So Hanukkah started Tuesday evening. I have a large family dinner on Sunday that will include high calorie appetizers, dinner with traditional potato latkes (pancakes) and sour cream and high calorie sugary desserts and lots of wine. I am almost 5 weeks post-op and have my lowest previous banded weight within reach for the end of 2014. How am I going to deal with this big event and not eat too many calories, too many carbs and ruin my day with overindulgence and physical discomfort?
My day will start with a workout. I am looking at 30 minutes minimum of sweating - that is raising my heart rate to burn calories and keep it going for 30 minutes.- I will have breakfast, lunch and my mid-day snack and head over to the dinner well hydrated with a large bottle of water in my hand.
- I am going to bring some baked sweet potato latkes that I make to share. The entire recipe is 781 calories and 13 grams of protein and will make at least 10 latkes so I can have one at less than 80 calories. I will top with some gingered 0% Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
- I’m checking with my sister in law to see what the main course is. If it’s brisket or chicken I am ok. If it is something carby I will just bring some sliced turkey or a hardboiled egg or two to eat.
- I’ll track what I eat regardless of my choices and decide after dinner if I can have 1 glass of wine as dessert.
- I’ll spend my time chatting, visiting and enjoying folks I don’t get to spend time with to frequently instead of focusing on food.
This will get me through Sunday Hanukkah dinner, now on to Christmas Day at my daughter’s house. We started a “tradition” of bagels and cream cheese and lox and herring for Christmas morning so all we do is grab and there’s no cooking involved. My husband and I bring over the hot bagels from the bakery and all of the fixings including sliced tomatoes. Dinner will be ham, chestnut dressing and yams. Lunch is leftovers from breakfast.
- I’ll bring lots of water and my favorite teas with me.
I will put my bike on the car’s bike rack so I can get some road time in after breakfast and the gift opening. OK- exercise and hydration handled. Now on to food!- I’ll get some butter lettuce along with the tomatoes and I can have a little cream cheese (1 tablespoon) and 2 oz. of lox in a little lettuce wrap for around 112 calories and 11.4 grams protein. If I’m still hungry I can have ¼ cup of pickled herring for an additional 92 and 10, or that can be my mid-morning snack.
- If none of the above agrees with my new surgery I can make some eggs, or even and egg white omelet pretty easily.
- Lunch will be a repeat of breakfast unless I choose to bring some deli meat turkey with me
Dinner is easy - I can have 4 oz. of ham, a medium sweet potato and be more than happy for around 300 calories and 27 grams of protein.- I will be well hydrated, get my exercise in, have a great family day and stay on program…I may even have the calories available for a glass of wine for dessert.
What’s your plan to WIN for the Holidays?