Holidays 2017 Success Story
For the first time in my life, I can honestly say that I did not gain weight during the holidays. I have endured my birthday, Thanksgiving, leftovers, Christmas, New Year’s, and three birthday parties, and managed to gain absolutely no weight. Did I starve myself? Absolutely not. Was it because of the bariatric surgery? Partially.
First, on my birthday and unlike prior birthdays, I managed to gain no weight. That evening, we dined at a German restaurant and I ate a bunch of meat, but avoided processed carbohydrates. I also worked out that day. The end result was no weight gain.
On Thanksgiving, the same thing occurred that always does, I leave the table disappointed but later happy that I did not overeat. I always load my plate with a ton of food, and this year I could barely eat half of it until I was extremely full, courtesy of the surgery. I subsequently ate very little the rest of the day. I also did my workout for that day also, and the end result was no weight gain.
On Christmas I did not eat anything particularly bad. If I craved a particular food item, I would try a bite of my wife’s portion, but I would otherwise opt into any healthy options that were available. Of course, I continued with my workout regimen and gained no weight. This practice carried into New Year’s as well. During this time I ate a fair amount of wild game that I got this hunting season.
My brother-in-law had a birthday party at the same amazing German restaurant as my birthday. Similarly, the duck I ordered had a glaze on it, but that was about it for processed carbohydrates. Two days later, my oldest daughter had her birthday at an Asian restaurant, and I ordered a vegetarian dish, simply because it sounded tasty, and indeed was. Naturally, that was even healthier.
How did I manage to not gain weight during a time period that causes weight gain in most people, including myself in the past? First, I drank almost zero calories. I mostly stuck to my stevia-sweetened green tea and water. Second, I tried to eat whole foods including fruits, vegetables, and meats, and largely avoided processed foods wherever I could. Lastly, I continued my 6-day-a-week workout program. The combination of those three things allowed me to maintain my weight, yet enjoy delicious holiday food.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this blog is based entirely upon my experiences and observations. I am not a medical professional and you must do your own research and consult your doctor before making any changes to your eating, fitness, medication, or supplements. This general information is not intended to diagnose any medical condition or to replace your healthcare professional.