So I went out of town with some of my sisters, my mom, my children, and my nieces and nephews this past weekend. I didn't realize how much our daily schedule centered around food until now. The activities at the ranch could barely be completed because many minds drifted to the next meal and menus. Well now I do.

Because I had just had a fill Thursday, my diet was liquid and then mushies this weekend. I didn't mind cause I'm used to the routine and plus, I was barely hungry. I think I found my sweet spot. :thumbup:

Well my family indulged in making fun of every food choice I made. My mother criticized me for not eating things like bread, pasta, and rice. Don't get me wrong, I've gone out to eat with them before like at habachi grills and they get a kick out of me not being able to eat rice. My family loves rice. I remember a time when I cooked a pot of rice everyday. Rice is a big deal in this family. But deleting these carbs has helped me lose weight before the surgery and has stopped the inflammation from arthritis. As a matter of fact, I haven't tried to eat it nor do I intend to. So I'm good! The ridicule seemed magnified this weekend more so than usual. I guess it was because we were together day and night as they could zoom in on me more than when we're are at restaurants and family gatherings.

I have actually been trying to convince my mother to have the surgery.

Anyway, her verbal spill the whole weekend went like this: "Oh no, I am not gonna be denied my favorite foods. You're eating like a bird.....Are you really satisfied with that pinch of tuna and lettuce?" She even went to a local Dairy Queen and returned to the ranch to flaunt her banana split in front of me. I told her several times that I can eat what I want but I choose to eat what I eat.

I am not upset. I have my eyes on the prize. I am just surprised that the situations described in my LAP-BAND® book are slowly but surely happening.

At the end of my trip, my mother praised me for not giving in to her taunts and said she was hitting the gym first thing Monday morning because she wants to look like an older sister and not a mother (shallow, right?) Anyway, she did go to the gym yesterday.

As for the band, she is right, the band is not for her right now because she doesn't want to be restricted. She likes being able to eat whatever, whenever, and how much of whatever anytime. She would prolly force food even after satiety is reached if she had the band. I just have to wait for her to be ready.