Hi all,

Last night we went out to eat at a BBQ place.  I ordered the kid's turkey and it was delicious and just the right size.  Of course it came with green beans (I ate one) and sweet potato fries (I ate none) and something I wasn't mentally prepared for:  thick cut toasted garlic bread.  It was the first time since surgery that I really really wanted to eat something simply because I knew it would be delicious.  I am proud to say I didn't even have a bite..but it was only through gut wrenching force of will. 

I do love my sleeve, and it does so much to help with this journey, but, as we all know, it doesn't do everything. Do other people have moments when making the best choice happens only because you engage all of your will?

Anne

GOOD FOR YOU that you hung on there and made that choice! That's how you get this done.  Great job!

I've had a few occasions since being sleeved where I had to tell myself repeatedly that I was NOT going to eat something.  I can't control the knee-jerk memory of enjoying a particular food in the past, but I surely can control the impulse to put it in my mouth in the present and the future.

We live in the wide world of food, and we have to have our defenses strong to deal with it.  You proved that last night.  Bonus points for you if that was a trigger food for you in the past, but you passed it up anyway.

LOL -- EVERY DAY!   Congrats on your willpower!

PS -- at many BBQ places, you can order meat by the pound.  I often just get a 1/4 pound of turkey, so there are no sides, no cornbread, etc.  Or I get more and plan to have it later in the week.

I do the same thing...I order a half pound of turkey and a "to go" box, no sides, no drink...they think I'm nuts....take the rest home and fill little baggies to drop in my lunch cooler.

ALL THE TIME, but I think it does get easier.  After over 10 months of this journey, when I'm really having a hard time saying no, I try to just turn off and operate on auto-pilot.  Lean protein, salad or steamed veggies, eat what I know I should be eating (I can eyeball portion sizes at restaurants after so many months of carefully measuring all my food).  I also try to really pat myself on the back for making good choices when what I really want to do is dive head first into a sundae. 

Good job last night!  I do what another poster listed at BBQ restaurants - just order a quarter pound of turkey and maybe a side of beans if I'm splitting with my toddler (she's a BBQ turkey & beans lover) :)

Way to GO!  I'm glad you were able to stick to the program.  You are right.  The sleeve makes it possible, but it sure takes determination to make it work for us.  You are doing great.  Congratulations on your successes.

Carol

Oh absolutely - at least several times a week I have to give myself a stern talking to and tell myself "no!"   It's easier now - prior to the sleeve I would rarely tell myself no, even if I was dieting.  

I don't think there where ever be a time where I'm completely unaffected by the sights, sounds and smells of food.  I'm obsessive/compulsive about it and it's just something I've had to work on and will have to continue to work on.  The sleeve has made it easier though!

I might not have been able to resist - I'd have had them take the garlic bread away. Or destroy it with condiments (sugar, salt, mustard?)

Definitely! 

I usually will tell a server what NOT to bring as well as what I'm ordering, but I have always done that when I was dieting so it's old habit now.  And if somebody else at my table is going to want to eat it, they know to get it as soon as it comes. Not having the temptation on your plate helps a lot.

Congrats on saying NO to tempation!

 

Great job!! Yes, I have these moments too. Pretty much the only reason I can resist garlic bread is because I know gluten makes me sick.