Family Sabotage

joannecando
joannecando Posts: 40
edited December 2024 in Social Groups
Ok, here is my situation. My hubby and kids and I live with my parents. I am trying really, really hard not to buy crap food so it is not in the house. I have accepted the fact that if I buy it, I will probably eat it. I try to cook healthier meals (I usually cook dinner), and I usually do the main grocery shopping. Here is the problem: my mom also goes to the store, and she brings home cakes and cookies and biscuits and ice cream. She says my dad likes them (well, he does, but that is another issue), so she will keep buying them. And then my hubby, trying to be sweet brings me a Milky Way or an icee. I want to strangle him, but he is just trying to do something nice for me. And my kids... I don't even know where to start. My oldest is tall and thin, no matter what she eats. My little one has a tendency to be heavier, and we have recently started talking about how much sugar she eats, and I make her make choices between two things instead of having both. I got off track... So I cook a healthy dinner - fish, green beans, roasted potatoes, something like that, and my mom comes in and makes a big pot of spaghetti because she doesn't feel like eating what I have prepared.

This is so frustrating! Everybody says they support me, and are willing to eat healthier too (we are ALL overweight, except my daughter), but constantly undermine the things I do. Nobody will go with me to work out, even if it is just to the pool in the backyard, and the fridge is constantly full of stuff we shouldn't eat. Right now, there is a box of eclaires. I actually got fussed at this morning for putting an ice cream container back in the freezer with "a tablespoon" of ice cream left in it. It was actually about a cup, more than ample for a normal serving.

So, this is really frustrating for me. Do you guys have problems with this kind of thing? How do you fight it?

Replies

  • LaurasClimb
    LaurasClimb Posts: 211 Member
    :( My kids and I live with my parents so I can understand where you are coming from! Unlike you, I don't do most of the grocery shopping. So now I'll rant for a minute! My Mom is like the snack police! She puts a weeks worth of snacks in the drawer for the kids. Buy Wednesday she counts them and than has to come tattle to me that somebody is eating more than their share of snacks! My response EVERY TIME..."then quit buying them." Seriously, they don't need that junk, a piece of fruit is okay for a snack.
    As far as the sweets...Not too many, mostly ice cream which I can resist. But cake and cookies and chocolate come in sometimes! Maybe you can keep some lower calorie items on hand so when everyone is having a treat, you also have something you can have. Or (and I'm really working on this one) have a small serving, something reasonable that fits into your allotted calories. As far as hubby bringing sweets, can you hand it back with "no thank you, please take this out of the house."? Maybe follow that with "I love that you think about me when you are out, you know I'm working really hard to be healthier so I can be around longer for you and the kids. Next time you want to get me something could you bring me __________?" (fill in the blank, could be a flower or jewelry or something).
    Just my thoughts...
  • lissa0040
    lissa0040 Posts: 362 Member
    Oy!!! My parents always say they know I am trying to lose and they are supportive. THEN they buy cakes and as many types of chips humanly possible when we come to visit. It is MADNESS!!! I don't know about you but in my own life it seems like people think I take it too seriously or I try to be "too strict". The attitude is "you'll never keep it off if you don't let yourself have a treat once in a while" but did you ever notice with those people once in a while is how they really eat all the time. Everything can't be a special occasion! My parents think any time I spend with them can be classified as a special occasion. I don't think that people realize it isn't about the day or two of eating like a maniac. It is trying to rebound --s ometimes I am wiped out for the whole week. Or in your case trying to avoid that junk every day. And when you have a bad day and that spaghetti is calling your name.... ugh. I wish they would understand. 100 pounds is a lot to lose we can't relax and eat junk when we want it. It would make it so much easier if everyone would really truly get on board.
  • alanabanana01
    alanabanana01 Posts: 297 Member
    Its just the 2 of us, but we each get our own groceries ( a little wierd, but it works). He keeps his junk food downstairs in his mancave, he has a fridge and everything. Out of sight works for me. I am thankful not to have kids at home any more, that was such a challenge----I feel for you ladies!
  • lissa0040
    lissa0040 Posts: 362 Member
    As far as hubby bringing sweets, can you hand it back with "no thank you, please take this out of the house."? Maybe follow that with "I love that you think about me when you are out, you know I'm working really hard to be healthier so I can be around longer for you and the kids. Next time you want to get me something could you bring me __________?" (fill in the blank, could be a flower or jewelry or something).
    Just my thoughts...

    ^^^^ I think that's a really good idea. My hubby is understanding so saying something like this would work for him so maybe it would work for you! Maybe your treat can be something that's still food that is still easy to grab so he doesn't abandon bringing you stuff entirely. Maybe like an individual pack of peanuts, sunflower seeds, popcorn, kashi bar or protein bar.... maybe next time you are in the gas station together you could buy something for yourself to show him what to get instead of the candy bar. I hate having to course correct because I think my husband will stop doing that nice thing altogether because I complicated it but I think that could work for you!
  • Thanks guys! I appreciate the feedback. I have started keeping oranges and apples on the counters, and when my dad gets his late night cravings, I fix us each one of those instead of his 4 PB&Js or cake or ice cream. I can feel the boat starting to turn, but it is a huge and unwieldy beast.
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