Wheezy and I will be spending Thanksgiving with the family of the dude I've been dating, Freckles.  That's bringing a little angst into my world.  In my family food=love.  Sin = not eating the dishes that have been painstakingly prepared from scratch and paid for by aunties who don't mind reminding you they're on fixed incomes.  I can't eat very much since I had gastric bypass surgery at Catawba Valley Medical Center back in January so I've become very picky.  I do fear looking a little stuck up.  A small serving of turkey and a side of green bean casserole is probably as much as I can handle.

The only thing I'll miss is ambrosia salad.  I've loved it since I was a kid. Its that delish mixture of mandarin oranges, sour cream, coconut, marshmallows and maraschino cherries!  I could eat a bowl of that stuff and ignore everything else on the table.  The problem?   Coconut and rice are the two foods my tiny tummy hates.  Giving them up is a small sacrifice compared to what I've gained.  Nearly 70 excess pounds gone.  Normal BMI and have I mentioned that my type 2 diabetes is in remission?

The holidays used to mean totally abandoning any efforts to lose weight until after the first of the year.  This year, the food definitely won't be the focus.  I'll just keep the focus on the friends and family I'm looking forward to spending time with.... and on shopping for the perfect gifts!