Is this your 1st Christmas Post op?

 Well it's mine.  I was wondering if anyone was finding it hard?  It is a bit hard for me, I'm not going to lie.   Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to be thin and healthy but I do miss the "fun" of my old life.

All the sweets and treats of the holiday are calling my name and I keep having to say no, and there have been a few times where I have given in but only a little.  

I miss making cookies, but I just it would be too much for me.  

Last night I went to a Christmas party.  Everyone was eating and drinking and it was so fun.  I was just trying to enjoy myself and get into the spirit with my friends and change it from being about the food and drink to being about the people, but I wanted to be drinking with them.  So I did.  I left by 930, sick from carbs and alcohol....stupid!  I don't dump like throw up but I do feel crappy when I eat or drink carbs and fat in large amounts.  

It's just hard, and I wonder when I am going to learn...when will i be able to just enjoy the party or the gathering with out wanting to enjoy the food?  

Please tell me I'm not alone.

Hey Lisa I have not had my RNY yet, but this is one of my fears. I was told in my Pre surgery class this past Thursday-----NO ALCOHOL BEVERAGES FOR THE 1ST YEAR POST OP, while I am not a heavyy drinker, I do like to have a drink on a occasion and especially on the holidays! As far as the food goes I can live with the fact that I won't be able to eat the same as I did Pre op, but dam---I can't even have an occasional drink??? Geesh I guess I will adapt my life style accordingly, but I understand how you feel how are we suppose to enjoy the party if WE CAN'T PARTY??

Why can't you make cookies?  Last night I made almond oatmeal chocolate chip cookies because I have been craving them.  I made them sugar free and gluten free plus I added some protein powder.  I made the chocolate chips my chopping up a Think Thin chocolate fudge protein bar.  Not too bad.  To tell you the truth I never really enjoyed the taste of things like cookies and stuff because I was so busy stuffing them into my face like I would never get a chance to eat them again that I hardly tasted them, especially in the end of my eating that way.  Now I enjoy the taste of things.
I also made some sugar free meringue the other day.  Whenever I got to a party or gathering I always brings something I can eat, too, so I don't feel left out.  I don't drink but that is because I have been in recovery for a number of years.  I quit drinking at 23 so I had to learn how to have fun without alcohol for a long time and I really don't even think about it.
The holidays are supposed to be about family and friends but I know they rarely are.  So join in the fun, just do it in a way that won't make you sick or feel guilty.  It's not about what you can't eat anymore.  It's about what you can still eat and share with others.

Hey you are not alone, it is hard this time of year,  I love to bake so I just bake with splenda now, my family or friends did not even notice this year when I made my cookies with it. I have been to a lot of parties since Thanksgiving and I enjoy them all, before I go I always drink a protein shake, this fills you up, so when you eat you really don't want much. And it is all about portion control, I weigh myself the other day and I have lost 3 more pounds over this holiday season, and I have eaten everything that I wanted to eat . I still eat on a luncheon plate and I always eat protein first. I ate french fries the other day and I ate 7 of them and I was fine with that.. So don't stress just enjoy the holidays and family and friends. Now I don't drink alcohol so I can't help you with that one. You can enjoy your food, I eat cookies, but instead of eating a lot like I use too I eat like 2 and I am fine with that if I want to eat any I do if not I don't' I don't denied myself if I want it I eat it but it is all about portions to me; to me this is freedom from food I control it . it does not control me anymore and it is a good feeling for once

Hey.  Here is a good article on drinking and RNY.  http://www.submityourarticle.com/articles/Alma-Orozco-6750/A lcohol-after-bariatric-surgery-79664.php

Drinking after RNY can lead to liver damage a lot sooner than people who haven't had the surgery.  It has to do with the digestion process.  I would definitely wait at least a year so as to not develop gastric ulcers as well.  When (or if) you do start drinking, don't try to drink like you did prior to the surgery.  Alcohol will absorb ALOT faster into your system, so you will probably get tipsy faster.  Just make sure you have a driver and limit it.  Alcohol has so much sugar and it metabolizes with even more sugar in your system.

As for the holidays...yes, it seems easier to just lock myself away until after the first.  It's always been about the food with my family.  However, I did go to Thanksgiving dinner and was able to eat  little bit.  I put my focus on my family and kept myself busy with asking them questions and catching up with the things going on in their life.

It will get easier...just do one step at a time. 

 This is my first Christmas, but I don't feel deprived so to speak, I didn't drink before surgery so I am not going to start now and I don't dump so I can have sweets from time to time, but I try to limit them but I think I went over board this week.  Had new flooring put down in my entire house and couldn't get to the kitchen to cook so I ate junk.  Not felt as good either, kind of sluggish and I know it is from not eating correctly.  I am almost a year out and have yet to come across a time that I wished I could eat more.  I figured that would be a problem but so far it hasn't bothered me.  I do hate to pay the prices when I am forced to eat out for what little I can and do eat, that is my biggest problem/concern.  

I have an idea.  If you miss making cookies, what if you made Christmas ornaments instead?  You know that salt and flour dough you can make, kinda like playdough but homemade?  And you can color it whatever color you like with food coloring, or if you put a packet of dry koolaid mix in it, you'll get beautiful colors and it will smell nice.  And you can use cookie cutters to cut out christmas shapes, instead of cutting out cookies.  Poke a hole in the top and let them harden, then put a loop of ribbon through the hole to hang them buy.  If you used to make lots of cookies and give a bunch away, well, you can give ornaments away too.

I think we need to find new activities and try to build new traditions.

What a great idea!  LOVE-IT!

Hello,

This is my 1st Christmas post-op and I do not feel deprived.  I actually wanted to get away from junk food and sweets.  I wanted a healthy food life.  I never drank and so I do not miss that.  I try not to have more than 14 grams of sugar per day.  I'm looking forward to a healthier and happier New Year.  Visit  The World According to Eggface  you can find some great Holiday recipies here that aresugar free and good!

Take Care,

Deb

I love the "it's just hard and I wonder when I am going to learn".  I say that all the time from eating food that is bad for me, literally as it makes me feel aweful.  If only this surgery could fix our heads too.  Damn it some foods just taste so good.
This is my 2nd Christmas and the 1st one was not too hard.  I had 1 bite here and there and I was fine.  This year has been a little more difficult.  I just am learning moderation.  Presurgery I would have had 6 cookies, or more, and now I have 1/2 to 2 but no more.  I would have had 2 or more drinks and now I have 1/2 of one (I get drunk easy now but it also goes away pretty quick..very odd).

Good luck and you are definitely NOT alone.