Your WLS Holiday Survival Guide

Here we are – in the middle of the Holidays!  The Holidays are a special time of year but can bring their own sets of challenges, wonderful traditions and the need for healthier recipes.  Check out the articles and resources in Your WLS Holiday Survival Guide!

WLS-FRIENDLY YET YUMMY RECIPES

Winter Foods for Sharing Recipes – Among these recipes is a great option for your Holiday table, Orange Cranberry Slush With Frosted Snow Recipe.  You can put this dish in a trifle bowl to show off the pretty colors and seasonal look with the “Frosted Snow.”

Parmesan Chips and Salsa – Spice up your Holidays by serving these no carb chips and salsa. You’ll be able to sneak in a little bit more protein from the Parmesan cheese in the chips. Kick up your heels with this delicious recipe as appetizers or a festive side dish.

Spinach Artichoke Dip – Dips are notoriously made with full-fat ingredients such as mayo, sour cream and cream cheese.  This dip, along with fresh veggies, will allow you and your guests to boost your Holiday meal nutrition in a delicious and healthy way.

Pass The Parsnips Please – Whether you are looking for a savory appetizer or a sweet side, check out these two ways to prepare parsnips.  Parsnips are high in vitamins and minerals, especially potassium. They also contain antioxidants, and both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber.

EMOTIONAL EATING

Recognizing Emotional Hunger and Fullness – This is a powerful article because it will help you be more aware of emotional hunger (head hunger) and fullness.  Read about the two kinds of hunger and fullness – physical and emotional.  Helpful anytime but especially at the Holidays.

60 Ways To Avoid Emotional Eating – When the craving comes up and you want to emotionally eat, many times all you need is a distraction or a change in your environment (going outside, go to another room).  Check out this list of 60 ways you can avoid emotional eating.  Use this list and add to it to make your own list.

Four Ways to Overcome Head Hunger – Do you know how to differentiate between head hunger and physical hunger?  Head hunger can easily be so strong that you might think it is physical hunger so it is important to know the difference. You’ll also be able to use the four ways to overcome head hunger once it comes up for you.

Ten Tips for Battling Food (and Family) Over the Holidays – Double your support by reading about how to handle family issues and 10 strategies to handle your food triggers and emotional eating.  Triggers can be quite powerful but you can be more powerful with these strategies.

HOLIDAY STRESS

10 Tips for Reducing Holiday Stress – Our day-to-day lives can be stressful but when you add on the additional stresses of the Holidays, it can be quite overwhelming.  These 10 tips are useful anytime of the year but are especially helpful during the Holidays.

Surviving and Thriving During the Holidays – Between the Holiday get-togethers, office parties, shopping for gifts, planning your Holiday meal, and all the other items on your to-do list for the Holidays, you can get burned out.  Check out the suggestions so you not only survive the Holidays but thrive and enjoy them.

How To Survive and Enjoy the Holiday Season – You won’t regain your weight loss by one Holiday meal. You can enjoy your Holidays with moderation of your food choices and minimize your stress.  Read about the four ways you can handle a tempting Holiday favorite food choice.

It Doesn’t Have to be a Food Fight with Food Pushers – Holiday stress can occur when a loved one is a food pusher.  Be prepared by reading these scenarios with your food pusher in mind.   You’ll know how you can react plus check out the inside scoop on why your reaction will work.

DRINKING AND ADDICTIONS DURING THE HOLIDAYS

Drinking Alcohol After Weight Loss Surgery – It is recommended that weight loss surgery post-ops avoid drinking alcohol, even socially.  Alcohol is 100% empty calories and the goal of weight loss surgery is to become healthy. Alcohol also irritates the stomach lining, damage internal organs including the brain. Don’t risk it.  Stick to your healthy choices.

Transfer Addiction After WLS – If you struggled with food addiction prior to having weight loss surgery, you’re at risk of developing a transfer addiction. WLS treated our obesity but doesn’t treat the underlying issues that could ignite a transfer addiction.

Crossing the Line to Cross Addiction – The biochemical changes that occur during compulsive eating are similar to those that can occur in cross addictions to other behaviors such as alcohol, cigarette smoking, shopping among others.  Being aware of these biochemical similarities can help early detection if a certain behavior is becoming a problem.

Is Food Addiction a Problem for You? – Even though this article references food addiction, it is an article about addictions. Psychological addiction or dependency occurs with food and equally to other behaviors such as alcohol, spending, gambling, etc.

The Holidays are a time of celebration.  Make sure to celebrate all your successes, non-scale victories, milestones and, the best gift of all….your health!