Recognizing your environment......

As we move through our WLS journey, we have to look at our environment and realize what factors are there that could derail our success.  It's not enough that we change our lifestyle, we must also remove temptation as much as possible and realize what our triggers are.

For me - a big trigger is my mother.  She talks about food ALL THE TIME!  I now recognize that EVERY conversation we have involves food.  A new resturant, new dish, what was cooked that day, what she has been craving - something about food!  

Just this week I have been given chapter and verse on a new Vietnamese resurant down the street, a lecture on avoiding cilantro, details on a new seafood resturant, chapter and verse on liver and onions, and how much food is in the freezer.  It's damn near insane how I can do a countdown in the conversation to the point where food will come up.  But I know it's coming - so I know how to deal with it knowing that I am one of those 'highly suggestive' people - meaning - if you tell me about cheesecake, Imma want me some cheesecake!  LOL 

So - the purpose of this post is a reminder that the change of WLS doesn't just involve what YOU do - it's also how you react to others around you who won't be changing - they do have an effect on you but you are in control of your response!  

 OMG!!! So true.  I have a friend who is always thinking or talking about food!!   Now, I love to cook and I do it well.  I love the art of food.  My father was a chef and we (his children) grew up in kitchens and we all cook well.  My friend knows this and may be is focused on that, but recently I had to tell her...." ya know, I do lots of other things besides cook boo!"  We do have to watch who our environments and who we allow to speak into our lives, in all ways. 

You are speaking the truth!   I was doing fine last week low carbing and my Momma called and told me what she had cooked and invited me over.  I went over and ate. Afterwards I said "Momma, no disrespect, but don't call me no more within the next month or so inviting me to dinner. I am on a mission to get closer to goal."

Well, I'm stuck because I don't know how to get around it. That's how all of my friends are and most of my family. One trick I've learned is that every time they suggest a potluck or family gathering I sign up for the fruit/veggies because I know that's the only way it'll be there.

So so true! I was proud of myslef yesterday because I opted not to go to the bar and drink empty calories with my co-workers. It is what we usually do all the time before my surgery but now I must remove myself from the gatherings to stay on track! Great POST!

Yuppers! I get sucked in the alcohol brigade. It's either I'm gonna have to stop going out all together or get my will power together. Shoulda never even started. That is the big thing when we go out, we's dranking. I say to myself everytime......I'm not drinking anything. Then I get there and everybody is having so much dayum fun I want one too! I'll try it again this weekend and see how it goes.

SO TRUE!!!

I have a co-worker who always USED TO offer me stuff she knows I cant/shouldnt eat.  Just insists and wont shut up about it.  I would always throw it away after she walked away.  Guess how I stopped her?  Threw the schitt away in her face, as soon as she handed it to me  

This is all too common a thing, no doubt!

My mom is a 'foodie' and loooooooves to cook and tell every specific detail about the technique, the spices, which pan, blah, blah, blah!  I try to comment lightly, like "oh, that sounds good" or something like that, but nope, she keeps it going with stuff like "but you know wht I did different this time?" & she details it.  I even tried a new answer on her once; I said "no, but I bet youre gonna tell it all"!  She blew right past that & went on & on with those details!.   I get where I hold the phone away till a pause comes.

I personally gave up special occasion cake baking, something I enjoyed doing pre-surgery.  I learned that this was a real danger for me, and I came to grips with letting it go.  It realized that it was the very same thing as a recovered alcholic working as a bartender.  Heck, even worse for us since we must eat every day. 

Oh well, I had to decide what was more important and turned out it was me!

~Lynn

AMEN!  I'm married to my trigger.  Every new television advertisement for fast food he has to try.  He even seached, found and surprized me with my favorite cookies.  Did I forget to say I am a known cookieaholic. 
However as you correctly stated it's up to me to control my response.  Willpower is a bad mother... shut your mouth.