Family dinner

[SleevedRN]

My grandparents came in to town so my step mom cooked a huge meal. I'm still on a liquid diet so I brought soup for dinner. We all sat down and everyone was chowing down. I had a few bites of soup and then just played with it while everyone else ate. My step mom watched closely and kept asking me why I wasn't eating very much. I was hoping no one would notice. No one in my family knows I have had the sleeve and I'd like to keep it that way. I don't want to be judged or talked about.

Has anyone figured out how to hide your sleeve around family? What should I do? I'm stumped. How do people go to dinner parties and not be harassed about not eating much? I love not pigging out but every time my family gets together it's all about food!

[enuf]

Tell them something you ate earlier is not agreeing with you and, as a result, you just don't have much of an appetite. Remember, you don't have to define "earlier" -- it could be the whole pizza you ate in one sitting two years ago....

[*Amy*]

Tell them you ate earlier and you were not very hungry.... or had a big lunch or not feeling well.... just some ideas

[jennyjenny2]

I have told everyone in my family and all of my friends and almost everyone at work and everyone has been super supportive! My dad was scared for me at first but now he is on board with it..I'm so proud I want to yell it from the rooftops but I know a lot of people are afraid to tell anyone I honestly believe the people that love you will support you and your decision to make your life better!

[jennyjenny2]

I've also learned in life that people will talk about you regardless...I'm sure my family and friends have talked about my weight amongst themselves ,so I figure now I will give them something good to talk about when I am shrinking away))

[SleevedRN]

I've also learned in life that people will talk about you regardless...I'm sure my family and friends have talked about my weight amongst themselves ,so I figure now I will give them something good to talk about when I am shrinking away))

Unfortunately, my family wouldn't be supportive. I would have been judged and have to hear some hateful remarks, which I'm just not ready to hear. My family knows I'm on a journey to lose weight and are supportive of me doing it "the right way". Whatever that means. I told them tonight I was having a hard time bc of thrush and pain in my mouth. I'm not sure how the rest of the weekend is going to go.

[MADR]

I'm sad for you that your family is not supportive. I know how hard this would be for me without my strong support team. Sometimes I think my family is more excited about this than I am. I'm glad thus forum exist so people can get the support from others that they are not getting at home.

[alice1]

I am not telling my family about my sleeves as well, don't want to be judged.
If ask why I eat so little, I'll say I had a birthday lunch or still full from last night's dinner, good excuse. I will tell them I want to change my eating habit due to diabetes , people will understand and eventually get used to your small appetite, not to mention that they will notice the result, your trim & lean body, LOL!
I am on the second week of pat o diet, no problem Witt living on fluid, however, will be looking forward to purée soup next week, a bit of texture will be nice!
Cheers!
Alice1 ��

[Marvinator]

I didnt tell anyone either and I have to deal with family for Thanksgiving. I am just telling them I lost weight on Optifast and will continue on Optifast while they are in. I know when my mom saw what my wife was eating in August she was very concerned. She is a nurse and naturally watches crap like that. So I will have a hard time if I try to eat two ounces of solid food in front of her so its just easier to do the soups and shakes. I can do a full eight ounce soup so no one will be the wiser.

[bigguy]

Tell them you are angry with them for "that thing they did" and you cannot even eat you are so upset about it. Then they will think its something they have done and leave you alone!

[SethP]

I have been honest with people. IF someone asked I tell them the truth. IF they dont accept me or my decision then I dont need them in my life. People all do things that others disagree with. At the end of the day it is myself that I have to live with, so I choose to go the route of honesty. Godspeed on your journey.

[carnation]

Tell them you're on a diet. You can tell them that it's a doctor supervised diet...

[Jerzygirl]

Family and friends have been uber supportive. If anyone else asks, I'll tell them the truth. If they don't like my answer, then they should have kept the question to themselves.

[sraebaer]

I personally feel that if I know someone well enough to eat with them, and they ask, I will probably tell them. Are you sure your family won't be supportive? My family has seen me struggle with my weight forever. They have seen me gain and lose weight for over 30 years. They have been very worried about my health. They are now thrilled I am doing something about it. It will always be very obvious that we aren't eating much. My mom has never weighed more than 100 pounds and I now even eat less than her.

I have also found that I was worried for nothing. When I have told people, they have been supportive. Often I hear great stories about people they know who have been sleeved.

Good luck whatever you decide!

[tignet]

I am having issues with family dinners too. The extended family usually comes to my house for the holidays. My surgery is next Monday and I told my husband I do not want to do Thanksgiving. He wants to wait to cancel the day at my house until after surgery to see if i have strength. He just can't seem to get it in to his head that it is hard to cook a big dinner like that and then sit with the family and not eat it. They will notice and ask I am sure why I am not eating. I do not want to deal with the negativity if they find out I had the surgery. I was actually hoping that the doctor would take out my gall bladder too so I could use gall bladder as an excuse. How silly is that? Writing this makes me realize that I care too much what people think.