There's been a week-long celebration at work, and each day revolves around food themes. Last Friday was a cake and ice cream farewell party, Monday was barbecue and sides, Tuesday was catered Tex-Mex, Wednesday was dinner-plate sized cinnamon rolls from a local bakery, Thursday was bagels and muffins from another bakery, and today was pizza. As I am in the second week of my 2-week pre-op diet, I successfully avoided the food, but I feel socially ostracized. I don't get to hang out and share in the fun because there's not much point to sitting in a room full of food I can't eat while everyone exclaims about delicious it is. It also doesn't help that people who fully know about my food restrictions are telling me to go have some. I can't wait to be out of here for surgery; then I at least can focus on caring about me and not have to be around all the mass eating.

That does sound really rough, especially the "friends" encouraging you to break your medically necessary pre-op diet! Don't expect a lot of support from them afterwards, either. Maybe they're jealous?

I feel your pain. I was on my liquid diet during thanksgiving and there was food everywhere at work I had to avoid. Then to top it off I had to forgo thanksgiving dinner due to the same reason.

Good for you for sticking to it though. You are proving to yourself that you can stick to it, and that is the right mindset to have prior to surgery. In a few months you will be able to have reasonable bites of a few favorites again, perhaps just prepared in a more healthy way.

Stay strong. You’ve got this!

Oh my god what a nightmare. Stay strong! Itll all pay off in the end. Also you should sneak some laxatives into those "friends" coffee...

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Don’t know if it helps but I have found holding a plate with a bit of food on it helps - I sort of move it about (initially I picked something I didn’t like, to reduce temptation) and no-one notices you aren’t eating - mostly people are engaged with their own food, and with chatter. They really do notice if you have no plate at all, so I fake it!

there's not much point to sitting in a room full of food I can't eat while everyone exclaims about delicious it is.

Well of course there is, the point is to be social and celebrate! Just because they do it with food doesn’t mean you can’t do it without. That’s something you need to practice because it’s gonna be the rest of your life.

And when they encourage you to eat, just say no thank you!

They aren’t gonna chance, and you shouldn’t expect them to. That’s our society.

8 hours ago, jess9395 said:

Well of course there is, the point is to be social and celebrate! Just because they do it with food doesn’t mean you can’t do it without. That’s something you need to practice because it’s gonna be the rest of your life.

And when they encourage you to eat, just say no thank you!

They aren’t gonna chance, and you shouldn’t expect them to. That’s our society.

But we all have to take the steps as we're ready, and most of our lives, we won't be on a liquid diet. If the OP wasn't feeling up to the challenge, it's ok to bail. There are plenty of other opportunities to wish the people well, give them a hug, etc. Martyrdom isn't a requirement.

But we all have to take the steps as we're ready, and most of our lives, we won't be on a liquid diet. If the OP wasn't feeling up to the challenge, it's ok to bail. There are plenty of other opportunities to wish the people well, give them a hug, etc. Martyrdom isn't a requirement.

Not saying she has to do anything on any schedule. Just addressing the “not much point” statement. Ultimately to be successful long term that is a mind set that must change. We must learn to see different points in things! That’s all I am saying.

3 hours ago, jess9395 said:

Not saying she has to do anything on any schedule. Just addressing the “not much point” statement. Ultimately to be successful long term that is a mind set that must change. We must learn to see different points in things! That’s all I am saying.

Yes, I totally agree about the "not much point". We don't want to shut ourselves off from our friends' and families' celebrations just because food is a major part. We can still share their joy without stuffing ourselves.