Question to the oldtimers about their first Post Op Thanksgiving

Leslie... how about the family being jealous of YOU? Ever thought of that?

why? jealous of you for being pro-active in your health...for taking care of YOU... for becoming healthy...

holidays can now be about PEOPLE...and love...

come out from behind your food and love on your great family...think of ways to show them your love... little notes...more conversations (since not so much eating)...

I remember my first t-giving post-op clearly! Ate a small piece of turkey... a bitty bit of taters...some pie... all the tastes were there but none of the overload, and it was a good thing...

best wishes to YOU, leslie, in starting off new ways of enjoying the holidays, and breaking old habits...

xoxo
Lori

Thanks Lori!  I hadn't thought of it this way.  I am really fortunate to have the family I have because they are so supportive.  I am looking forward to hanging out with them and talking and creating new memories of Thanksgiving that are dominated by the food...

  Les

exactly! and you will be a catalyst for positive change in your family... and that's a fun thing!

Lori

Superb Question.

For me it was odd, I don't eat turkey, never have, don't like it.  I ate prime rib, cut all the fat off it and chewed it till it was mush.  It was delicious.  I also had a bite of potatoes but that was kind gross back then.  I am more nervous about it this year than last year as this year I can eat more.  What makes me lucky is that I don't ever eat a traditinal Thansgiving I am not a fan of Turkey, or stuffing, or gravy or Pumkin pie.  So it is kind of odd really.  I am going to a friends house this year and don't have a clue what their traditions are so this is going to be really interesting for me, I am more exited about the company than the food!  That is the part I love, the laughing till you pee your pants and I am sure there is going to be a lot of that going on does all the time.  Keep us posted Leslie on how it goes.  Some times those of us who have been around for a year forget how it was, and this old dog can and will learn new tricks!  lol  Have a great one!

Rhonda

Thanks Rhonda I will let you all know how it went.  Have fun at your Thanksgiving too!

Les 

P.S.  looking forward to seeing you at the Inland Coffee on 12/12/09!

Hi Leslie,
It's normal to have these feelings. Just try and remember that it's just turkey and just food. Think of food now as just your fuel. I know that is easier said then done- My first evening back from the hopsital when i had my surgery i came home from the hospital and my entire family was sitting at the dinning room table eating Del Taco- oh and with my ex boyfriend to top it all off. Anyway, it's been a month and think it's okay to start slow and have a little of your favorites. I was on solid food after 2 weeks but every doctor has a different protocol.

Best of luck to you and you can do this. Try not to think about it much and pick something else to focus on like the ugly sweater aunt nelly will be wearing or something.

I'm not an old-timer as such, but being 14+ months out this is my frist Thanksgiving meal I will experience.  Last year at this time I was in the hospital with a tube up my nose sucking on ice chips for 4 days so needless to say I missed out on all the goodies. 

I plan on eating small small portions.  I know when I'm full and will just stop.  For me, it's all about the smells now.  I can just smell a food and for me it's just as satisfying as putting in my mouth, tasting it and swallowing it.  The smell is perfect.

Plan a nice relaxing walk right after dinner.  Break out the cards and get a robust game of cards going or a board game or something so you're just not sitting there mindlessly thinking about eating.  Keep busy.  I find the busier I am, the less I eat, the less I brain-dead snack and all that.

Enjoy.  This ride is truly wonderful and I have learned so much more wonderful habits other than just sitting there stuffing my face.  I hunt, I walk, I play, I roll around on the floor with the kids, all those things I missed out on for such a long time.

Gobble Gobble

Oh, and there was an article I read today that says the average American eating the traditional Turkey Dinner and deserts and breakfasts and all that will consume a whopping 5300 calories in one day!  Holy crapola batman - that's a lot of FOOD and FAT!!!!

Thanks guys.  I just finished lunch (I know it's a little late) after running around...I had to go to the grocery store and get stuff for green bean casserole.  I swear to God I feel like I could knock someone out right now.  The smells of the pie got to me and I started thinking about making pie without the crust and tweaking on that.  I got that Libby pie filling stuff and the evaporated milk thinking I would make it to bring with me tomorrow but I'm not. 

I feel frustrated and a little scared.  I am so grateful for all the responses.  I am probably going to read them a couple more times before we go over tomorrow.  I have to flip my thinking because there is a little bit of a pity party going on with me focusing on what I can't have and my new post op brain not getting that a 1/2 cup will be enough (although it has been more than enough since surgery). 

I am going to stick to what I have been doing. 
I am going to prepare my 1/2 cup of pureed turkey/sweet potato/ff gravy and bring it with me.
I am going to bring my protein drink with me.
I am going to bring my diet decaf green tea with me.
I am going to bring something to crochet with me to keep my hands and head busy.
I will have my cell phone and will call some friends that are supportive if I need to.
I will grab one of my sister in laws to go for a walk with me.
I will make mental lists of the things I am grateful for.

I will post the day after Thanksgiving to let you know how it all went.  Thanks.  I feel like I should apologize for being a wiener...or swear or something...dammit!!!!

Mine was less than stellar. I was about 10 days post op. I had tomatoe soup 1/4 cup maybe. i was done