Krissy, deep breath! Right now it's really hard for you because this close to surgery you really can't eat anything. But there will come a time when you will be able to add some of this stuff back into your food plan. But, here's the kicker, some of it you may not want to add back in because it will not benefit you. That's a decision you need to make when the time comes, do not stress about it right now.

My husband does most of the cooking because of his hours vs mine. I eat what I choose to out of what he's prepared. We shop together and everything we buy meets my needs as well as his. And if he really wants something I don't want because it's too many calories for the amount of protein, then he eats that and I make something else. But again, it's my choice.

This is a really easy plan when you get right down to it. Protein first, lean, healthy protein. If there's room left, veggies, and then if there's still room and it filts in your calories for the day maybe some potato or rice (starch). I am 3 years out and I will tell you that I rarely eat the starch, there's just not enough room.

I do have pizza every now and then, but it's rare and I have to really restrict the calories for the rest of the day to fit it in. Truth is, if you cook to your needs, your family will all be eating healthier, and that's a good thing. Right now it just feels like a lot and probably overwhelming. That's normal at the beginning. But hang in there kiddo. It gets better and easier.

pcoppock wrote: »

I'm 9 days from having my VSG and my husband will be 2 weeks behind me. We have already reached out to the friends that we spend a lot of time with and told them that we still want to spend time with them. What we are going to try and do is have people over after dinner for game night, or a bonfire. So we are getting together, but nobody feels like they are infringing on the other. We recognize how important it is for us to be social, but also that we need to re-engineer our social gatherings around something besides food.

-Phill

That's a great plan! And even when food is involved, you can take something you can eat or pick and choose what you eat or don't. For instance, I unexpectedly wound up at a birthday party last night (long story, did it for one of the grandkids) and they provided dinner (hot dogs, beans, mac salad, pop and of course, cake and ice cream). I hadn't planned on this so all of it was not within my calories for the day. And, I had 1/2 a wet burrito left that I was looking forward to for dinner, so I chose not to eat at this party. Just hung out and caught up with people and enjoyed the kids and ate when I got home. Easy? Not especially, I kind of avoided the kitchen most of the night, but having the sleeve has allowed me to become a picky eater, and that is a good thing!