???? What do you do ??? (vent)

Why is it that every time that I go out with friends they always seem to want to "go out to eat" what ever happened to lets go to the zoo, lets go swimming, lets take a hike, go fly a kite....whatever, why does it seem as though all my friends ever want to do is eat and drink???? Are there any like minded people out there who don't have to eat in order to be social? How about a bike ride one of these Saturday mornings rather than ....where do you want to go to brunch? GRRRRRR Yeah I have made the suggestion that we have a snack before we leave home and I have made the suggestion that we DO something other than dine out. Any thoughts from those of you who have been successful at getting the friends off of the dining out syndrome of socialization?? Jill

Trust me Jill I know exactly how you feel. Some of my friends and family I can get them to go bowling with me instead, or dancing,to the park, or something. But I have those other ones that just want to go out for dinner. My dad just hung up the phone saying lets go out to eat. He knows I cant eat that much. I hate going out to eat becasue I waste too much food. I will go with him today in exchange for him going swimming with me tomorrow. Dayja

Jill, I guess I need to say this..... Be glad you have friends to do things with.... even if it is going out to eat.... I only have one true friend and she is always too busy to do much with. We get together about once every 2 or 3 months, and it is usually for a bar-b-q or something like that with our families. If I don't do things with her, then I am at home all the time, other than appointments anc crap like that. I am not trying to get pitty or sound depressed because I love spending time with my children and I do enjoy the things I do, however it would be nice to have more than one friend (she is also moving to Alabama this fall), so count your blessings, keep suggesting alternative things to do, but enjoy the time you spend with them, no matter what you are doing. Shawn M.

Shawn, I DO know how you feel, my friends (true friends) are very few and far between. I have said good-bye to those in my life who were not true friends. Can you believe I actually had one really good friend who said, when I started losing weight, that she could no longer be a friend because she didn't want to be the FAT friend in the relationship!!!!LOL my daughter said she always was, so whats changed?!!! so to some I have sent them on their way with good blessings. Here is a great way to prove my point, tonight I was to go out with a friend for a night out of dancing, she called and said, to be honest with you Jill I am too pooped to go out tonight, but how about dinner???? I told her I would pass and see her next week, but to keep strong because next week we were walking Woodward Ave for the dream cruise. LOL Another thing, be glad your kids are still small and you are spending this wonderful time together, I just had my youngest get married last Friday and I am suffering from empty nest syndrome. Shawn you live about as far from Kensington as I do, I love to walk there wanna meet sometime??? Jill

Jill, I actually used to live right down the street from Kensington, in South Lyon. That is where my parents still live. I would love to meet. Although I may not be able to keep up with you, since I am still very large (not had WLS yet). But we could still meet, maybe even go bowling or something sometime. My knees won't let me bowl yet, I am still doing physical therapy, but I am anxious to get back into it. Because my kids are still young I think is why I am going to have the WLS now. My family thinks I am being drastic, but I want to be able to enjoy them while they are still young and be able to do things with them. Anyway, email me anytime you want to get together and I will see if I am free. We will do whatever YOU want to do too!!!!!! Talk to you soon. Shawn M.

Sheesh....Let's go to water arobics then out to eat....JUST KIDDING....LOL Plan on it Tues night...see ya Monday....... Maria

Americans center all their activities around food. Name one holiday that doesn't have a food activity associated with it. Sad but true. Set the pace and get them on some other track. People ask me to meet them for lunch or dinner all the time. I tell the I'll jus****ch them because I am not hungry. It's not a lie. I haven't felt hunger in over two years. We then come up with another plan. I have also done the "I need to _____ . Can you come with me and give me a hand?" trick to avoid eating. Now drinking,,,,,,,, I'll drink with anyone. kp

which brings up a curious question, KP. Are the hangovers any worse after WLS? I've wondered about that since the alcohol enters your blood stream faster... Oh...or maybe you just meant drinking water.

Hmmmmm,,,,,, I don't get hang overs anymore. I get zipped so fast I can't get too much in under the wire for a real good bender. kp

Yeah, I have that drinking thing down real well!!! LOL I was successful yesterday in getting someone to go bike riding with me rather than dining out!! Yea me!!! By the way KP your tailor guy said he had to contact you about some band uniforms when I was in to see him last week, give him a call!! He does great work, he is right by my work and is very reasonable. As a seamstress myself that is still the one thing that is very difficult for me, it is very hard to pin yourself into a perfect fit, he does a wonderful job. Thanks for the referral quite awhile back. Jill