DGV51182

All of these restaurants have good choices. We don't tend to make them, though. You can easily eat 2-3 days worth of calories by having a big meal at any of these places, but you can also have a very good, sensible meal at each of them as well. Self-education is a HUGE part of success. At least in my opinion. Just be informed before you go.
Chili's has a "Lighter Choices" menu selection.
At Olive Garden:
mussels di Napoli = 180 calories
minestroni Soup = 100 calories
chicken and gnocchi Soup = 250 calories
zuppa toscona soup = 170 calories
Venetian apricot chicken lunch portion = 290 calories
Applebee's has an "Under 550" designation. And there is on way we can eat the whole serving they provide. These include:
Napa chicken & portobellos
zesty Roma chicken & shrimp
roasted garlic sirloin
signature sirloin with garlic herb shrimp
At Red Lobster:
grilled lobster, shrimp and scallops = 340 calories
6 oysters on the /12 shell = 50 calories
shrimp cocktail = 120 calories
salmon = 250 calories
snow crab legs = 90 calories
lobster tail = 170 calories
seafood stuffed fish = 330 calories
cesar salad = 270 calories
cup of clam chowder = 230 calories
cup of lobster bisque = 210 calories
cup of chicken tortilla soup = 150 calories
Denny's:
4 slices of turkey bacon = 180 calories
low fat yogurt = 160 calories
egg whites = 50 calories
bowl of chicken noodle soup = 160 calories
cup of clam chowder = 200 calories
cup of veggie beef soup = 111 calories
half serving of cranberry chicken salad = 310 calories
oatmeal with milk and brown sugar = 240 calories
Fit Fare omelette = 390 calories
Veggie skillet = 330 calories
Fit Slam = 390 calories
Though Cracker Barrel does not provide calorie information for its menu, they have healty options such as low fat yogurt, fresh seasonal fruit, eggs, lemon pepper trout, grilled chicken and salads.
At Outback:
kid's menu grilled chicken = 147 calories
Ahi tuna, small = 363 calories
grilled shrimp = 319 calories
grilled chicken = 401 calories
very low calories counts on steamed Beans or broccoli, grilled asparagus, salad
The Keg:
shrimp cocktail = 127 calories
backed garlic shrimp = 309 calories
escargot = 280 calories
crab legs = 208 calories
lobster tails = 215 calories
teriyaki chicken = 353 calories
teriyaki sirloin = 366 calories
mixed grilled veggies = 131 calories

It took me a good 2.5 months and two fills before I started to feel a major restriction. There was some before, yes, but not what I was expecting. Try your best to be patient. It is a journey, not a race, and that is one of the reasons the procedure has worked for me. Yesterday was my 4-year bandiversary and I am on a slow on downward weight trajectory. Good luck!

Check out this article:
https://www.bariatricpal.com/magazine/622-types-of-bariatric-surgery-by-the-numbers-and-what-it-means/
Lap bands work for some people and I don't see the point of attacking individuals who have had great success. That said, there is a big chance of complications with the band. I live in Australia, where there were an insanely high rate of lap bands performed and now they are out of favour. Interestingly, if people are looking for a non-permanent, less invasive strategy they are getting the balloons. I think we'll see a growth in that.
I wanted a lap band and my surgeon was like no. He has performed thousands of WLSs and basically won't do them anymore. Apparently, he constantly does revisions from the lap band to VGS or bypass. His view is that the lap band doesn't work long term for most people.
There's no correct answer but make sure you get medical advice and are comfortable with your decision.

I disagree. I am 5 years out this month. I love my band. It keeps me in check. Most people that don’t like the band is because they don’t follow the rules. Of course there are medical issues that occur and it needs to be removed. I started at 225 and now I am down to 167. I am now a size 8-10. Kept it off for 5 years. I work out a lot and when I eat foods that I shouldn’t or too much food I pay the price. It reminds me NOT to do it again. It’s not a magic pill. It’s just a tool but you have to be nice to it.

Don't do it. Lapband is an awful device. Living with it for the past 9 years has been a nightmare. Finding anyone to adjust or remove (if the surgeon that put it in is inaccessible) is impossible. No one wants to deal with it because of all of the potential risks / complications.