declining food gracefully

I came across a blog post about how to gracefully turn down offers of food that are things we prefer not to eat.  Those the blog is not aimed toward WLS folks, I think it applies well to us.  Now, in this post, the author does say she thinks for the most part we should eat small portions of whatever we are offered when we are guests in someone's home, And I think we should eat small portions if we can, but I certainly don't think we should eat small portions of something that is likely to make us dump or just make us feel like crap.  So if we are offered lima beans and french fries with our entree, I think it would be polite to eat a few lima beans even though I don't really care for them, but I also think it would be fine to pass on the french fries.  I often say something like "Oh, I do like french fries, they just don't like me!"

Anyway, here is the link to the blog:  www.modernalternativemama.com/blog/2011/11/26/explaining-or- not-explaining-your-whole-foods-diet.html

When I have people who push food on me,  I explain that I have food allergies.  Symptoms include dumping, fommies, diarrhea, etc..  I just don't tell them what I'm allergic to and why.

 Thank you for that!  I think we are probably more concerned about our food consumption than others really are.  I do the same with alcohol.  I've been sober for over 5 years and don't share my struggles with people often for food, I just say, "that really doesn't agree with my stomach but thank you so much for offering."  If I know my hosts have a sense of humor I might say, "I'm allergic, I break out in stupid." (in regards to alcohol).

If we are kind and gracious people are more often than not going to feel okay with our "no's."

I agree that in most cases we are more concerned over what we are and are not eating than others are.  You  know how teenagers will refuse to leave the house if they have one little pimple on their face because they are sure everyone will be staring at them?  But really no one is staring at them because all the other teens are too busy worrying about their own pimples.  I think it's kind of the same thing.