8 Healthy Holidays Strategies after Bariatric Surgery

Get ready for holiday season! We know that navigating through festive feasts can be challenging after bariatric surgery. How to deal with temptations, manage stress and overeating? How can you stick to your health journey without missing out on the fun? Don’t worry, we’re here to guide you. Discover 8 strategies to make it your best holidays yet.

1 - Maintain your usual routine

Got a holiday dinner planned? Resist the urge to skip or reduce meals before the big feast. Your stomach isn’t used to that, which can lead to nausea. Stick to your regular 6-meals-a-day routine, ensuring you hit your protein and calcium intake.

Remember your multivitamins and track your progress using an app like Baribuddy. Plus, by sticking to your routine, you'll avoid excessive hunger at dinner, making overeating less likely.

2 - Stick to your eating habits

Adhere to your usual portion sizes. Consume small bites and sips and chew your food thoroughly. Drink and eat slowly and remember to have food and drinks separately. Rushing and overeating can stress your stomach, possibly leading to nausea.

Consider skipping a meal or extending the break between courses. This allows your body time to digest food and helps you recognize when you're satisfied.

3 - Choose your favorites

Christmas isn’t about surviving. It’s about enjoying it on your own terms. This involves not feeling obliged to eat everything presented to you. Christmas dinners usually elaborate, with it a variety of appetisers, wine, and tempting sweets. Pick your favorites thoughtfully. Savor them mindfully and skip what you can easily do without.

4 - Embrace the true spirit of Christmas

Sometimes we forget that Christmas isn’t solely about eating. It’s about being with your loved ones or taking some time for self-care. So, relax and do what makes you happy. Read a book, take a leisurely walk, listen to music, or watch your favorite movie. Also, don’t hesitate to seek support from family and friends when it comes to your health journey.

5 - Keep your body moving

The festive season is ideal for getting active. Not only does it help in maintaining your health goals. It also benefits your digestion. Movement encourages blood flow and mobility of the bowels. This can be particularly helpful on the days when your eating pattern differs. So go for a stroll instead of staying seated and eating all day. Recommend enjoyable, family-friendly activities to keep everyone moving!

6 - Go for healthy alternatives

Believe holiday meals can't be healthy? Think again! You can opt for healthier food choices that are delightful. Additionally, you'll feel better selecting low-calorie alternatives and ingredients suitable for weight loss surgery. Too much sugar and fat may lead to dumping or nausea, which you'd certainly want to avoid. Also, be mindful of alcohol, as your smaller stomach makes you more sensitive to it.

Therefore, consider a heavenly mocktail, our healthy variation of traditional turkey or this guilt-free chocolate dessert. For more recipes, get the BariBuddy app or check the recipes below this blog.

7 - Connect with yourself

Feeling tempted to overeat? Take a pause and question yourself about your eating habits. Is it a routine? Are you tired or feeling lonely? Eating out of negative or positive emotions (emotional eating) as well as stress, can lead to overeating. By regularly checking in with yourself, you can recognise stressors and give yourself the care you need.

8 - Forget about perfection

Have you indulged more than planned? Missed a workout session? Don’t be too hard on yourself. Perfection isn’t the goal. Besides, you don't gain weight over Christmas. You gain weight when you consistently overeat and skip exercise over an extended period. So don't focus on losing weight during the holidays and enjoy this time too. Do choose consciously and make your health a year-round priority.

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