Where is the family forum? I wish we had one..

Ok here goes. About once a month the entire family has a family gathering. The kids go swimming, play with one another, and of course there is a lot of food. In fact I think the day is centered around grazing all day long and drinking beer/wine. I don't drink beer or wine so I am good there, however, I do not want to be around all that food.

The truth is that I love food and the company I have around food. Call me an addict, call me a foodie it doesn't matter. The point is I find it difficult to be around all the food and not sample it. I was the only large one in the family so the rest never had the same issues I had with grazing and weight gain. The smells are enticing and even though I am not hungry.... I still want to sample/snack (head hunger).

How can I attend this gathering and not be bothered by the food at 2 weeks post op? I am seriously thinking about not going but I was given some nasty looks by family. Only 1 knows I had the surgery and the others think I had surgery for a hernia (wanted to avoid judgement). Any help is appreciated.

I had the exact same thing happen to me with a group of friends that meet regularly. I almost didn't go just to avoid the food. But then I remembered that I made a promise to myself to say yes to any invitation I get post surgery, so I went. No longer am I going to miss out on life because of my weight. Here is the funny thing. I loaded up my plate with the soft foods that I was able to eat at the time. I started to shovel food into my mouth like I used to do before the surgery. It only took 2 bites, just 2 bites for the sleeve to slap me back to reality. The whole rest of the day was a piece of cake, no issues with food at all because the sleeve was in control. I don't know if this helps at all, but if your sleeve is anything like my sleeve, everything will be just fine.

I would go. Make a plate. Eat two bites of soft food only and make an excuse to get up and walk away for five minutes. If your tummy isn't barking, take one bite and find another distraction, this time, taking your plate with you. Dump what you KNOW you can't eat (discreetly). And if you feel like it, DO graze through the day. One nibble here... Another there. Soft food only. You'd be surprised how easily you will blend in.

Dang I wish I had your family!

I had surgery Nov 28. Need I say more. Skipped all the Xmas parties. Had my family Thanksgiving weekend before pre-op diet. I just stayed home and never felt like I missed anything. I went to my granddaughter's birthday on Dec 4 and could only look at all the food they were eating. I drank water. So needless to say I could not do all the other parties. Much, much too hard for me.

I've got 2 coming up this week. One at a restaurant with the immediate family (sister's birthday), and one with more distant family at my uncle's house (his birthday). My entire immediate family and my uncle and his wife know I've had the surgery, but not the rest of the family (only because I don't see them often).

Not sure how I'll handle the restaurant, because that dinner is on Monday and I can't eat the food they serve (seafood) until Wednesday. So, I either ask for something specially made, or jump to the next phase early (maybe their crab salad, or ask for baked fish).

The party on Sunday, I'll just have to see what they offer, and do what I can. (I'm sure it will be catered, so can't just ask my uncle for special food.)