Probably gonna get it now...

I am probably gonna get a flaming for this one but here goes... It seems to me that there are a lot of post from people who are wanting to eat fast food and testing the waters with what they can and can't eat. I have nothing against Arby's or Taco Bell or any other fast food place for that matter. However, it's this a tool? Aren't we suppose to modify our eating habits? Wouldn't that include not only what we eat but where we get our food from? If you are at a fav. fast food place how long will it be until you tell yourself maybe just one won't hurt anything? I am going to get off my soapbox and put on my armour now to fight off the firey darts that will come my way. I just care about each and everyone of you. I want to see all of us succeed, it is just like if you don't want to be hit by a car don't play in the highway. Take care of you, Shannon The Irish Lassie

Hi shannon, yes i agree with you this is a tool we have been given and also a second chance for me, this is how I am looking at it, and i am going to do everything humanly possible to fight off thoes demons that made me 370lbs to begin with! but I must say we all have preferences in our lives and if it is easier for some to go get some beans from taco bell rather than prepare them at home it is a personal choice and not always a bad one at that, I think we all need to do whats best for us, and hopefully with our new tool we will live longer healthier lives...it is a learning process to eat healthy all over again.. its just like buying a can of a prepared shake to have before work and running out the door rather than taking the time to make one at home, sometimes their isnt enough time in a day to do everything by the book, and we all look for short cuts, but lets try to make some time for ourselves, i know this has been my problem and this is what made me obese to begin with, I have always put everyone elses wants and needs befor my own and now it's going to be all about me!!! God Bless you all!!! NO FLAMES NEEDED HERE..... SHANNON THATS WHAT WERE ALL HERE FOR TO EXPRESS OUR CARE AND CONCERNS FOR ONE ANOTHER AND YOUR HEART IS DEFINATELY IN THE RIGHT PLACE SWEETY, HOPE ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE FOR YOU!

Hi Shannon, No flaming here. I think you make a good point. Once our pouches are able to accomodate more, will we fall back into old habits and push the envelope? I would hope we wouldn't, that we would tell ourselves that we put ourselves through major surgery to conquer this. But I also think it's a case of walking through the fire and surviving. That is to say, some of us can eat in restaurants (and ANY restaurant can be a temptation, God knows!) and enjoy a tiny bit of something and NOT go whole hog. I think that alone would feel like winning, do you know what I mean? - Being able to stop and remembering when we couldn't? I thought I would never feel NOT WEIRD enough to eat in restaurants ever again. I thought it would be ridiculously obvious that I was different because I'd be sitting there nibbling on two or three pencil-eraser-sized bites and then be done. What I've discovered is that by focusing on the conversation and moving the food around with my fork a lot, I can eat just what I need and no more and not look like a freak! I am not telling very many people that I've had this surgery, so I didn't want it to be obvious. Now I know that it doesn't have to be. My boyfriend went into a patisserie last weekend. It was divine!!!! They had an immense bakery case set up with the freshest, most delicious pastries I have ever seen! He got a bowl of soup and a tarragon chicken salad sandwich, I got a half cheese sandwich (so glad they serve half sandwiches!) (and cheese, because I'm a vegetarian) and nibbled on the insides of it. I could only finish about one-third of the half, and even then I was STUFFED! Well, my point is that before we ate, I decided that yes, I was going to have one of the little petit fours. (I love buttercream frosting!) Well, after I ate I absolutely did not want it anymore. And I know in my heart that I would have taken one tiny bite of the petit four and it would have been too sweet for me. (I don't dump on sugar, unfortunately.) Sometimes I think, when I've eaten a little too fast and my pouch is overfull and it HURTS, that this is kind of like aversion therapy. I am learning that every time I put food in my mouth it's anybody's guess as to how it is going to sit with me. It's taking time to relearn how to eat, but I am definitely enjoying food less. I've also already started to see the effect of the surgery in that I am much more active now. I actually SUGGESTED that we go walking in the park last week! We walked for half an hour! Believe me when I say that would have NEVER happened pre-surgery. Anyway, I've rambled enough. Thanks for your post, you do make a good point. -Eve

No flames from me either, Lassie! I agree 100% that this needs to be a new way of life for us. But we have to integrate that way of life into our existing world. For some of us, eating out is just a part of that world. The point I was trying to make was that it is possible to do that and still not compromise what we are supposed to be doing. We don't have to stop living to do this--we just have to modify some things. I ate 100% legally at Arbys. Shaved deli meat is on my list as a prime source of protein. I'm struggling to get my protein in with my mother in and out of the hospital and responsibilities pressing from every side. But even with all that, I am not about to let my commitment to healthy eating fall by the wayside. If I left the impression that it is OK to loosen up on the eating rules, I am sorry to be influencing anyone in that direction. I'm just seeking ways to stay on the path when times are tough. Thanks for sharing your perspective, Shannon. Your point is well taken. Joy

Shannon - No need to put the armour on just yet. No darts or flames from me. You do make a good point. I have this tool that I must LEARN to use. I have been on pureed foods now for 2 weeks (I'm 3 weeks post op). When I'm out and about shuffling my kids to and fro, I do stop at Taco Bell and get Pinto's and Cheese. I have cans of refried beans here at the house, but they don't do me any good when I'm on the road with the kids in tow. I have no desire (strangely enough) for anything else on their menu (except maybe a Dr. Pepper!), so I'm not tempted to get anything that I'm not supposed to have. The Pintos N Cheese are OK according to my dietician, but I don't make it a daily affair. I did try to test the waters last night. After my daughter's soccer practice, we met my hubby at a Chineese Food place we love. I thought I could get Won Ton soup or Egg Drop and do OK with it. Well, I opted for Won Ton, and ate the veggies, a little meat and some broth. My hubby told me to slow down, but I knew what I was doing (NOT!). I ended up throwing the little bit I had up. This was the first time I have gotten sick, and I'll tell you - I hope it's the last time. There's nothing worse than hurling in a public restroom. My point is, sometimes we have to learn the hard way. Especially for us stubborn people. I'm back to being a good girl and staying on pureed foods for as long as I need to while my pouch heals. As for my Taco Bell fix, I feel like it's a treat, and as long as it's ok w/ my dietician, I'm going to have my occasional treat. Gee - who would have thought that beans would be considered a treat!! Thanks for caring about us - really! I'm working on modifying my eating habits, but as they say, old habits die hard. I'm going to use this tool and get every benefit from it - I promise!! Thanks again for bringing up your point! -Wendy -14.5

Shannon - I agree with you! However, I also realize there are times where some folks will need to eat fast food. When travelling, when rushed on a short lunch from work, or just when your family wants Taco Bell and you are feeling left out and just want one little splurge. I haven't ventured out to eating fast food yet, but DH did make baked chicken nuggets last week and I had half of one. I have to admit I do think about what I can have at different fast food places in case I need to turn to it. One reason is when I do go back to work I will be working graveyard and sometimes forget to take lunch. I try to stock up my locker, but sometimes I get caught with my pants down. So hearing someone say that you can have the Taco Bell beans and cheese for so many odd calories, fat and protein helps me to know that there is an alternative for me to have lunch at 2am when everything else is closed. Believe me, I'm not a Taco Bell fan, but sometimes I've eaten there out of desperation, and you would only catch me eating pintos and cheese out of desperation! I work 10 sometimes 12 hour shifts. Who wants to be fighting off gas for the majority of their shift? But in a large way I agree with you. I'm not seeking out McD's or Wendy's or any of those other places for a "fix." I do see it as a need sometimes though. Personally, I'm looking forward to having a salad very soon - maybe a chicken caesar! Mmmmmmmmmm got me all hungry now! Dina

No flames here either... I agree that a lot of people are pushing the envelope. I am one month out today. Do I dump? I don't know and I am not going to find out. I figure as long as I FEAR dumping I wont eat sweets or fried foods. But if I were to push the envelope and find out I am NOT a dumper, this tool might lose a LOT of effectiveness for me. -Sherrie Aderman 3/2/04 - 40 lbs