Sunday, June 27, 2010

Potluck & BYOC

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I am switching to another group at work and will be working at a building just 10 minutes from home. My old group wanted to have a going away lunch for me, so I chose a Potluck. You know where people bring all sorts of band-unfriendly food. Well the Potluck was Friday and as I watched everyone put their food on the table I started getting a bit panicky. My band has been pretty tight and I knew I wouldn't be able to eat much.

I spread the food out on my plate so it looked like lots, ate slowly and every time I felt a bit of pressure, I would just start talking to one of my co-workers and waited a few minutes before my next bite. I know one of my office mates was watching intently as I polished off a tiny bit of everything—2 meatballs, 1/2 curried beef bun, spinach salad, BBQ pork, rice salad, samosa and a small slice of pie. I had to say my stomach had shrunk from not eating much food over the last few months and that I was stuffed. One even joked about how some people have the lapband put on their stomachs and wouldn't be able to eat such a lovely spread of food! (no one at work knows I have the band). The moral of this story is if you have any type of celebration in your honour, do not choose a potluck.

And now for BYOC
1. How many piercings do you have? Both ears have one hole in each and I too can still wear the same earrings from when I was 21 (35 years ago).

2. How many tattoos do you have? If you have none and wanted to get one – what would it be? None and never, ever, ever would I go through something so painful!

3. If you’ve ever suffered from a weight-loss plateau, what’s your best advice to get past it? I'm an expert at this one, having suffered through a 2 month plateau. I guess it is so important to know that it will break eventually, to never give up. The band helps with that since you can't go back to the bingeing. Getting enough fills to get you to the Green Zone/Sweet Spot got my weight going down again. Without hunger, without cravings, without always thinking about food. It is truly a wonderful feeling. I still do not write down what I eat, or keep track other than in my head. And yes I know chocolate covered almonds are not a "diet" food, but they are a food and sometimes you just have to have them, just like normal weight people.

4. This is a repeat. I liked last week’s challenge for BYOC and I saw a lot of people this week follow through on the promise they made last week. You pick one thing for just one day next week that you want to do….and mentally doing it for the one day can totally jump start more successes. And I feel like I can do anything for just one day. I don't make goals because my brain turns into anti-goal mode and I NEVER achieve it. But I did go to the gym and I did exercise and I did eat well.

5. Repeat *make someone a Superstar* question – what's your favorite blog or comment of the week? First was Drazil's post on anti-depressants. Wellbutrin saved me too. But I also loved Band-Babe's comment on Draz's earlier post. If you missed it, I am posting it after the poem Jabberwocky because it reminded me of how words which might mean nothing can still express emotions. Before you read Band-Babe's words, read the full Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll (from Alice in Wonderland). Here is the first paragraph.

  Jabberwocky
    'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
    Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
    All mimsy were the borogoves,
    And the mome raths outgrabe.

And here is the comment that Band-Babe posted after a dose of Ambien (and Band-Babe, I hope you don't mind, because this comment made my week because even though it looks like it was written in a foreign language, the emotion came through loud and clear). "And where do I belong? Friend I needed you two summers ago. We're all successful in too may areas, and so many judegements,,, I knew for certain I didnt belong. It turns out I bellong with my brother whos is coming out of the closet. Ny hight educvated brother in law goes against uignotanvre in an amazuing klogially and real wy, i am abvuioys beeb hit bt nts swkesleep musik anio no wine thi timeWe beking t9getger abausbst everttguybg we beeb dag-=yughtmk I'll come back to amaker ssense of thus lettrt if lynne wiuoo klet ner, i swear this s just abiernkk no winrr aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa9haaaaaaaaa9ayrtys9 I havek= lots t=o sat agbiyt tghuw ata kless inpairectm.l where do yuy fit in where diu 8iii-----==Oh, i;m lostk i want to purseue this off ambien. Love yuul. Lynk that's bfor bring this upl. swomtimes i feel all alowe 4vevn theought we all erelated, APlease lets tal about this more lkaterl I lvoer you!"

Lewis Carrol could not have said it better!

7 comments:

Barbara said...

I think you just wrote the chapter on How to Survive a Potluck Bash!.. very good navigating and I will have to remember that spreading it all around tip.
I loved Band Babes ambien drift...her words reflect how my head feels by the end of the day..
Be well and stay cool in this stinkin' weather (but it's better than SNOW!!) Hugs

Janelle said...

Interesting that someone made a joke about the lapband...very weird! I haven't told anyone except my family and 2 close friends about mine and I had to go out to lunch with friends from school 2 days in a row last month and ate very little. It was hilarious because i had to tell them I have a small appetite, which just sounds like a lie because here I am, 100 pounds overweight and somehow I have a small appetite?? hahaha, I just felt silly saying it but what else can I say?? So, I know exactly how you feel!

Nella said...

I was told I am eating like a bird...wow have never heard that before. I told him I have had to train myself to eat slow and in small quantities to get over the weight issue. Yesterday was soup. Had to stop half way and told my friend thats the difference between you and me. I have to force myself to stop and you can keep going!

Then we went to this new place called Japadog...smokies but with a japanese twist! I have been craving and wanting for the longest time. Finally it came, I sat and had two bites...my husband looked at me like I was crazy! I told him, I am an official skinny bitch!

Susan said...

Excellent tip! I'm nervous about the "public" eating but glad you made it through the potluck!!

Perry Joyce said...

Ugh, we have potlucks all the time! They are trouble! I'm surprised someone mentioned the band like that...seems kinda suspicious? Maybe not? Either way, you did great! I hope to channel my inner Sandy Lee next time a potluck rears it's ugly head!

Dinnerland said...

Congrats on 30 pounds and the new placement closer to home-- good luck on the first day!
You're doing so great and I appreciate all of your encouragement!!

♥ Drazil ♥ said...

HA - I loved her comment too - I laughed so hard. SHe's the best - and so are you!

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