Whatcha Eating Today VSGers? Tuesday 10/31/17

Morning, VSGers! Happy Halloween! I hope you all have plans to take kiddos trick or treating, or to hand out candy! I am headed to Philly this morning and will be there through Sunday. If you don't see a post at any point, please feel free to make one!

QOTD: What's your favorite Halloween candy? Mine is the Peanut Butter Snickers! Mmmm. High five to those of you who are making it through Holiday #1 without candy.

9 months post-op/Maintenance/133.9lbs

M1: Coffee, PP, HC and Miralax

M2: Cabot Full Fat Plain Greek Yogurt w/ SF Pudding and Pepitas

M3-M5 and Snacks: TBD (Ugh, flying. It makes meal planning so hard!)

E: Hoping for a run on the treadmill at the hotel later

Good morning! Teddy is still a bit young for trick-or-treating (he won't be two until December, but he looks about 3). We're going out to dinner instead. I bought him a Reece's cup for today, and had an argument with my MIL about it. She didn't allow my wife to have any sugar growing up, and is appallled that we allow Teddy to have it in moderation. I keep telling her that at my psych appointment, the doctor asked if my family was restrictive with candy or junk food growing up, because over half of his patients (all bariatric) had childhoods like that.

QOTD - anything with chocolate is good. My mother and grandmother both had Reeces cups addictions. There was a running joke that I would be born with one in my hand because my mom ate so many during pregnancy. And at my grandmother's funeral, we toasted her with Reece's cups. It's odd, but I'm not missing them right now.

B - latte, cottage cheese

L - leftover sausage

S - protein shake

D - TBD (probably fish)

E - yoga video

water and vitamins on track

I feel strongly that many of my mental food issues stem from being diagnosed diabetic at 13 and then having constant battles about what/when/how much I was eating. My mother would constant comments about my choices. I distinctly remember getting my first apartment and having the revelation that I could "eat anything I wanted". I don't know how many meals consisted of a bagel AND a honeybun.

That sounds like a really difficult way to start adolescence. My family was really permissive with food, and my in-laws were the opposite. From everything I've read, both can be really bad. What worries me as a parent is trying to teach moderation when obviously I am not successful at it myself.

Love=Food

Changing that mindset can be difficult. My first instinct is still to feed the ones I love.

Food=Guilt

The opposite effect where people are made to feel guilty for eating leads to hiding food and bingeing when no one is looking.

I don't believe there is a single easy answer. I can't speak for other countries, but IMO we are far too food-centric in the US. Eating healthy and clean, although becoming more socially acceptable, is still looked at as being weird. Comfort food. Huge portions, All-you-can-eat, fast food on every other corner. Every holiday has some type of food association. Turn on the TV, every other commercial is food oriented.

Nora,

Sounds like you are doing what a good parent should. Thinking about the issue and trying to figure out the best way to deal with it. I think your kiddo's are in good hands.

Are you still diabetic?

Yes, I have a genetic form of diabetes called MODY. I was diagnosed as a Type I for all of my childhood and spent 21 years on insulin. I'm off all medication now, but it will never go away.

I can seriously relate. When I got my first place on my own, I was thrilled because now I could eat the whole box of rice-a-roni and not have to share with my family. My illicit and destructive love affair with food began when I was a child. Fried chicken, Chinese take out, pizza, pasta. Always had to share. When I got old enough to drive, I would go to 4-6 fast food restaurants and order a regular meal just so the people who worked behind the counter would not think I was going to eat it all. If I did order multiple meals at the same place, I would pretend I was on the phone confirming what everyone wanted.

I used to do the fast food things. Considering how many other fat people I know who have done that, the workers must know we were all lying!

My parents were restrictive with "fun" food when I was a kid. As a result I binged on junk food at school and my friends' houses. I think you're doing the right thing!