Good Morning. Back on your heads!

Ok, the weekend is over. Back on your heads!  How do you stay focused on your job during the busy holiday season? This month is way too busy and now my parents want us to come down to see them too...that's a  5 - 6 hour drive. I haven't been home in years so this trip is not one we can back out of...{sigh} and they aren't getting any younger. How do you deal with this holiday craziness?

--gina

For me, it is especially hard when I am not in control (why would I think any differently as a mini control freak).  When you are visiting someone and eating what they have, or traveling with someone and eating where they are, it makes it hard.  I'm going next weekend to a friends to pick up a pony.  6 hr trip each way and we are staying 2 nights.  At least my travel friend and where we are staying both know about my surgery and how I eat these days so that will help.  Plus, of course, taking my protein and sticking some protein bars in, cheese sticks and making the best choices I can when eating out.

I think part of the solution is knowing that at least for me and I have heard from others that since WLS, it is easier to get back on track once back to the routine.

We are heading to his mother's for the holidays and while not as long a drive, it's still 4 hours.

And I don't care how much we've told her protein first, it's hard for her to wrap her head around it. But each time we go, it gets better.

Just make sure you take some extra stuff that you can eat...like yogurt, protein shake & blender, etc.

Just starting 2 weeks worth of meetings.  I still haven't wrapped my head around it's going to be Christmas in a few weeks... and shopping?  Hmm... no.....

I'll head back to MI on the 19th until the 3rd... I'll need to do the majority of the shopping then, as I'll be flying this time, not driving.

Eating?  Took a quick weekend trip to FL this past weekend and totally blew it!  BUT - I had MAJOR restriction pretty much the whole time.  Dinner one night was 1 chicken wing and the innards of a beef slider.  But - I did graze on nuts a bit- and some chex mix snacks - not too much of those - as both them and the nuts bothered my pouch.   

Back to the grind - eating wise - today!

Woah - I hadn't thought that far ahead!! :-S  I think I'm to MIL's Boxing Day (that's what we call the day after Christmas in the UK - do you call it that in the States?).  Anyways, I'm a grazer - I'm gonna have to armed with snacks, as I've not said anything about my DS, just that I'm doing Atkins, which I am.

December is always such a busy month.  I think last December I was doing Zumba and that really helped with the stress.  No exercise this December and I have been constantly stress eating-not good...

We usually go to my parents Christmas afternoon after we have been to DH's family and seen both our DGD's.  This year there is no way to go because of the way the holiday falls and when I have to be back to work to do both payrolls!!   They live 4 hours north of us so it wouldn't make sense to go one day and come back the next.   My parents seem to be ok with it, but I know it will bother my mom more as the holiday gets closer.

I had blood work done this morning and am having a nerve test done on my legs this afternoon.  I saw a neurologist last week and he doesn't seem to think the cramping and twitching are anything to worry about, but does want to rule out some muscle diseases or vitamin/electrolyte imbalances.  It seems like December is when I have a lot of doctor appointments.

Back on plan today so far.  Protein, Protein drinks.  Hope he will give me the ok to start back walking/jogging because I know that really helps with the stress!!

Linda

It's real intense for me at this time because by the end of this week I will have to wrap up three college classes (I'm a vocational instructor) and then get grades submitted over the weekend PLUS I took an extra curriculum job to make money to cover some of the medical expenses. I'm also feeling post-op depression partly affected by the holidays and other reminders of traumatic childhood. I do have PTSD and just need to cut myself a break. I'm running behind on every project so I'm hunkering down and trying to do things in baby steps as I'm getting overwhelmed at times. Once the little steps get taken, it doesn't look so huge to me after all.