mhuntoon

Jean, I, like many of us here I'm sure, came from a home where you finished what was on your plate. Anything short of that was being wasteful and insensitive to those who didn't have food on their plates. My parents certainly never intended to set me down this path of morbid obesity, but this skill was ingrained in me at a young age. I noticed that I was doing the same with my own children (four of them) and even my wife at times. If they wouldn't finish their food at a restaurant, I would often finish it myself (after eating my own) so as not to offend the server or anyone else who might notice how "wasteful" my kids were being. It took time for me to come to this realization, but I'm there. I encourage my kids to only eat what they know they'll like (they can experiment from someone else's serving if they'd like) and, if they can't finish, asking for a container in which to take the food home is a good thing. I no longer hover over them making sure they "clean their plates." I still talk to them about being wasteful and how there are starving people in the world, but the onus is no longer on them to cure the worlds ills.

I couldn't agree with this post more. I, too, never had an "I'm full" feeling - at least not until I had devoured far more than I should have, which would then be followed by a sense of guilt. I haven't told any friends or family (save immediate family) about my sleeve because I want to avoid the "you took the easy way out" looks or having to explain how this is truly a difficult process and not a quick fix. I did this for me, my wife, and our kids. They know what I've done and what I'm going through and that's honestly all I need. Someday, I'm sure I'll tell others but for right now I'd rather not waste the energy of dealing with their skeptical questions and doubts and instead focus that energy on doing all I can to stay on the right path. I'm only 2.5 weeks post surgery, so I have plenty of time to deal with naysayers et als down the road.