The Grocery Store

[Folly 308]

I went grocery shopping today. I usually go once a week on Thursday. In our house the job of doing all the cooking and shopping sort of gradually fell to me. As time has gone on I've went from being a rigid evangelist of pushing healthy choices on people to accepting they're not going to be forced any more than I could be. I ended up somewhere in the middle with everyone. I encourage healthier choices and sometimes they listen. When I cook I sneak in what I can and try to minimize portions of what I can't. Usually, I don't eat things I make for others if I don't see the benefit outweighs the cost in fat and excess calories and carbs. It makes my body feel like I've just eaten garbage anyway.

So I've noticed that I'm shopping like it's for two households. In my house-hold we get lean meat, all the veggies we want, lots of fruit, a glass of wine every Friday night and some little bit of carbs every day.

In the other house they finally consented to going from whole milk to 2%, from fried chicken to baked - with skin still on, etc. In my house we might have an occasional bite of chocolate. In the other house they might have an occasional box of twinkies.

It's weird to be so separate from the people with whom you live with something as intrinsic as food.

I used to have a ritual after the big weekly grocery shop that involved my scarfing down a treat in the parking as soon as I got back in the car. (A box of donuts with chocolate milk perhaps). I still do this. Today the treat was those dry roasted seaweed things (30 cal, no fat, trace minerals and a little protein) and pureed vegetable juice (about 50 cal, no fat, Fiber and vitamin/mineral content good - both a little high in sodium).

It's been automatic pilot for long enough now that I'm starting to make choices within what I feel good about without the internal dialogue and argument first. This has been such a hard place to get to, I think part of me fought it because I didn't really want to surrender the things I did to make myself obese. I wanted to want to let them go so I could be thin again - or at least not remarkably fat - but the habits of decades were strong.

I wonder how others with families handle this issue?

[shellyd88 463]

well in our house there's two choices #1 take it or #2 leave it lol what I make is what there is unless there are leftovers of something else that's the 3rd choice I pay for I cook it they eat it or go hungry or go somewhere else

[joatsaint 2,814]

Congratulations on doing so well. I would call that an NSV!

I often wonder if I would have done as well with my weight loss if I didn't live alone and had to live with tempting foods laying around? I don't have to exert much will power as it is, I don't buy stuff I know I will be tempted to eat, so it's never in the house.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

I am so glad I am single and don't have to feed anyone else. I don't know how y'all do it!

[Folly 308]

@@shellyd88

lololol

that approach caused a mutiny in my house - and the spousal unit going behind my back and over-spending on things.

[shellyd88 463]

Lol I sorta got that impression I know how u feel I've been there but until they get jobs buy their own food etc what is here is what they get my husband doesn't like shopping or cooking he will do it but hates it he does love the junk food tho so I have to let him have some he of course doesn't gain weight I tell him to get stuff I don't like so I don't eat it lol unfornately I like junk foods too so I have to be a bit strict about it for my own sake my teen nieces and nephews aren't thrilled I no longer have soda at my house but hey they won't perish without a soda I hope you get some cooperation

[pink dahlia 2,513]

We only had 1 older child living at home when I got banded, but we honestly didnt change our home eating habits because we had slowly changed them when my husband was diagnosed with diabetes. (inherited, he's tall, slim and doesn't like sweets. Im short, struggled with my weight after 30, and love sweets. Go figure. )Google diabetic recipes, its easy to find good tasting food, including Desserts ! Good luck !

[James Marusek 5,244]

Congratulations on your weight loss. 242 pounds is impressive.

[Dub 9,971]

I hit the perimeter of the store and that is about it these days. Much quicker shopping.