Beware of Special Occasion Creep

ElizaM
on 2/2/15 10:51 pm
VSG on 07/24/14

I realized the other day that one of the things that derailed me in the past was what I am now calling Special Occasion Creep. We all have special occasions and family gatherings in our lives, usually with special foods that are not on our regular eating plans. This is a really hard line for me to walk, because sometimes I really really want that food! And I use the special occasion excuse to rationalize it. The problem begins when special occasions start coming more frequently. I have friends who go to a wedding every weekend from May to July. Those weddings just can't be an excuse to eat differently than normal!

So, I have some rules. For me, the following are NOT the kind of special occasions where I get any dispensation to eat or drink differently:

  • Other people's birthdays
  • Other people's weddings
  • Hallowe'en
  • The Superbowl
  • Easter
  • New Years
  • The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas
  • Travel 
  • Friday!

My special occasions include:

  • Thanksgiving day
  • Christmas day
  • My birthday
  • My anniversary

Your list might be different! And in general, I like to think of ways to celebrate those special times with special food that is on my plan. For instance, I didn't eat off plan at Christmas, though I did at Thanksgiving. I'm usually happier with oysters than cake. But if I'm going to make an exception, it's on one of those FOUR DAYS and that's it. 

Anyway, I realized thinking in these terms is really helpful for me. Maybe it will be for you!

   

32F 5'8" High weight: 432 | Consult weight: 396 | Surgery weight: 335 | Current weight: 170

Chris A.
on 2/2/15 11:56 pm - Colfax, CA
VSG on 11/20/12

Well said. I would also add, being a bit over two years out, that allowing special occasion creep into your life, opens the door for all kinds of other bad habits to slowly come back into your life. I'm going back to basics after allowing this to happen to me. Thankfully I've only re-gained 15 pounds and no one else can tell. But I know and I don't wan it to go further.

Thanks for your post. You are spot on.

     

    

 

        
Tracy D.
on 2/3/15 1:12 am - Papillion, NE
VSG on 05/24/13

My problem is that those 4 special occasions all fall within a 4-week period!!  

 Tracy  5'3"     HW: 235  SW: 218  CW: 132    M1: -22  M2: -13  M3: -12  M4: -9  M5: -8   M6: -10   M7: -4

 Goal reached in 7 months and 1 week

 Lower Body Lift w/Dr. Barnthouse 7-8-15

   

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

Stacy_WLS
on 2/3/15 1:44 am

I actually pepper in a lot more 'special occassions' but I do it by generally eating below a maintenence calorie range.  Then I can have a glass of wine or two or a bit of dessert once or twice a week during a social occassion and it all balances out.  

I think it is much different when you are losing vs maintaining.  When I was losing there were pretty much no occassions where I had desserts or alcohol -- and when I did start letting desserts in it caused some major cravings to come back.  

VSG: 12/12/13, LBL, small TL, BL/BA: 11/7/14 Twins 12/9/18 HW after Twins 260. 5'10 37 years old - Stacy_WLS (MFP)

Laura in Texas
on 2/6/15 8:35 pm

At six years out, this is pretty much what I do except for the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I seem to go crazy and gain 5 pounds every year. But I lose it by spring, so I have just learned that this is my pattern and try not to stress too much about it.

I also agree that there is a huge difference between losing and maintaining. I did not indulge at any special occasions until I was at goal. I know that helped me get to goal and stay here.

Laura in Texas

53 years old; 5'7" tall; HW: 339 (BMI=53); GW: 140 CW: 170 (BMI=27)

RNY: 09-17-08 Dr. Garth Davis

brachioplasty: 12-18-09 Dr. Wainwright; lbl/bl: 06-28-11 Dr. LoMonaco

"May your choices reflect your hopes and not your fears."

Gwen M.
on 2/3/15 7:05 am
VSG on 03/13/14

Last week I had to put my elderly cat down and had to really convince myself that, even though no one would blame me for consoling myself with Ben and Jerry's, that it really wasn't necessary.  That was a very hard discussion to have with myself.  But I won.  Not all "special" occasions are fun ones :(

VSG with Dr. Salameh - 3/13/2014
Diagnosed with Binge Eating Disorder and started Vyvanse - 7/22/2016
Reconstructive Surgeries with Dr. Michaels - 6/5/2017 (LBL & brachioplasty), 8/14/2017 (UBL & mastopexy), 11/6/2017 (medial leg lift)

Age 42 Height 5'4" HW 319 (1/3/2014) SW 293 (3/13/2014) CW 149 (7/16/2017)
Next Goal 145 - normal BMI | Total Weight Lost 170

TrendWeight | Food Blog (sort of functional) | Journal (down for maintenance)

greensleeved
on 2/3/15 8:53 pm
VSG on 07/10/14 with

Awww. Sorry to hear that Gwen. Elderly pets are so special. Good for you for avoiding the temptation to stuff those emotions with food. It's so hard! 

And I love the term Special Occasion Creep! Spot on.

 

     

"Free your ass, and your mind will follow."  HW - 287, Start W - 273, Surgery W - 257, Onederland - 4 months 1 week post op,  100 lbs lost - 8 months 1 week, CW - 162

Gwen M.
on 2/6/15 11:03 am
VSG on 03/13/14

Thank you. 

VSG with Dr. Salameh - 3/13/2014
Diagnosed with Binge Eating Disorder and started Vyvanse - 7/22/2016
Reconstructive Surgeries with Dr. Michaels - 6/5/2017 (LBL & brachioplasty), 8/14/2017 (UBL & mastopexy), 11/6/2017 (medial leg lift)

Age 42 Height 5'4" HW 319 (1/3/2014) SW 293 (3/13/2014) CW 149 (7/16/2017)
Next Goal 145 - normal BMI | Total Weight Lost 170

TrendWeight | Food Blog (sort of functional) | Journal (down for maintenance)

GoBlueGirl1998
on 2/6/15 9:13 pm - MI

Sorry to hear about your kitty!! Its hard saying goodbye to our furry family!!

Age: 40 Height: 5'8" Highest Weight: 325 Starting Weight: 291 Current Weight: 166 Goal Weight: 160

 VSG 10/24/14 with Dr. David Chengelis

KayDeeCee
on 2/7/15 6:20 am
VSG on 01/26/15

Thanks to the OP for these great tips. :-)

5'7" HW 256 (1/6/2014) SW 236.2 (VSG: 1/26/2015) CW 165.5 (01/10/2016) Total Weight Lost 90.5
Pre-Op: -19.8; Month 1: -19; Month 2: -12.7; Month 3: -9.9; Month 4: -7.2; Month 5: -6.4; Month 6: -2.8; Month 7: -3.7; Month 8: -4.2; Month 9: -0.6; Month 10: -2.1; Month 11: -0 Month 12: -2.1

GOALS: BMI Normal = 159 (6.5 to go); 100 LBs Lost = 156 (9.5 to go); FINAL GOAL: 139?? (26.5 to go)

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