"Bring them a plate anyway....."

Hello Everyone! I'm about to lay-out a rant here, but I want to preface it by saying I mindfully practice acceptance and give a good benefit of the doubt when personal philosophies differ from my own. I get it, that we all have a different bent on life and living. That said, this little nugget of "advice" really irks the carbs right out of me. From Feb/March issue of "Taste of Home" food magazine page 78 in big bold letters: Mom's Best Advice: If you offer people food and they say "No, thank you," what they really mean is "Yes, please!" Bring a heaping plate anyway.

Shame on you Taste of Home! https://www.facebook.com/tasteofhome?ref=ts&fref=ts

To me this is wrong on so many levels! "NO" means no be it NO food, NO drink, No fries, NO dessert, etc. NO is NO. Presuming someone means the opposite when they have mustered the courage to decline a food offering for whatever reason is extremely disrespectful. When an alcoholic says no to a drink does that mean yes? When a type I diabetic says no to candy does that mean yes? NO is NO!

As recovering obese people don't we struggle enough? We know who the food pushers in our lives are and we collaborate with other WLSers to evolve strategies that support our weight management goals in the face of those who may knowingly or unknowingly sabotage our efforts. It is hard work and the battle never ends. Do we really need, in 2013, a mainstream magazine encouraging people to push food upon those who have declined?

Yes, I know Taste of Home is not written for people minding their weight, but as a food magazine of any sort this ADVICE is highly irresponsible and offensive. They could have just as easily said mom's best advice is to disrespect all who sit at your table. I hope their readers spot this bad advice and toss it on the compost heap.

What are your thoughts? Share your thoughts on my Facebook Page

Weekly Digest: Food Pushers & Food Police

LivingAfterWLS Weekly Digest: August 13, 2012

 

I hope you are enjoying a healthy happy Summer! Like everyone this time of year, our lazy-days of summer seem to be filled with more activities and gatherings than we can manage. Without fail, every event we have enjoyed has involved a meal as the central attraction. Also without fail, the "Food Pushers" and "Food Police" have been on patrol. Have you seen them at your summer gatherings?  

The "Food Pushers" are those who would have us eat more than we could or should eat. Sometimes they are well intentioned wishing only to share the bounty of the table; others are prideful cooks who consider food rejection a personal insult. And admittedly, some food pushers have unsavory designs for derailing our best weight management efforts.

The "Food Police" are those who monitor our plates and forks and pass judgment on us for what we do or do not eat. They too can be well intentioned such as a fellow health-watcher who may question the trans-fat or sugar content of a dish; she is looking out for the good of all. Other police are citation-hungry plate monitors hoping to catch us in the act of breaking rules and crossing dietary boundaries.

It has been a dozen years since my WLS and I have been a very public WLS-Advocate for the last 8 years. I know that for myself, and for many of you, there is not a time when we are not closely watched and critiqued as we engage in fueling our bodies with food. It's no wonder so many of us, myself included, seek to eat in privacy much of the time! Here are a few skills I've learned to use in coping with the food pushers and food police. I you find them helpful as you form your own strategies in dealing with the Food Pushers and Food Police.

Best Wishes & Good Health! 

Kaye

Link to the full Digest

Food Pushers and 5 Day Pouch Testers

Hello Neighbors!

Today's 5 Day Pouch Test Bulletin - the free email about the back-to-basics program for weight loss surgery post-ops - gave fair warning for the food pushing season that starts in October with all the Halloween sweets and doesn't end until the ball drops on the first day of 2009. From now through the December we will face food temptations and food pushers around every corner. "Today's Bulletin looks at one of the rough patches in the weeks and months ahead: the Food Pushing Season. Yes it is upon us and we will encounter many temptations in our daily lives to detour from the course of healthy living. The Food Pushers, some well-meaning and some just mean, will be out in force."

In the Neighborhood wee are discussing how to Push-Back the Food Pushers. Come on over and let us know your strategy for staying on track in this season of temptations and detractors. Patrece is leading a similar discussion about food pushers: Why don't they get it?

And since it is Monday and we all know Monday is the best day of the week there are several Neighbors joining together in the 5 Day Pouch Test! The best part of these 5DPT teams is that we learn the value of support and we learn that we are never-ever-never alone.

Jana "OneTallMama" up in Alaska made soup for day one. Follow the plan and take the chill off the day. Read here

Marianna, a 5DPT veteran, is taking another go at it. She has quite a group of fans joining her in the adventure: read here. And speaking of fans - how about a big standing O for our singing Diva: go here and celebrate this fantastic moment with her. Talk about a WOW moment.

Join us in the Neighborhood - There is something for everyone, no matter the stage of your journey!