So apparently 4th of July is a problem for me. I have been missing my children desperately. Not just their presence but my ability to play with them and do for them. I don't like other people doing what I should be doing. Today is my one week out. My dad has been taking care of my three year old at my house. My husband has been taking care of me plus working 50+ hours. My mom has been taking care of my 7 year old since I went into the hospital. I kind of felt like she could have brought him home a couple of days ago but he was having so much fun...my mom has been taking him on day trips all over the state spoiling him rotten. There is a HUGE parade in our town that goes on for three hours and takes an hour to get to in my own town because of the traffic and then you wait an hour in the sun for it to start and it takes an hour to fight traffic to come home. Although I have been feeling pretty good...I really wasn't confident that once I got there I wouldn't feel like crap and need to leave. My husband took our 3 years old and met my mom and seven year old and I stayed home. After the parade my mom called me and said Owen (7 year old) was crying hysterically that mommy wasn't at the parade and wanted to come home. I was bawling at the idea my son was so upset about me not going. If I had known it was that important to him I would have gone. I told her to bring him right over and she did.

We had a small bbq at my house and I think I was just feeling left out of everything....I took some of my mom's potato salad (hard boiled egg, potato, light mayo, VERY plain) and mashed it up and had four small bites. I made sure it was a "melty" consistency in my mouth before swallowing, but I still had it. It made me feel better and I had no problems with it whatsoever. I chose this because I know a lot of people go home able to eat this and a week from now I will be able to eat it anyway, but nevertheless its against my surgeons liquid two week post op diet. I feel really guilty about it.

Then it was time for my son to leave again because they were going to the fireworks. He didn't seem to mind that I wasn't coming, but I was bawling. I could care less about the fireworks but I am so sad about missing the excitement on my kids faces when they see them. Time I can't get back.

So I know the answer is that this is temporary and that this is going to make their/our lives so much better, next year is going to be so great for us, etc....right now I am just mad at myself for eating and sad that I missed out on everything with my kids. :(

Sounds like you have a lot of great support.  Be thankful.  In the long run, the kids will remember the skinny mom that could play with them and do things with them before they remember that one 4th you weren't at the parade. 

We all have slips in our eating plan along the way.  The key is what you do now.  This sets the stage for the rest of your life, will you be successful at this or not.  Get back on the wagon.  Forgive yourself and keep going.  Yes, you didn't die because you ate something you weren't suppose to. However, we got fat by eating things we weren't suppose to.  So get back on program and be determined that you will use this time to make new habits which will make you successful at not only losing weight but keeping it off.

You can do this. 

Please be careful about what you eat so soon after surgery. I thought a little green beans would be ok and I threw up for hours afterwards. Your body hasn't healed yet, and that is why you are on a liquid diet.

I'm sorry you are dealing with lots of emotions, it is an up and down time, BUT, keep the big picture in mind.....you will have more 4th of July's because of your decision to have surgery, making each one more special.

 I wouldnt worry so much about what you ate but about the fact the when you got upset you turned to food. This is one of the biggest things that got us all into well being over weight. The surgery does its job making you eat less but you have to work hard on the mental part of it. Which in most cases is the truly hardest part. 

So dont beat yourself up to much. 

I had surgery on the 28th. And today has been hard!!! I have been around BBQ's for 3 days and I think I feel hungry. I'm sooo frustrated. I also have a terrible urge to eat. especially since day 2 post op I gained 4 lbs!!!!!!!!!! Who does that????????????? 

I have 6 children and it has also been very hard to not do things with them. Although I must say I have secretly enjoyd not changing ANY diapers.

Good luck to you and your future.
Hearing you cheated a little makes me feel normal  

This is said with caring and respect, so please don't take it as a slam... buck up buttercup :)

This will get better.  You are going through a good deal right now with your recovery...this is an emotional time for lots of reasons (loss of normal coping mechanisims...aka food, loss of ability to care for your family...even if temporary and you are probably not feeling that well at times). 

There is a decent chance your kids won't even remember this...many 7 year olds do not remember things long term unless you make a big deal about it.  And certainly the younger will not remember this time.  They will remember the healthier more vibrant person you will become. 

Your "mess up" with the food would have been OK on my plan...not encouraging you to go against your doctors plan but you probably chose the wisest "mess up" you could have!!

Try to focus on what is in store for you and your family in the very near future.  Things are going to keep getting better and better.  Hang in there 

Im sorry today was rough, but its over now and tomorrow doens't have to be rough! No more cheating! You didn't go through all of this AND the time away from your kids for FOOD. I don't mean to be grumpy, but I can relate, I missed our kids like crazy! We put our families first sooo often as moms and right now, this very short time in the scheme of things, we are putting ourselves first. We have to, so we can be the parents our kids deserve. I havent even been tempted to cheat, because right now I am on liquids. I look at every single tempting peice of bacon, cupcake, bbq and pb and jelly I have made as LESS time with my kids. its not fair to them to lose a parent so young and not fair to us to give up. So let it be over today and tomorrow is new and fresh and will be better :)