Bandista

The bed, not the girl! We are just back from a four-day getaway and our beautifully-appointed hotel room had a Queen. Before weight loss? No way! For years it's had to be a King but no more. But now it was just fine. Oh, and I just hopped off the scale and did not gain a thing despite the fact that I ate deliciously-rich restaurant food (mostly French) -- those small portions really work. And I love it that now I can (and do) just stop. Now for some serious exercise (another NSV -- wanting to do it!).

I'm a good cook and when I go out the food needs to be really good -- otherwise, why bother? One of my tricks when ordering my little mini-meals is to say I'm saving for dessert. When dessert-time rolls around I seldom opt for it but may offer to share something with some one. I like to order a good steak when I'm out -- a filet mignon or tenderloin. Or fish. sauces, mashed potatoes, etc. can make it easier for me to eat (I'm banded and need the food to be dense, if that makes any sense). I don't eat bread, rice or fries but I do eat potato, squash, peas (hi carb veggies). I love veggies and try not to limit myself with those.
My spouse and kid love Asian and I have found that I can order a Bento box of salmon teriaki with no sauce. This is basically just a perfect sized chunk of Protein. I fuss arouind with all the other stuff -- cutting up the veggies and mixing with the rice for some one to take home for a snack later. I fob off the sushi and dumplings that come with the box -- by the time I've had my Miso Soup and that salmon I am full. Every one loves to eat out with me because they get bonus bites of everything.
Recently I had amazing Polenta and that is something I'm experimenting with at home in terms of jacking up the Protein. I use homemade stock and am adding in a litlte protein -- makes a kind of corn pudding. Who doesn't love carmelized onions and gorgonzola on top of basically anything? OH, and yes to Breakfast all-day -- I can always order a small omelet or a single over-medium egg, steal a few of some one's potatoes to smash up with the egg (yummy) and be perfectly satisfied.

The bed, not the girl! We are just back from a four-day getaway and our beautifully-appointed hotel room had a Queen. Before weight loss? No way! For years it's had to be a King but no more. But now it was just fine. Oh, and I just hopped off the scale and did not gain a thing despite the fact that I ate deliciously-rich restaurant food (mostly French) -- those small portions really work. And I love it that now I can (and do) just stop. Now for some serious exercise (another NSV -- wanting to do it!).

The bed, not the girl! We are just back from a four-day getaway and our beautifully-appointed hotel room had a Queen. Before weight loss? No way! For years it's had to be a King but no more. But now it was just fine. Oh, and I just hopped off the scale and did not gain a thing despite the fact that I ate deliciously-rich restaurant food (mostly French) -- those small portions really work. And I love it that now I can (and do) just stop. Now for some serious exercise (another NSV -- wanting to do it!).

You're band was super tight and you lost only 50 lbs?...after 8 years?
Sorry, but I am not clearly understanding everything....
I am 5 years banded...I keep my band tight enough to restrict me from overeating, to restrict me from eating the wrong foods, and also restrict me from eating wrong, like a pig. (need to take it small and slow)
If I challenge this, I will be miserable. So the band is forcing me to change my personal habits...fixes my brain, behavior modification.
It has become a way of life, don't need to think about it anymore...don't need to tell or remind myself what I need to do or not to do...don't need strategies for the holidays or eating out.....it has become all matter of fact....
People call the band a "Tool"...I DO NOT! A tool is something I can take off the shelf, and use it however I wish to, then return it to the toolbox....
The band, is much more than that..it tells me what to do...step out of line, or try to fight it, and I will only be miserable....
But learn to fall in line and find that groove...HEAVEN!
I cannot fully inderstand your situation, but if that was happening to me I would say I was fighting the band and what it was trying to do...the more I fight it, try to cheat it, the more inflamd and irritated it gets only makeing things worse making it ipossible to drink Water without issues.

i certainly will, it was meant to be tongue in cheek And yes, I'm not in any hurry to make a decision about it, I want to be sure that whatever I choose is right for me; once they are posted to web, they are there forever!

@@JustWatchMe it went extremely well! I could definitely tell the difference. It reset my pouch and got things back into alignment, dimmed the crazy carb monster and overall just made me feel better. If you haven't tried it I would give it a go. I plan on making this part of my maintenance routine like B52 suggests about once every couple of months or so. I will know when it's time.
Hope you are doing well!!!!

I do it every now and then, 6-8 weeks...but not 5 days, and not ther schedule put forth in the 5 day...I just go all liquids for at least 2 days, sometimes 3.
I don't do it to get back to basics...I do it to let my band have a rest, and recover from any stretching.
A Dr. will take Fluid out of your band to accomplish the same thing...I just lay off solids.
That's about the only maintenance I can think of with the band.

I make substitutions all the time. I hardly ever order something directly off the menu. I find that I can eat most any where and find something that works for me, I can order a grilled chicken sandwich or turkey burger asking them not to even place the bun on my plate. The best thing I've found is at the cafeteria at my work, they have the best chicken salad but instead of bread or a wrap I have them place it on a bed of spinach. I always ask for all dressings and sauces to be served on the side or to be left off completely. I sub chips, fries, etc. for a salad or veggie. I just simply try to stay away from the carbs. Mexican restaurants have become my friend. I get the fajitas with no tortillas and have leftovers for a couple more meals. Eating out is something we like to do and I find I can do it easily with some simple substitutions.

Tapas! My husband and I love restaurants that have Protein based tapas and we share. Usually we still have leftovers!
If tapas are not something on the menu, I will look close at Soups and salads. Breakfast is the worst for me because I cannot eat eggs. You can usually find a yogurt parfait but they can be dangerous because restaurants like to add very sugary fruit to them.
If I cannot find anything for breakfast I will go for a plain crepe with sf Syrup and bacon or sausage. There is very little flour in a crepe and for some reason I can tolerate all the egg in one.

At bar-and-grill type places, I often order some sort of salad with grilled chicken. Cobb is good because it usually has additional Protein in the form of hardboiled egg, cheese, and bacon. I make sure that each forkful has a bite of chicken and other Protein with a little bit of lettuce/greens/etc. and I dip my fork into the dressing (which I get on the side). I usually only eat about 1/4 of an entree-sized salad (I'm 5.5 months out). Depends on the salad to whether I take home the leftovers--some get soggy and gross.
At Asian restaurants, I have found that chicken lettuce wraps are a good option; they are usually listed as an appetizer. I typically have enough leftover for another 2 meals.
Diners and Breakfast places are easy--my go-to is a Denver omelette (ham, peppers, and onions) with cheese. I can eat about 1/3 to 1/2 of it. I either ask for them to leave off the potatoes and toast, or I give them to my husband. I might take a tiny bite of hash browns if they look really delicious.

I usually just get a cup of Soup or chili, or an appetizer. I have found that if you don't order anything at all people notice and ask questions, so I make sure to order something

I eat off my husband and kids plates (and usually hubby will let me pick what he orders!). Or I eat a Protein appetizer for my meal.

Great thread! I'm still preop but so far I've lucked out in going to restaurants that serve Breakfast all day. I can eat part of an omelette with a side of berries or just get an egg with a side of ham. It's not perfect, but it works at this point.

I go and don't eat or get a salad or sandwich. It doesn't bother me, doesn't bother them.

As a vegetarian with severe food allergies I do the same things I did pre-op. Check the menu online before going, order sides and ask them to bring them out with the main dishes for everyone else. Unless it's a steak house or seafood restaurant I can usually manage something. As a single person a doggy bag means I don't have to cook for a few days so I'm happy to take advantage of that.

I find that a good tip for me is to see if there any any folks at my table who want to share. This way, you can have a taste of this or that and not have to pack up half you dinner, or only order an appetizer. I take my portion from what's available, put it on my plate and when I'm done, I'm done. There's nothing left to pick over as others keep eating.
For those who are afraid of over-eating, this is a good tactic.

Okay, we’re not supposed to go out much after weight loss surgery…but let’s be serious. Most of us do, either regularly or occasionally, and either by choice or because friends, family, or work demands it.
So how do you get by? Please share your restaurant secret – either tell us which menu item you order at which restaurant, or give a general tip!
Here’s my go-to trick. Don’t limit yourself to the menu! Most restaurants are happy to serve whatever you ask for, whether it’s a side of veggies instead of fries, or a bowl of cottage cheese that’s not listed in print on the menu. Whatever you want, there’s no harm in asking for it!
What are your tricks and tips?

Totally. It makes me feel really empowered to be eating hearty food and asking for to-go boxes every time. I feel like I am one of everybody else now...lamenting that the food is too much instead of clearing the whole plate in five minutes. I am not counting or measuring or restricting anything (except for straight carbs) and I am comfortably in the 1 lb/wk phase now.
Welcome back from your getaway!

Those are great examples of NSVs! Congratulations and thanks for sharing!

Bandista what wonderful NSVs!!!! Great job on enjoying your vacation and coming home with no extra baggage:-) That my friend is a huge feat!!!!

@@Bandista --
Somewhere in BP I wrote about a similar thing; described it as having lost a whole bed size.

that is a definite multiple NSV weekend/Holiday !

The bed, not the girl! We are just back from a four-day getaway and our beautifully-appointed hotel room had a Queen. Before weight loss? No way! For years it's had to be a King but no more. But now it was just fine. Oh, and I just hopped off the scale and did not gain a thing despite the fact that I ate deliciously-rich restaurant food (mostly French) -- those small portions really work. And I love it that now I can (and do) just stop. Now for some serious exercise (another NSV -- wanting to do it!).

The bed, not the girl! We are just back from a four-day getaway and our beautifully-appointed hotel room had a Queen. Before weight loss? No way! For years it's had to be a King but no more. But now it was just fine. Oh, and I just hopped off the scale and did not gain a thing despite the fact that I ate deliciously-rich restaurant food (mostly French) -- those small portions really work. And I love it that now I can (and do) just stop. Now for some serious exercise (another NSV -- wanting to do it!).