. And I will (eventually) have a slice of no sugar added pumpkin pie with sugar free whipped cream. I'm REALLY excited. I LOVE Thanksgiving!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

48 minutes ago, SleeveToBypass2023 said:

My hubby does all the cooking. I plan to prioritize turkey, then 1 standard spoonful of mashed potatoes (the big spoons, not the small ones), 1 spoonful of stuffing, homemade gravy on all of it, as well as 1 spoonful of cheesy peas, 1 spoonful of homemade cranberry sauce, 2 spoonfuls of broccoli and cauliflower gratin, and 2 spoonfuls of roasted brussel sprouts w/ bacon and parmesan. I know it seems like such a small amount, but I want to have a little of everything. I'm not having any rolls, tho. And I will (eventually) have a slice of no sugar added pumpkin pie with sugar free whipped cream. I'm REALLY excited. I LOVE Thanksgiving!!!

that actually sounds like the perfect amount of food! you get your taste of everything and satisfy those taste buds. I love thanksgiving and all the foods! so I will be following suit and doing spoonful's of my fav foods!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This year, I'm going home for Thanksgiving. It's the first time I've been back in 20 years. I have some family members who don't know/approve of surgery so it's going to be a bit tough, but I will try and treat like a normal, get Protein in first, then veg, then carbs. and no Snacks in between.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, NeonRaven8919 said:

This year, I'm going home for Thanksgiving. It's the first time I've been back in 20 years. I have some family members who don't know/approve of surgery so it's going to be a bit tough, but I will try and treat like a normal, get Protein in first, then veg, then carbs. and no Snacks in between.

I had some ladies in a group I belong to that are in weight watchers who sorta turned their nose up at first mention of weight loss surgery. I took it as a challenge to educate them. In all fairness they get to see me each week and hear about my nutrition and activity choices but I’m pretty sure they now realize they didn’t have all the facts before and recently started being some of my biggest cheerleaders. I guess you won’t be afforded the time to change their minds about it this one visit but maybe it will help some to know that their ignorance is most likely just lack of education and that upon seeing how hard you work at it, they may change their perspective eventually as well

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I’m going to eat a little of everything. I am just going I pay for it for like a week because when I do carbs my body craves carbs. Just have to pay the price I guess.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, ShoppGirl said:

I had some ladies in a group I belong to that are in weight watchers who sorta turned their nose up at first mention of weight loss surgery. I took it as a challenge to educate them. In all fairness they get to see me each week and hear about my nutrition and activity choices but I’m pretty sure they now realize they didn’t have all the facts before and recently started being some of my biggest cheerleaders. I guess you won’t be afforded the time to change their minds about it this one visit but maybe it will help some to know that their ignorance is most likely just lack of education and that upon seeing how hard you work at it, they may change their perspective eventually as well

a lot of people think that we just lose weight because of the surgery and we don't make any of those changes. Now some don't and just rely on the surgery. I know for me, those around me have seen me put in the work, with the foods I eat, the exercise, and the overall change in lifestyle. Also, some are just jealous they aren't able to do the surgery.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello I had my surgery on the 20th my meal plan for thanksgiving is a 7oz puréed thanksgiving meal a single mashed sweet potato(not all of it),1/4th cup of a berry cobbler filling and some chicken salad puréed. Will have the same exact meals the next day and the day after…. My loving dad bought 7 of those boxed puréed dinners. Go me!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Elizabeth Miller said:

Hello I had my surgery on the 20th my meal plan for thanksgiving is a 7oz puréed thanksgiving meal a single mashed sweet potato(not all of it),1/4th cup of a berry cobbler filling and some chicken salad puréed. Will have the same exact meals the next day and the day after…. My loving dad bought 7 of those boxed puréed dinners. Go me!

Just Double check your teams plan. That is WAY more food than I was allowed volume wise. I think I was doing like 1-2 oz a meal when I was first on puree and I don’t recall even being on puree that early out. (Some plans to vary) Just be sure to take it really slow and make sure you don’t overdo it. Too much at once volume wise could make you feel very sick but even worse it could injure your healing insides. There is always next Thanksgiving. Or have the variety you want, just spread it over a few days instead of having that all in one meal.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, Elizabeth Miller said:

Hello I had my surgery on the 20th my meal plan for thanksgiving is a 7oz puréed thanksgiving meal a single mashed sweet potato(not all of it),1/4th cup of a berry cobbler filling and some chicken salad puréed. Will have the same exact meals the next day and the day after…. My loving dad bought 7 of those boxed puréed dinners. Go me!

This reminds me of the year I got my wisdom teeth out right before Thanksgiving and all I could eat was mashed potatoes that year. 😂

I think someone has already said this, but because with volume because that does sound like a lot. I would also probably skip the cobbler filling because its more than likely has a lot of sugar, which they don't recommend so soon after surgery, and I had to be careful of berries that soon after.

At 7/8 days, I was only drinking Water, Protein Drinks and soups/broths.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, Chatterboxdea said:

because its more than likely has a lot of sugar, which they

It’s home made with filtered pulp for me and it’s only stevia. It turned out quite nice. I just got moved to puréed food today at my one week post op vist and am doing fine with eating 1/4th cup of chicken salad finely shredded and then really well chewed. Sits heavy though.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

21 hours ago, Elizabeth Miller said:

Hello I had my surgery on the 20th my meal plan for thanksgiving is a 7oz puréed thanksgiving meal a single mashed sweet potato(not all of it),1/4th cup of a berry cobbler filling and some chicken salad puréed. Will have the same exact meals the next day and the day after…. My loving dad bought 7 of those boxed puréed dinners. Go me!

Yes, plans can be quite different but I agree with @ShoppGirl’s suggestion to check with your team. I was told 1/4 - 1/3 cup for a meal from purée increasing slowly to a cup of food by the 6 month mark. 7ozs pureed turkey dinner coupled with the sweet potato & cobbler & you’ve way exceeded my 6 month portion recommendation.

And to add to her warning also, a lot of nerves were cut and or damaged during the surgery so messages like being full/had enough or eaten too much at going to get through or will be distorted. It’s why sticking to portion size recommendations are very important: to ensure you don’t damage your digestive system or impact your healing and recovery. It takes 6-8 weeks to fully heal.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, Arabesque said:

Yes, plans can be quite different but I agree with @ShoppGirl’s suggestion to check with your team. I was told 1/4 - 1/3 cup for a meal from purée increasing slowly to a cup of food by the 6 month mark. 7ozs pureed turkey dinner coupled with the sweet potato & cobbler & you’ve way exceeded my 6 month portion recommendation.

And to add to her warning also, a lot of nerves were cut and or damaged during the surgery so messages like being full/had enough or eaten too much at going to get through or will be distorted. It’s why sticking to portion size recommendations are very important: to ensure you don’t damage your digestive system or impact your healing and recovery. It takes 6-8 weeks to fully heal.

I agree with sticking to the portions you are permitted by your team. . I had a sleeve in 2021 and then revised to SADI recently and because they didn’t operate on my stomach this was particularly hard. It wasn’t that I was physically hungry and wanted more. It was just that my brain couldn’t get past how tiny the portions looked because my stomach was never operated on for the revision and it did not feel full. Probably Similar to what yours may feel now without everything healed quite yet but just because it doesn’t immediately hurt doesn’t mean it is not hurting your healing insides. We don’t want any Emergency Surgeries on Thanksgiving for sure. ❤️

Edited by ShoppGirl

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

16 hours ago, Arabesque said:

Yes, plans can be quite different but I agree with @ShoppGirl’s suggestion to check with your team. I was told 1/4 - 1/3 cup for a meal from purée increasing slowly to a cup of food by the 6 month mark. 7ozs pureed turkey dinner coupled with the sweet potato & cobbler & you’ve way exceeded my 6 month portion recommendation.

And to add to her warning also, a lot of nerves were cut and or damaged during the surgery so messages like being full/had enough or eaten too much at going to get through or will be distorted. It’s why sticking to portion size recommendations are very important: to ensure you don’t damage your digestive system or impact your healing and recovery. It takes 6-8 weeks to fully heal.

I didn’t eat it in all one sitting but through out the day. I’ve been having hunger issues. I still have 5oz of the dinner left. I didn’t say I was portioning the puree out because I got lazy to type it all.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×