Missing food

I really don't care where you post until you start trying to speak for me.

Using the word"all" means you are speaking for everyone and you certainly don't speak for me.

I told my husband to eat elsewhere during this period. It seems like a long time while you are in the middle of it but once it is past it will seem like a short blip. I think I started to feel "normal" again once I got to soft foods, like scrambled eggs (I chewed them like crazy just to chew and they really filled me up and satisfied me - still do).

Eating together is a social thing and think it might have contributed somewhat to starting out my marriage normal-sized and then cooking, baking, and eating similar amounts and frequency to my 6'5" hard-working, male husband. After WLS, I "ate" when DH ate with him stating he felt guilty at first (he got over the guilt way too quickly). Your problem is common but it's probably a matter of something to get used to instead of something to get over. It should turn into the "new normal" and become a non-issue with time.

No, I have never wanted to lick your husband's chicken strips.

This is hard. Most people focus on surgery risks and complications, pain after surgery, etc etc. But I think it's this mental part, our relationship to food, and eating habits, that's hardest.

Hang in there. Keep working. It gets better.

First few weeks after surgery I tried to avoid situation like that. I would eat/drink my own stuff and try not to be in the same space other eat.

Even now - when my partner eats something that I want, but should not have (food allergies, intolerance) and we are at home - I may get busy and start cleaning after the meal. When we are out, I may take a walk to the restroom, to distract myself, or watch people around us, trying to imagine who are they, what work they do.. Etc.

Taking my mind off the food really helps.

It's a total mind game, for sure. You'll be able to have cheese and chicken again soon, once your plan allows it, so hang in, it will get better. Unfortunately there will always be things you can't (or shouldn't) eat so you'll have to get used to going without.

I still find it hard to be around others who are eating my old favourites. I can handle one large family gathering complete with every bad food imaginable. Two in a row make me stressed, and 3 make me crazy, lol.

One week I had a big Italian wedding, a 75th birthday party and some other food free for all, all in a row, and I thought I would lose my mind. I made it through them all without cheating but was so crazy angry by the third event that I couldn't stand myself. I was really mad that food is still such a big issue with me, that I still wanted those foods after going through so much with this surgery. I had to leave the third party, which was at my house, and go for a 2 hour nature walk to calm down, lol. The old fat me is apparently still alive and living in my brain, and she is pissed, lol.

Yesterday someone brought home a chocolate cupcake and put it on top of my kitchen scale (!!!). I moved it and this morning the darn thing was back on my scale, but someone had eaten half. So I picked it up to put it in the cupboard and got a whiff of the thing, and instead of smelling delicious, it made me nauseated, so something is changing. I was super happy about that. I have no idea why my family members think it's OK to leave a chocolate cupcake on my kitchen scale though. Talk about sabotage.

I frequently move my family's junk food or bread products to where I can't see them. This house always has a big bag of chips, icecream, and fresh bread and I just hide them all. I know they're there but as long as they're not sitting on the counter I'm OK. When someone makes toast though, it drives me crazy. Smells soooo good.

Sorry for writing a book here. Just know you're not alone.

I feel your pain in a slightly different way. I haven't reached the stage where I really miss the act of chewing or even, necessarily the flavors although I know it's coming :) But, I have to resist the habit of finishing the leftovers from my kids lunch, reaching for a quick taste of leftovers in the fridge, grabbing for a bite of what's being prepared for dinner... etc.

I'm trying to take note of each time I feel that impulse and really think about it- trying to get serious about the mental and habitual aspects of my obesity.

Its good to know someone who had surgery around the same time- comparing notes.

my second day out my DH and mom ate chick fila in front of me- IN A CAR!

It was a terrible experience. YOu hav have to find something to distract you.