Managing the Holidays with Lipedema
Plus, a little bit about the tradition of Hygge. And a chaffle recipe??
Happy Holidays!
Remember a time when you could eat and drink all you wanted and party into the wee hours of the night?
Yeah, me neither.
However, back in the day (uh-oh! I sound like my grandpa), I remember having a busy schedule around this time of year with friends and family. Maybe now it’s different because I was much younger with small children and had a more active life. Or maybe it’s because the world and our culture have changed over the past thirty years. Or perhaps it’s a little of both.
Since my Lipedema exacerbation three years ago and my eventual surgeries, I’ve been forced to slow down during this time of year. I have to allocate my energy and choose how I spend my time carefully.
On the bright side, my holiday demeanor is more serene. There is great joy in this, cherishing my moments with those I care about.
We all have something in our lives that takes our time and attention, regardless of the time of the year. I see how my time is valuable. I’m learning to approach the holidays not with a list of tasks but with creating genuine memories with those I love.
This is a fundamental concept and might seem unnecessary to write about. But it’s nice to reinforce caring for ourselves and nourishing our lives as best we can.
So, I’ve let go of a lot of task-y-type things and kept the most important traditions alive.
My husband’s huge family gets together every holiday (this year will be the first without his dad, the patriarch), eats, drinks, and does a white elephant gift exchange. It’s a great time. There are over thirty people between his seven siblings and all the kids and grandkids!
My family is much smaller now, with me and my grown kids. Our most significant family tradition is Christmas breakfast with German pancakes and mimosas. Then we open our stockings and play board games with Christmas music or movies. This is the one true tradition that stays alive.
Everything else is optional.
What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
Have you ever heard of the little book of Hygge? It’s about the Danish tradition of slowing down during the holidays. Think about sitting in front of a fire in your most comfy sweats, with a hot drink, and sharing company with no agenda. It’s about celebrating the small joys in life. You don’t have to buy the book; you can read about it here.
The other day, I found a recipe for a bread alternative called a chaffle. I’ve never heard of a chaffle before! Has anyone else? If not, keep reading!
This recipe uses five ingredients:
1 large egg
1/2 cup cheese
2 Tbsp almond flour
1/2 tsp psyllium husk powder
1/4 tsp baking powder
Bake it in a waffle maker, and there you have it!
If you’re interested in reading the recipe, you can find it on Wholesome Yum-10 ingredients or less. When you get there, look around for more exciting recipes :)
Take care, and have a happy holiday this week!
Michelle