I've become the food police??

Hi Everybody I was just wondering if anybody out there have found themselves in a similar situation as me. I had my surgery about 14 months ago Yay!! Since I can't eat in the quanity that I used to..my family sometimes ends up with extra servings, or in other words, gets to eat my left-overs. Because of my significant other's willingness to "help" me...he has gained weight. I also find myself noticing how much he seems to eat, especially the huge bites he takes..it is just gross to me. I don't want to be the food police. I hated when folks would try to monitor me..I just don't know why I have changed into this crazy person. Anybody else out there in SMO-land put your family through such craziness?? or am I the only one??? How can I quit being so obsessive??? Hugs, Ginger

Ginger, You are not alone. I notice how much other people eat also. I have had to stop offering Boyce my leftovers, after he told me to stop porking him up. He has gained around 20 pounds. I even notice what strangers eat! I sometimes want to run up and tell them they only need a curly tail to qualify as a porker! I have just decided that I just need to wear blinders. Maybe we could get a 2 for 1 deal on several pairs. Hugs, Janie

Oh Janie, You just crack me up! It's so true! I also watch others eat and think to myself..Oh my gosh! don't forget to chew that thing..you are gonna choke if you inhaul it like that! I DO HAVE TO keep reminding myself that...I did the same thing before surgery...they haven't changed...I have! What store can we buy those blinders??? Hugs,Ginger

Oh Virginia You are so not alone! My husband says he hasnt gained. But some days I transfer my food addiction into feeding other people. I try to feed them healthy foods which they dont want. I have to really watch myself too. I moved to the far end of the table to eat as I cant stand the noises my husband makes. Sounds like a pig snorting when he eats. ONk ONk!! OMG did I do that. I am constantly teling him to blow his nose before he comes to the table. And yes he really resents it. He also chokes his food down so bad that sometimes he really chokes on it. I keep telling him to slow down. No one is going to take it away from him. I dont think you are crazy. My docs nurse says itis because I am thinking of eating like a thin person. Good luck lov marie

My girls and I (they are 10) eat the same amount together as my hubby does. I have become very aware of that type thing. My daughters also end up eating my leftovers and I need to stop offering it to them. You love those around you and want them to be healthy. I do keep as much junk out of the house as possible. I do let them have some stuff I cannot have, but since one of my girls is diabetic, it is mostly the carbs like grits and breakfast foods that they have (I am not so tempted to eat in the AM). SO if they are eating large a quantity at least it is salad or fruit. Shellie

Hi Shellie, I used to be able to kinda control the foods that came into the house. I guess there are ways of keeping mostly healthy stuff around so the temptation to "preach" is kept at bay. I never could eat anybody's left-overs....but everybody around my house sees no problem with it..that's just another little thing that "bugs me" I sound like I have issues don't I??? HugsGinger

Hey, Ginger, you've already done the hardest part - recognizing that it's a problem and that you want to do something about it. I know this simple solution will be hard to implement, but just let it go. Don't fret about scrapping the uneaten food from your plate into the trash or down the garbage disposal. And remember how the struggles we had with food before our surgery (and after, for some of us). Food issues are complicated and we all deal with them in our own time, so there's not much you can do for other folks that also have food issues. So, repeat after me - - Let it go - - you'll be glad you did. Hugs to you as well, Kellie

hi ginger: yep. i've noticed other people's eating habits more since surgery, too. all three of my loved ones have weight issues so it's harder to refrain from saying something. but i think kellie has the right idea. let it go. you already remember how you hated it when someone monitored you, so remind yourself you don't want to do that to someone else. but you're not crazy, hun. it's human nature to try to 'help' those we love. when i find myself wanting to say something, at least a couple times a week, i just try to look away and tell myself they already know it. they don't want to hear it again. good luck dorthe

I don't want to become the food police, so I have taught myself to bite my tongue when I see my sister heading to the fridge every half-hour for something to eat. She wil eat a full dinner, then a half-hour later she has a snack, and then continues to go back and forth from the living room to the fridge for an hour or two afterwards. While she's eating all this stuff every night, she moans about gaining weight and how she needs to get back on track with her eating plan. What scares me is that she had WLS 20 years ago. I worry that years down the road, I will be doing the same thing, so I'm very hard on myself with regard to what I eat. I haven't experimented with things like bread, pasta, or sweets because I don't want to find out I can tolerate them and then end up the way I was prior to WLS. Kix

Hi Kix Thanks for your response. I had hoped and believed that I wasn't the only one who turned into the food police after surgery. I guess it's a perfectly normal thing to go through when you have changed your life so drastically(having your insides rearranged) It definately isn't an EASY way to lose weight..it's kinda an emotional roller-caoster to say the least. I wouldn't worry about your surgery going badly like your sister's. Twenty years ago, wls just wasn't the same as it is now..plus, we have soooo much support and information. I recently chatted with a gal who had wls 10 years ago. She told me that she had her surgery and went home 2 days later without any info as to how to handle her new way of life. At least we can't say that the information and support aren't out there right??? Hang in there Kix! You are wise to stay far away from the breads, pasta and sweets....wish I would have banished those babies from the get-go! Hugs and Smiles Ginger (in not so sunny Arizona)