By Sandi Henderson

I found this on my blog as I was searching for some information on how to get through the holidays successfully and continue with either losing or maintaining weight.  Over six years later I still find the information useful for planning to survive this festive season of food and drink and more food and drink.  I have certainly learned a lot more since Thanksgiving Day 2004.

This is what I wrote back then:

"Wow, this is the first big holiday dinner at my house since being banded.  I have 15 coming for dinner and am making all of my traditional dishes.  I refuse to "lighten" the holidays for everyone around me...not fair......I will eat using a small dessert plate and allow myself a taste of everything and see how that goes...ok, I'll skip the salad, have a slice of turkey thigh (no skin), a tablespoon of cranberry sauce, a tablespoon of chestnut stuffing, a tablespoon of pecan/sweet potato casserole, a tablespoon of green beans and a tablespoon of ambrosia.  I chased this all with a glass of red wine and was as stuffed as the turkey...I think the high fiber content of the chestnut stuffing helped tremendously with that.  I did have a sliver of pecan pie with a tablespoon of vanilla ice cream, and when everyone left, so did all of the high calorie food.  If someone didn't take it with them it went into the trash.  Too bad for my husband, no leftovers, except turkey.

By the next day I was back to my regular schedule of eating.  I did crave sweets on Friday, probably because of the amount of carbs I consumed on Thursday.  Since I had previously taken them out of my diet my body had not been craving them.  Guess I need to do an all protein day to convince my body chemistry that it does not need the carbs.  Hope I didn't upset my weight loss too badly."

Just a report on the weight loss results first - I did not gain any weight over my first holiday season in 2004.  My weight loss continued to a total loss of 250 pounds which I have kept off all of these years.  That is the good news.

Now here I am, in my seventh year after lap band surgery and do I still worry about the holidays?  You bet.  It has not gotten any easier, the old habits still try to win out over the new ones and I have some very interesting internal conversations with myself.  What works for me is basically reviewing the "rules" of the band- or my guiding lights and then creating a plan for each party or holiday dinner.  This allows me to enjoy myself and not have to "worry".

Here are some of the things I do to help make the holiday season be an enjoyable time:

• I keep to my exercise routine so I keep burning calories and feeling good. Holiday parties often offer the opportunity to dance. This is a great way to burn a few extra calories.
• I continue taking my vitamins. I remain my first priority so that I can care for everyone else.
• I make sure I eat plenty of protein so I am not physically hungry when confronted with sweets (my personal downfall).
• I make sure I continue to get plenty of fluids. This keeps me hydrated, happy and energized so I don't reach for unnecessary food when it is really some water that my body is craving.
• I make sure I have my meals at regular times so I am not overly hungry. Sometimes this means having a high protein low calorie snack before heading to a dinner party. I would then reduce my portion size at the dinner party to accommodate.
• If I am going to a dinner or a party at someone's house I bring a dish to share and make sure it is a tasty, band friendly food.
• If I am going to dinner at a restaurant I check out the menu on line and figure out what I am going to order before I get there. That reduces the "temptation" factor.
• If I am finished eating at a restaurant I frequently over salt or sugar the remainder of the food on my plate so I remove the temptation to pick at it while I am "trapped" at the table. Either that or I just give it away.
• If I am making dinner at my house I make sure I have some finger food that is low calorie, band friendly and also have a protein and at least one vegetable that is not sugar, butter and calorie dense. That way I can eat along with everyone else.
• If dinner is at my house I send home all of the leftovers with my guests (except for the protein source). I remove temptation any way I am able.
• I put my portion on a small plate so that it is visually full with small portions.
• While I may have a small glass of wine with dinner, before dinner and ½ hour after dinner I walk around with either a glass of water, ice tea, hot tea or decaf.
• I have a plan and I work it. I plan to do well. I may allow myself a teaspoon or a sliver of the high calorie, low value foods, and will always include these in my plan, and adjust the rest of my day accordingly. I savor those little bites to enjoy the flavor of these foods. One bite is enough. That is my plan.
• I may take a walk or play a game with the kids if the adults are still eating. When my plate is empty I am done. I get up from the table. Basically, I move away from the food.
• If I do not seem to have "control" I go back to lap band 101 and start writing in my journal everything that passes between my lips- all food, all liquids. It's amazing how accountable that I become once I have to write it down and stare at it.

The essence of enjoying the holidays is to enjoy your friends and family, enjoy the people you are with.  While the holidays are often "food centric" they need not be when it comes to actually sitting down and eating your meal.  We did not achieve the need for bariatric surgery by paying close attention to every bite of food we put in our mouths.  My band helps with hunger, portion control and satiety and is so much more effective when I contribute by following the "rules".  If we pay attention now, plan, and eat mindfully we can enjoy our food and the company we are with and not sabotage our success. 

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