go onto "the world according to eggface" website. She has great and easy recipes for cakes that we can eat

oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY

First off, Happy Birthday!

Second, I'll be just over 2 months out when my birthday comes next month. And my birthday is celebrated by everyone with margarita drinking (Cinco de Mayo), so I have no idea what I'm going to do!

Just wanted to let you know you aren't in this boat alone!

I say go for it! One or two bites should be enough to bring your spirits back up. You're almost 8 months post-op so you know how your body responds to food. If you still feel quilty about the sweets then do what I do, an extra day of excercise...lol. As far as the margarita, try it. A few sips should do the trick. Just remember you will feel the effects much quicker so take it slow. This is your life so test the waters a bit. If you have a negative reaction, pull back and listen to your body. If your body agrees with testing, just remember why we had the surgery in the first place and have those treats on rare occasions. Take care and Happy Birthday!

my birthday just passed and i was feeling the same way you are. i am 3 days away from being a month out so everything was out of the question for me. i went and hung out with family to try to keep my mind off the cake and things. happy birthday and i wish you the best

They make margarita flavored Crystal Light! I know it's not the same, but....Haha! Happy Birthday! Maybe celebrate by doing something that doesn't involve food like a spa day or something. DO something to take your mind off what you can't do/have. I know I am going to be feeling the same way when football season comes around. It's just not the same without beer and good food. :(

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Cheer up - and CONGRATS on your weight loss!! I'm nearly eight months out and sure haven't lost 96 pounds!! You need to be checking out all of the different recipes for foods that you CAN have - eggface's site is a good place to start. Seriously - if you haven't tried making things low in sugar/carbs and high in protein, you are really missing out! They're easy recipes and taste surprisingly good! I'll bet you can find a substitute that will satisfy your cake craving! Good luck - celebrate living another day - ENJOY!

I've really struggled with the holiday thing, and have tried it all.

Substitutes are disappointing and wasted calories. One bite is the same result.

Going ahead and having a normal portion of goodies, not so much. That way I don't enjoy it, then feel guitly and feel like I'm starting all over agaon.

Really going for it, bingeing the way I would have before, is the worst and most disappointing scenario.

I am pretty sure that none of these are advisable. I think finding a new normal, and making new traditions is the way to go.

Since Easter was my "f*ck all, go-for-it" attempt, I will have to look forward to other holidays to try the "new man" approach, but i know, for me, it must be the answer...{:>} rd

On one holiday during the first year, I wanted that special desert sooo bad. I took a bite, started chewing then realized it wasn't worth it and spit it out. It wasn't that it didn't taste good, but it wasn't good enough to start going down that path. I'm weird, but i can actually get more satisfaction smelling something wonderful than I do actually eating it. I mean, how long is the food actually in my mouth? Ive decided a few seconds of pleasure isnt worth what it does to me. Remembering how it tastes by smelling it, can give me pleasure for much longer and there are no bad side effects! I know this approach doesnt work for everyone. Its just what I do.

If you are going to eat a couple bites cake, I recommend you do it at the end of a protein heavy meal. You will already be satiated and one bite should satisfy you. You will also be less likely to dump if your pouch is already full of protein.

For my birthday, I plan activities (or non-activities) to treat myself with. For the past 4 years, my daughter and I have gone to the spa on my birthday. We get massages and then lounge around drinking the flavored water, reading in the sanctuary, and enjoying the pool. This year we got really fancy and ordered lunch (it was nice, but wasnt worth it). Your birthday is a great day to get a pedi or have your hair doneor shop (I find trying on clothes is a lot of fun, even when Im not buying).

I'm not saying don't eat some cake. Each of us has to figure out our own way through this thing. I'm just encouraging you not to equate cake with celebrating your birthday...there are so many ways (that have nothing to do with food) to celebrate your wonderful life.

JJ

Thank you, everyone, for the support! I really appreciate it! What I decided to do was get 1 cupcake and my husband and I split it. I do plan on trying some of eggface's recipes at some point....I just didn't want to spend my birthday weekend in the kitchen! I did also find a recipe for a ricotta cheesecake that got really good reviews. I think I'm going to try it this weekend and swirl in some sugar-free raspberry syrup. This recipe is crustless, but I made a pumpkin cheesecake for Christmas (low carb, sugar-free of course) and that recipe called for a nut crust. It was really good.

Happy Birthday :)

I had my surgery 10 days before christmas in 2010 I know where you are comming from

I also had mellon for my birthday while everyone else had cheese cake .........sooooooooo I went shopping and got a shirt lol