One of the most difficult things I have had to do over the past 11 years is to learn how to eat at family functions and out at restaurants, or yes, even at Happy Hours with friends. First thing I would like to say is that it is definitely a BIG learning, since regardless of what type of surgery you’ve had, if you sit at a table at home, in a restaurant, or in a bar for a long period of time you can graze and consume many more calories than you planned. Add a glass of wine or a cocktail to the mix and it’s even easier to lose track. (wink wink)
Take yesterday, a beautiful California day which I started by getting my fitness on for 90 minutes at the gym, and with my typical morning protein shake. Then it was off to wine tasting in the Santa Ynez Valley we went. We packed a cooler filled with veggies, turkey slices, apples, pears and 2 light cheeses. Suddenly crackers and a wedge of blue cheese made it into the mix. Uh oh….
I made it through the tasting and almost through our lunch without straying past my 1 glass of wine, turkey, baby squash sautéed with onions and garlic, sliced tomatoes, and a baby bel lite cheese. I totally avoided the crackers, but the blue cheese called to me and I gave in. With no measure I put a tiny piece on slice of pear and enjoyed it. Tastebuds and appetite was stimulated. On to another winery, did fine there, barely tasting the wine and then to downtown Los Olivos to the Wine Merchant Café. I was NOT hungry but an artisan cheese plate and an order of Tomato-Basil Arancini was placed to go with the bottle of wine ordered. (Tomato-Basil Arancini - fried risotto balls, molten mozzarella, tomato presse) Do you begin to see where this was going? I tried to stay with the fig and 1 small piece of cheese from the cheese plate. I did have a small bite of one of the Arancini, and thank goodness that is all I allowed myself. It was delicious and not something I would normally even think about eating. My guard was definitely down. Was it the glass of wine, the sunny day, sitting around chatting with friends I hadn’t seen in several years in a beautiful location? None of the above; just old habits creeping in? Who knows, I was beginning to cave, that’s for sure.
We then made the drive back to my house and I drank a 33.8 oz bottle of water on the way. We stopped when we got into town to find a particular wine that my friends liked and wanted us to try. Just being accommodating again, and then into Trader Joe’s to pick up something for a quick and easy dinner. The pulled chicken met my protein needs, and roasted corn, guacamole and chips were added to this top finish it off. Here I have to admit that I was the responsible party for the guacamole and chips. I told you my resistance was weakening. I finished off the evening with chips, guacamole and some pulled chicken with ½ glass of wine.
This morning it was the gym again with my protein drink in hand. Got my fitness done, working on water and trying to figure out what it is my friends would like to do today. It always revolves around food and wine, and this is very difficult for me. They are NOT alcoholics by any means, they both work long hard hours and are on vacation enjoying themselves, I am the problem. I try to keep up with everyone, my husband included, and then feel overstuffed, uncomfortable, bloated and out of control.
It’s not easy for me, that’s for sure. However, it is doable. I have done it before, and I will do it again. I have learned some important things over the last few days about eating with folks who have not had weight loss surgery:
- It’s a challenge, but I can do it!
- It’s like fitness, I am not going to run as fast as someone next to me, or swim as many laps, but I’ll still get it done. Eating - my race, my pace;
- Keeping well hydrated helps A LOT in controlling the grazing. It’s hard to reach for a chip or a cracker if you have a water bottle in your hand ;
- I have stomach size envy and need to let go of it. Eating to stuffed has too many negative consequences;
- Just like I do when it’s just hubby and me, when I have finished what is on my plate, or when I am done eating - whichever comes first- get up from the table
- Only put on my plate what I intend to eat
- Even one glass of wine will weaken my defenses to trigger foods so note to self - Be Aware!
I am sure I could have done much worse these past few days. The reality is, I could have also done much better.
