The problem with the brain....confessions of a Banana girl

I totally get the mourning for large quantities of food.  Do I regret my surgery- no way!  Do I still need to work on my relationship with food- absolutely!

Don't fear an Italian restaurant.  They all serve meatballs.  Order a side of meatballs.  You will get all the flavors and still stay on the wagon.  Works for me everytime.

I completely idientify with what you are saying.  It gets easier the farther out you get in some ways but you still have those moments. 

When did you get a picture?!!!  I have got to start popping in here more often!!  I can't believe how much you have changed since I saw you first.  Wow!!!  You look great!!

Thanks guys for the encouragement on this topic. I felt sure many of you would know how I was feeling but then again....I just didnt know....But thank you for the comfort about it.

I decided to try to take some pics...I deleted 100 LOL. I wont smile because of a broken tooth. But when I get that fixed, maybe the dog and I will try again to do pictures with a smile...I think there is not much change, when I look in the mirror....maybe soon, that too will change in my mind...

I love you guys!
Sherry

Sherry,
I started my journey long before I picked my surgeon. I am the cook in my family and I make a living doing it also...SO I do know how you feel.
What truly helped me before I had surgery was plurging myself of the old ways of cooking....I clear3d out cabinets cupboards of all those evil carbs..white flour, refined sugar, cake flour, rice, and anything that was considered an obstruction to lsing weight. What I had left was nothing. I felt like I had gotten rid of part of my life. But I survived.
i went from cooking fat laden foods to healthy from fat and sugar ridden desserts to low or fat and sugar free ones. i do beleive if it wasnt for the fact that I enjoyed cooking i wouldnt even attempted making receipes that are wls friendly. 
So my biggest piece of advice is this...instead of mourning the old food make new...take one of your favs and revamp it to suit the new lifestyle...
My biggest example of that is one of my clients loves my enchildeas and refried beans and salsa...
I went from 80% beef to 93% turkey and added 90 to 95 % lean beef and used fat free cheeses..the tortilla was whole wheat low carb and instead of rolling them individually I made a cassarole...less tortilla but you still get the flavor.
He loves this even more and his company gave him all kinds of compliments....the beans I cooked using beef bouilion and added fat free cheese...
As for the High School reunion....GO! Dont let the resturant be the reason you dont go....go online or go there one day before the dinner check out the menu and ask if something you want can be more low carb friendly....I went to one in South Carolina and asked if I could just have their meatballs....I got 5 and that was more than plenty..dont be shy just ask...or If ya want I will call for ya....i love to blow resturant folks minds...
 

Pattie, I did like you did.....I emptied out my stash months before the surgery. I was off all rice, pasta, bread and my beloved Sugar Free Diet Vanilla Dr. Peppers nearly 5 months before my surgery. Being severely diabetic, I avoided all sugar items and limited my carbs to only what was allowed on the diabetic plan. With just me here, it wasn't a problem to avoid those things. However; every once in awhile....I would just eat a sandwich....there was always the fact that you COULD, just blow it for one meal, or one trip to Sonic for Happy Hour.....I know it is just an adjustment phase and I will rise above it, but right now...I am missing the total packages of the meals....Like hamburgers with all the trimmings....Steak with the big salads...Hot bread, a real taco and not just the meat BUT I am not missing the pounds that are gone, so I will cope!!
I have focused more  over the last year on making the meals I cook healthier for all concerned including my own, but I am just looking forward to the days when I don't focus on what I can't have and just enjoy what I can have......I can honestly tell in your words, who has adjusted more to this, and it is usually those who are a lot further out from the surgeries, so I guess it will come in time.
Like Michael said....It is so good to be able to come here and unload and know that someone will understand and be able to help us through it.....
So I will go to the reunion.....I looked up the menu and they do have Talapia, so I may order that or the meatballs like Denise suggested....I am looking forward to just seeing my old friends....I graduated with 32 in my class from Minco High School.....I really don't care about the food as much as catching up on our lives....It's too bad we just couldn't have gone somewhere to visit....Why is it always about food?? LOL  Thanks guys for the encouragement, the compassion and most of all the understanding!
I love you all!
Sherry 

I just came back from a reunion (21st) and there was food everywhere!!!  I just concentrated on visiting and catching up and it was as if the food wasn't even there.  Company was better than the food.  lol

Another thing I love about this forum is that seems like no matter what you are going through, you will find most of the people here relate, and are experiencing the same thing.  Yeah, OMG do I miss stuff.  I pass by a pizza place and long for the days of ordering a large supreme with extra cheese and eating the whole thing by myself.  BUT, then I catch myself, and realize how meserable I was and it goes away fairly quickly.  We are grateful for the surgery and all it has given us, but we miss that best friend that has been with us for so long.  Have never been to any of my high school reunions, but we have a great Italian place here that the family loves to go to, and like Denise said, I just order a side of meatballs.  They are great.  Hang in there Sherry, and we SO understand.  Michael

Sherry,
for as long as man has been on this plant we have focused our gatherings around food. It totally sucks!
When I was as far as you...I didnt have issues with wanting all the trimmngs. I was more concerned with protein, and surgeries..Guess that took alot off of my mind.

I am doing great with just the protein, but my mind wants to create to make it better.....I have always been like that. But you have to admit....a hamburger patty is much better on a bun with all the trimings...not just laying on a plate! LOL Yes, your surgeries would keep you busy for years! LOL You have had your fair share!  I am really focusing on the protein amounts and it is hard to get in....I guess I was just a creature of habit when it came to cooking and creating whole meals...not just protein. I was never one who just ate meat! I had to have side dishes! I'm learning....and learning is a must with this....

Hey! When are you moving??

i still make whole meals...difference is this...I place what i cant use into freeze friendly containers and have them for later. I did this for chili, and soups then decided why not whole meals. Now if i have unexpected company i can whip out a couple of containers and walla a meal in seconds.
Plus this has been a God send when I was unable to cook cause of surgeries.
Right now, I have containers of turkey taco soup, meatloaf with veggies, roasted turkey with faux mashed tators..and roast beef....not to mention my faux ice cream...
Sherry, it takes 30 days for a new habit to become a permanent one...this new life style takes somewhat longer cause its  breaking a lifetime of habits.
BUT you CAN DO it!