Holidays are just around the corner.

[Guest guest]

Good Morning Everyone,

Many of us have had surgery since January of 2006 and have yet to deal with

the holiday's... we all know that holiday's are smothered in food... many

parties and going to different families... there will be much to resist for us

all..

For all of us first timers to the holidays... how did many of you that have

already seen them deal with them?

I am personally a lucky one this year on the fact that I will be cooking my

meals here at home... So I will be cooking healthy... However, I want to prepare

myself for the parties and such. When I was going to weight watchers, I found

that if I took a tablespoon, now it would have to be a teaspoon or smaller, of

each healthy item I wanted to taste... I found I got comfortable not stuffed and

did not feel deprived.

I look forward to hearing all your experiences and ideas!! I assure you, we

could use them to prepare ourselves ahead of time.

Thanks!!!

Happy Losing Everyone!!!!!

Shauna

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

My mom doesn't cook much, so I offered to make the Thanksgiving turkey, as I

have always done, and then we are having a friend who runs a restaurant

cater the side dishes. We leave for FL two days after Thanksgiving, so I am

packing up all of the leftovers in the containers they are delivered in, and

sending them home with my mom.

We have a huge Christmas party each year (usually around 125 people), and we

always have a TON of food left over. I am trying to figure out how to pare

that down without making the party seem skimpy. We do an open house, so we

have people in and out from about noon until 8 in the evening (last year, we

had people arrive at 8 and stay until after midnight). So, I feel some

obligation to have a lunch and dinner. My first thought was to change the

hours so people could only come say from 7 to 11, and only have appetizers

and desserts, but that makes it so quite a few people can't come.

I will have to figure out what will be best - maybe 2 hot entrees instead of

4? Maybe heavy on dips and appetizers that I never save at the end of the

party. Maybe lunch meat trays. I'm just not sure what to do.

295/234/165

Lap RNY 8/1/06

See Our Latest Family Pictures and Blogs

www.skamarakas.com

www.upallnightgaming.com

www.mymousepoints - Disney Vacation club discussions

[Guest guest]

My mom doesn't cook much, so I offered to make the Thanksgiving turkey, as I

have always done, and then we are having a friend who runs a restaurant

cater the side dishes. We leave for FL two days after Thanksgiving, so I am

packing up all of the leftovers in the containers they are delivered in, and

sending them home with my mom.

We have a huge Christmas party each year (usually around 125 people), and we

always have a TON of food left over. I am trying to figure out how to pare

that down without making the party seem skimpy. We do an open house, so we

have people in and out from about noon until 8 in the evening (last year, we

had people arrive at 8 and stay until after midnight). So, I feel some

obligation to have a lunch and dinner. My first thought was to change the

hours so people could only come say from 7 to 11, and only have appetizers

and desserts, but that makes it so quite a few people can't come.

I will have to figure out what will be best - maybe 2 hot entrees instead of

4? Maybe heavy on dips and appetizers that I never save at the end of the

party. Maybe lunch meat trays. I'm just not sure what to do.

295/234/165

Lap RNY 8/1/06

See Our Latest Family Pictures and Blogs

www.skamarakas.com

www.upallnightgaming.com

www.mymousepoints - Disney Vacation club discussions

[Guest guest]

My mom doesn't cook much, so I offered to make the Thanksgiving turkey, as I

have always done, and then we are having a friend who runs a restaurant

cater the side dishes. We leave for FL two days after Thanksgiving, so I am

packing up all of the leftovers in the containers they are delivered in, and

sending them home with my mom.

We have a huge Christmas party each year (usually around 125 people), and we

always have a TON of food left over. I am trying to figure out how to pare

that down without making the party seem skimpy. We do an open house, so we

have people in and out from about noon until 8 in the evening (last year, we

had people arrive at 8 and stay until after midnight). So, I feel some

obligation to have a lunch and dinner. My first thought was to change the

hours so people could only come say from 7 to 11, and only have appetizers

and desserts, but that makes it so quite a few people can't come.

I will have to figure out what will be best - maybe 2 hot entrees instead of

4? Maybe heavy on dips and appetizers that I never save at the end of the

party. Maybe lunch meat trays. I'm just not sure what to do.

295/234/165

Lap RNY 8/1/06

See Our Latest Family Pictures and Blogs

www.skamarakas.com

www.upallnightgaming.com

www.mymousepoints - Disney Vacation club discussions

[Guest guest]

Damn I'm not sure I even KNOW 125 people let alone want to have a

meal with them. My folks, kids and I are going to visit my brother

and his wife/kid in Austin for Thanksgiving. The kids will be with

the ex for Xmas and it'll probably just be me and my folks at that

point. Not much planning/worrying to do there.

Good Luck with your mob scene.

Mike in GR

>

> My mom doesn't cook much, so I offered to make the Thanksgiving

turkey, as I

> have always done, and then we are having a friend who runs a

restaurant

> cater the side dishes. We leave for FL two days after

Thanksgiving, so I am

> packing up all of the leftovers in the containers they are

delivered in, and

> sending them home with my mom.

>

> We have a huge Christmas party each year (usually around 125

people), and we

> always have a TON of food left over. I am trying to figure out how

to pare

> that down without making the party seem skimpy. We do an open

house, so we

> have people in and out from about noon until 8 in the evening (last

year, we

> had people arrive at 8 and stay until after midnight). So, I feel

some

> obligation to have a lunch and dinner. My first thought was to

change the

> hours so people could only come say from 7 to 11, and only have

appetizers

> and desserts, but that makes it so quite a few people can't come.

>

> I will have to figure out what will be best - maybe 2 hot entrees

instead of

> 4? Maybe heavy on dips and appetizers that I never save at the end

of the

> party. Maybe lunch meat trays. I'm just not sure what to do.

>

>

> 295/234/165

> Lap RNY 8/1/06

>

> See Our Latest Family Pictures and Blogs

>

> www.skamarakas.com

> www.upallnightgaming.com

> www.mymousepoints - Disney Vacation club discussions

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Shauna - Although I haven't dealt with the holidays yet,I don't

feel as though they will be a problem for eating for me.I am not

really into the sweets & even before surgery I haven't dug into

dessert.I always had more of a problem with the main course,like

eating too much turkey & such.

I know it can't hapopen that way this year because I just can't fit

that much in anyway so I hope my positive outlook remains true & I

have no temptations.

The spoon idea does sound great though! I used my kids old baby food

spoon,LOL

Kim F

RNY 6/23/06

298/224/135

>

> Good Morning Everyone,

>

> Many of us have had surgery since January of 2006 and have

yet to deal with the holiday's... we all know that holiday's are

smothered in food... many parties and going to different families...

there will be much to resist for us all..

>

> For all of us first timers to the holidays... how did many of

you that have already seen them deal with them?

>

> I am personally a lucky one this year on the fact that I will

be cooking my meals here at home... So I will be cooking healthy...

However, I want to prepare myself for the parties and such. When I

was going to weight watchers, I found that if I took a tablespoon,

now it would have to be a teaspoon or smaller, of each healthy item

I wanted to taste... I found I got comfortable not stuffed and did

not feel deprived.

>

> I look forward to hearing all your experiences and ideas!! I

assure you, we could use them to prepare ourselves ahead of time.

>

> Thanks!!!

>

> Happy Losing Everyone!!!!!

>

> Shauna

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Shauna - Although I haven't dealt with the holidays yet,I don't

feel as though they will be a problem for eating for me.I am not

really into the sweets & even before surgery I haven't dug into

dessert.I always had more of a problem with the main course,like

eating too much turkey & such.

I know it can't hapopen that way this year because I just can't fit

that much in anyway so I hope my positive outlook remains true & I

have no temptations.

The spoon idea does sound great though! I used my kids old baby food

spoon,LOL

Kim F

RNY 6/23/06

298/224/135

>

> Good Morning Everyone,

>

> Many of us have had surgery since January of 2006 and have

yet to deal with the holiday's... we all know that holiday's are

smothered in food... many parties and going to different families...

there will be much to resist for us all..

>

> For all of us first timers to the holidays... how did many of

you that have already seen them deal with them?

>

> I am personally a lucky one this year on the fact that I will

be cooking my meals here at home... So I will be cooking healthy...

However, I want to prepare myself for the parties and such. When I

was going to weight watchers, I found that if I took a tablespoon,

now it would have to be a teaspoon or smaller, of each healthy item

I wanted to taste... I found I got comfortable not stuffed and did

not feel deprived.

>

> I look forward to hearing all your experiences and ideas!! I

assure you, we could use them to prepare ourselves ahead of time.

>

> Thanks!!!

>

> Happy Losing Everyone!!!!!

>

> Shauna

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

OMG! 125 people!!! Where do they fit? Who pays for all that food??

Wow!

Kim F

RNY 6/23/06

298/224/135

>

> My mom doesn't cook much, so I offered to make the Thanksgiving

turkey, as I

> have always done, and then we are having a friend who runs a

restaurant

> cater the side dishes. We leave for FL two days after

Thanksgiving, so I am

> packing up all of the leftovers in the containers they are

delivered in, and

> sending them home with my mom.

>

> We have a huge Christmas party each year (usually around 125

people), and we

> always have a TON of food left over. I am trying to figure out

how to pare

> that down without making the party seem skimpy. We do an open

house, so we

> have people in and out from about noon until 8 in the evening

(last year, we

> had people arrive at 8 and stay until after midnight). So, I feel

some

> obligation to have a lunch and dinner. My first thought was to

change the

> hours so people could only come say from 7 to 11, and only have

appetizers

> and desserts, but that makes it so quite a few people can't come.

>

> I will have to figure out what will be best - maybe 2 hot entrees

instead of

> 4? Maybe heavy on dips and appetizers that I never save at the

end of the

> party. Maybe lunch meat trays. I'm just not sure what to do.

>

>

> 295/234/165

> Lap RNY 8/1/06

>

> See Our Latest Family Pictures and Blogs

>

> www.skamarakas.com

> www.upallnightgaming.com

> www.mymousepoints - Disney Vacation club discussions

>

[Guest guest]

hahaha WOW! moment is right.. dang girl that was a lot to do.. but I agree.. it

tends to feel great now that you CAN do it... I am looking forward to all of

that this year.. feeling more happy about the holidays etc... I can't WAIT to

shop for a new christmas and new years eve outfit. hahaha

" O. " wrote: Shauna you are so sweet I could

just squeeze you!!!!!

This is an AWESOME question!!!! In 2004 I had surgery in August.

That first year we went to my parent's house for the holidays (I

didn't have to cook) I had about 3 bites of turkey and one small bite

of everything else, including a bite of pie.

In 2005 I had everybody at my house about 15 of us, I was up at 5am

to throw in the egg casserole I had made the night before into the

oven and I didn't fall into bed until 1AM 12/26/05. I was up for

almost 24 hours. I cooked breakfast, we went to church, I cooked the

Christmas dinner and cleaned up, after everybody had left I packed

our camper (the kids presents were hiding I there and couldn't pack

it before Christmas) for the camping trip we were leaving for the

next day. What was so fricken amazing was I was tired but not drop

dead aching hurting tired. This was such an amazing wow moment for

me!!! I had worked my tush off and I wasn't dying and aching.

That first holiday after surgery might not be the same BUT think

about all the new and amazing things you can do now and will be able

to do in the future. So go into this holiday season thinking about

all the new and exciting things you can do and the things you are

going to be able to do.

Happy Holidays my friends!!!!!!

>

> Good Morning Everyone,

>

> Many of us have had surgery since January of 2006 and have yet

to deal with the holiday's... we all know that holiday's are

smothered in food... many parties and going to different families...

there will be much to resist for us all..

>

> For all of us first timers to the holidays... how did many of

you that have already seen them deal with them?

>

> I am personally a lucky one this year on the fact that I will

be cooking my meals here at home... So I will be cooking healthy...

However, I want to prepare myself for the parties and such. When I

was going to weight watchers, I found that if I took a tablespoon,

now it would have to be a teaspoon or smaller, of each healthy item I

wanted to taste... I found I got comfortable not stuffed and did not

feel deprived.

>

> I look forward to hearing all your experiences and ideas!! I

assure you, we could use them to prepare ourselves ahead of time.

>

> Thanks!!!

>

> Happy Losing Everyone!!!!!

>

> Shauna

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>