Rough Week

I had a bit of a tough week this week. I was in a 3 day training seminar at an offsite hotel. For our meals, the hotel provided buffet's. I had to sit through 4 buffets. It was very rough. I find I am ok going out to lunch with my friends and just having a bowl of soup or something, but it is much tougher in a corporate environment when I don't necessarily want to tell everyone my life story. It was torture watching everyone eat plate after plate of food and then someone sat down right next to me with SNICKERS CHEESECAKE!! So after hotel security had me restrained and calmed down...(). Corporate functions are going to be a challenge, especially when I have no control over what is served and I don't feel like taking that opportunity to try a new food that may make me sick. During our Executive Dinner, I had a strawberry and about a square inch of broiled chicken in some kind of sauce, and had to leave early because I thought I was going to . Then, halfway home, it just went away in an instant and I felt fine again. I don't know what to do at these functions, just not eat anything and drink a bottled water? On a more positive note, I wasn't able to eat much this week since I was at the mercy of the hotel and my schedule didn't allow time for exercise, so I thought I might not lose much weight, but was able to lose 8 pounds since last Saturday and am now comfortably below 400 at 394 (down 84 pounds in 9 weeks). Back to a regular schedule next week so will probably have a better week. Chris S.

i know what you're saying about buffets, my husband and i went to our neighborhood chinese buffet (they know us, we were regulars) and everyone was staring at me b/c i just had this little saucer plate with hardly anything on it. same thing at our work's crawfish boil, i had 2 crawfish, a tsp of cajun rice, and a tsp of potato salad on my plate, and some of the clients who don't know me well were staring at me like i was crazy. i almost think i should just get normal portions and then pick at them, but the temptation would be too much.

Hi Chris, You are the rock!!!! I can't imagine that many days in a situation where you are at someone else mercy for meals. You did awesome! Pat yourself on the back and also congrats on breaking that 400 lb mark! You are going to be amazed at how well you handle those buffets in the future. We went to dinner last night and the waitress looked at us like we were so poor that we could only order 1 meal. She kept asking if everything was okay and when the DH asked her "what if I said it wasn't...would you bring me another dinner?" she replied "that is why I keep asking so we don't have to bring another dinner, alot of people do that so they only pay for one dinner" ... hubby and I laughed about it but still never told her why we were sharing a dinner. Keep up the good work! You are doing so great!

Hey Chris-- I give you a lot of credit--that type of situation has to be so rough. I know at my work eVERYONE and their mother order out for lunch. They have finally stopped asking me to join in and I almost feel sad about it (I mean, I bring my yogurt every day!) well, keep your head up and just think of all that you are gaining (no pun intended) by losing the weight. Maybe bring some things on your corp trips..if there is a fridge in your room or little 'dry snacks' to at least eat for a little bit. --Courtney

I think you were in a very tough situation and handled it very well! I think I would have gone nuts!! It's been hard enough for me seeing my family eating certain things that I would love to have again. I congratulate you on your big success so far... that is so awesome!!! Hang in there Chris, and seeing that you will most likely be in that situation again, keep up the strength and know that you are so much better off without all that food. I feel your pain though and I know you have the strength to pull through any situation you end up in!! Bonnie

Congratulations Chris....I know your mind must've been racing. I know at those corporate functions the food is scrumptious and tantilizing...but you'll get through it and be all the better for it. When I go to lunch with my husband the only thing I ever order is a small bowl of soup no drink. The waitresses all look at me weird but I don't feel I owe anyone an explantion. Because I know in the end it will definitely pay off for me as well as for you. Deborah W.

Kudos to you for hanging in there and not having some of the ......drooolll.....snickers cheesecake. It's eating food like that, that put us where we are in the first place, ya know. Thinking that way helps me through situations like that. I can't eat chicken yet (8.5 weeks out). People say that's common, so maybe that is why you felt after eating the chicken. If in that environment, focus on protein (if you can tolerate it), then veggies then fruit. Steer clear of rice and pasta because two bites of that and you'll be full. Sounds like you did a great job. I also have those kind of issues at work (catered lunches, etc.). If possible, try to do an "errand" at lunch and eat something healthy from your cooler in your car or desk area, or go to Wendy's or Taco Bell where you can tolerate a food and eat that. But soemtimes we can't get "out" of situations or events. But that doesn't mean that you should eat foods there that you know will make you sick. Looks like you made some healthy choices and did a great job. Congrats on 84 lbs in 9 weeks. WOWSER! That's awesome!!

Security restrained you... . I don't believe it, but it was funny. Last Friday our boss, who is so tight he squeeks, bought lunch for everyone. They chose pizza. He kept asking what I wanted, I said "I really can't have anything off their menu, but thanks!" He was like, "they have salad-you can have salad right?" "No, I can't have raw veggies yet." "Well, they have subs," and he starts reading off they types. I said, "Look, I appreciate your generosity but I am only 5 weeks out from surgery. I have my little tuna lunch to go thingie and I will be fine. Really." I thought I would be sad when they brought it in, but I had already eaten my half of the tuna to go and wasn't really interested at all. I have gotten annoyed at people who are eating "normal" food around me a couple of times. Of course, if I could have eaten "normal" I wouldn't have had to have WLS. I work at Auntie Annes on the weekends, I had a bite of a pretzel a couple of weeks ago. It didn't make me sick, but it wasn't real wonderful either-so I figure I can keep working there without being tempted. You are doing wonderfully-I hope you have many continued successes! Becky R 254/216/154