This past weekend my family came from all over to Celebrate my mom's 83rd birthday. Friday night we all went to dinner at our favorite family restaurant (Italian) - as we sat down I realized that this would be different for me than ever before - so while the all dined on chicken parm, spagetti, etc; I ordered two meatballs (one for dinner and the second for another time). It was a bit awkward; but I had everyone's support - they even set aside a tiny tinypiece of bread and sent it down to me with love.

Saturday we had Breakfast - I ate the bacon; lunch was at our favorite deli - I ate some tuna without the bread - dinner celebration they once again feasted on great italian food with wine and drinks - I had Chicken Marsala with light sauce and vegetables - I ate a small amount and took it home for a few more meals. Once again the nephews sent over a morsel of bread and love.

Sunday - favorite donut shop - I ate some cheerios and ice tea - then it was off to a shower where they served all wonderful foods with Desserts galore. I ate veggies and chicken with a half of piece of the smallest bit of home fry.

It was a learning experience - and even though there were some rough spots emotionally - I did it

Got on the scale this morning - lost 2.6 pounds -

there are many situations to come where food, once my comfort, has to be replaced..........but now I know I can to do it !

Wow! Great job!!! That was some wonderful will power!

Yes it is hard watching people eat huge meals when you can only eat a few spoonfuls of food. What I do is request an appetizer or kid's meal and wait until everyone else has their food before I will start eating. I eat very slowly so by the time I am done, most have cleaned their plates! That's great your family is being so supportive and trying to make you feel comfortable about eating so little. I've eaten with people who made me feel strange that I couldn't eat as much as them!

Wow that is awesome!!! I laughed when I read the part of you ordering the 2 meatballs. One for now, one for later. How awesome is that?? When else in life could we ever do a thing like that. A dream come true! Well I'll admit I feel the need to blend in even though I shouldn't. One day hopefully I'll be like you and just order my 2 meatballs! If I'm out with other people, I order a regular meal but I eat my tiny portion and take the rest home. I get comments still and I've found that waiters and waitresses often ask me if something was wrong with the food. Twice I've had them refuse to let me pay for it b/c they assumed something had to be wrong with it for me not to eat it. I tried to tell them it was fine but they insisted. I can't complain about getting a free lunch but I probably should have just told them I had the surgery. Sometimes I don't feel like having to bring that up unless I'm in the mood! lol....When I go out to eat with my teenage daughter, we always split a meal. We eat virtually the same amount so it works out perfectly. But I admire your resilence with all that eating out. Great job!!!

Janerose - I am proud of you. I'm sure the family had a wonderful time celebrating your Mom's birthday and that's not what they will remember most about the eveing - not your lack of eating. It sounds like you are really doing well on your coping mechanisms for eating in a group. Each time you successfully do this, you are building your skills for being able to do it again the next time. Soon, it will be a habit you don't even have to think about.

Best of luck to you.

Sharon

Just wanted to say congratulations. It sounds as though you went into those situations with a great plan and did a wonderful job executing your plan. It's very wonderful that your family supports you and I'm sure that their support helped you stay your course. I have Italians amongst my in-laws, so I'll definitely have to remember the bit about just having a meatball and such!

Congrats! That's wonderful! I haven't experienced the social eating yet and I kind of dread it. My wife and kids are the only ones who know that I have had the surgery so when I finally eat with other family or friends, it may be awkward. I guess I will deal with it then.

Great job on the 2.6!! Wooohooo!!!

This is totally amazing. I just realized that I have only eaten out with people who know that I have the surgery so I can't really speculate on how I will feel. On the other hand, I would like getting some free meals though LOL.

You did a terrific job! Congrats!. I do love ordering a meatball sandwhich without the bread! It looks beautiful on my plate when it comes covered with marinara sauce. I do miss eating the bread, I was such a bread lover. Now I'm fearful of even eating it. LOL

Wonderful story! I am so glad you were able to share with your family, and demonstrate to them that this isn't just a diet, that you have it figured out and are doing great.

I would give so much to be able to have another huge dinner with my abundant family and let them see the new me, but that can never be. Enjoy every minute of it.

What a NSV!