So there I am at a work-related dinner banquet. All you can eat buffet, prime rib, pasta, potatoes and the western Pennsylvania favorite - pork tenderloin and sauerkraut. If I wasn't in the middle of this, yeah, I would have devoured two-pounds of the prime rib.
My surgeon's office allows 2 cups of raw vegetables a day if I choose, "to make it more enjoyable." I haven't had any yet as I don't believe they really would have made a difference, let's face it, this 2 weeks on all liquids is meant to be endured - not tolerated and certainly not enjoyed.
But, at a head table, skipping the meal was not a choice. But I prepared for this, I was ready. I took three rigatoni noodles, one slice of pork and lots of kraut and two tongs of lettuce and cucumbers - no dressing. At my seat, I jumped back and forth from nursing on a lettuce leaf, moving a noodle around my plate to spread the sauce around to appear the serving was much larger and cutting the pork into tiny pieces and hiding them in the mound of kraut. No one seemed to notice.
That is, until one of the caterers came around to clear tables. She took my plate, began to turn around. But apparently I wasn't as slick as I thought. She turned around again and asked "Was everything okay?"
I wanted to say "thanks lady, it was bad enough I had to sit here and watch everyone eat all night, and bad enough that I had to feel every fiber of meat on my knife and fork, but do you have to call me out?" But, I suppose I should be happy that she cared enough about her work to make certain that nothing was wrong. How many people does she deal with that have been consuming nothing but protein shakes, broth and jello for five days? So I said what I should. I looked puzzled as to why she would be asking and said "Everything was fantastic, thank you. I just took too much, my eyes were larger then my belly."
I'm only a few days from attending my last meeting and I really hope putting myself on the pre-surgery diet early pays off.
Have a good week everyone.
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Sounds like a rough night. Glad it's behind you.
ReplyDeleteMy doctor gave us this really cool laminated card to carry around with us to restaurants and for medical purposes which shows and explains how we're banded. I haven't braved a situation like yours yet, but I've had a couple of people ask why I'm eating what I'm eating (or why I'm NOT eating) and I show them the card and they start treating me like that kid from school who wore the medical ID bracelet. I feels special!
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty funny, NFC. I've heard of WLS patients wearing those bands, but I don't know how necessary that is. Hmmn, topic for another pst maybe?
ReplyDeleteYikes! Hate when waiters point that out. My husband tried something similar at a bar last week...you wouldn't think a waitress at a wing joint would really care but she asked as well. I told him he should've said it was awful and got the meal free. LOL! I'm crossing my fingers that your preemptive diet is rewarded. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteYes, well said, MandaPanda - I hope the preemptive diet is rewarded!
ReplyDeleteI'd be frustrated if a waitress at a buffet, of all places, made sure everything was ok. Really? A buffet? Where it's highly likely for people to have food on the plates that are taken away? I think you handled it well. I'd have probably had a pretty snide remark to make...
It sounded like you managed to handle the dinner really well. I am keeping my fingers crossed for you that the early pre-op diet will weigh in your favor (tee hee - pun was intended).
ReplyDeleteI get so tired of always being asked if everything is okay because I don't eat the ginormous portion of food they put in front of me at restaurants - so I changed my M.O. I now tell my server when we sit down what the deal is so that he/she won't be tempted to question everything I say and do during my meal. I am sure some of them are like - whoa TMI, but all I care about is that I feel comfortable while I sit there and watch everyone else eat. So you are just dealing with the awkwardness a little earlier than most!!
Ahh..the old pushing your food around the plate...been there. I won't tell you that I had no pre-op diet though. Hey this means you're getting close!!! Hooray for Western PA!!!! I'm here too!
ReplyDeleteLooks like we might be banded around the same time! Yeah!
ReplyDeleteMarie
http://unknownbandster2020.blogspot.com
Too funny. I think your response was the best when you said you took too much. Maybe you should have asked for a doggie bag.
ReplyDeleteIt sounded to me like you did a great job of covering up....but you got sprung. Just found your blog...nice to follow a man!!!
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog and wanted to say congrats on starting this journey and not getting frustrated with all the delays you have had. I am excited to follow your story!! Hope everythgin went well at your 2nd meeting, I think you said it was this week?
ReplyDeleteI have a trick to stop those comments. . maybe will help for next time! When the waitperson comes over, I always say something like "Thanks so much -- it was delicious!" 99.999% of the time, that stops them from saying anything about how much I ate.
ReplyDelete