Today was my FIL's birthday and the family met at Longhorn Steakhouse for dinner. My thought was that I would just have some Soup. It turns out, they don't have soup! I eneded up getting mashed potatoes and ate a couple of tsps, maybe. It was a little odd as, although I've done lunch out with my husband and then again with my daughter, this was a whole other ballgame.

My in-laws know that I had the surgery but my SIL/BIL don't, might, probably know. I wonder if they do. I'm not sure if MIL said anything. I didn't ask her not too, but, it doesn't really matter. I feel like f they didn't know, there would have been more comment on my choice.

I wish I would have had more of a "plan" other than to have soup. Everyone ordered dinner plates which, when they came, seemed HUGE to me. Of course, it wasn't any more than I've ever eaten at any given time, but this time was different. The servings just seemed ginormous.

My BIL asked me if I was dieting and I said yes, as always, but there was not really any more comment made on my dinner choice other than the waitress who said, "that's all you want, mashed potatoes"? I took it really slow but again, forgot about not drinking while eating. Since my plan was to order soup, I had asked for Water (which I brought crystal light for) and sipped on it while eating the MP. It took me just as long to get through those couple of bites as it did for everyone else to finish. I think using the tiny forks/spoons at home has really helped slow me down. They were certainly one ofthe best tools I have bought.

I felt a little silly just ordering the MP while everyone was ordering normal, so I thought, next time, I might order a regular plate and just push the food around a bit to blend in more. Then I thought, man, that's just kinda stupid. If I would have had a better plan, I would have thought to ask for a bowl of hot water and I could have mixed the single serving packet of unjury chicken Soup that I had in my purse and would have been perfectly fine. Then if anyone asked, I could just say that I am doing a liquid Protein diet. DUH! NOTED!

Another thing I notied was that closer to the end of the meal, I got slightly nauseated from the smells. It was just a little overwhelming. I wonder if I had skipped the water if it would have bothered me.

So, there's my first moment out in the real world and I certainly learned a few lessons. We are now back home and I am trying to fulfill my daily protein req with having that Unjury soup. I had 2 protein shakes today so I'm getting my usual 75 gms in. YAY me!

I know how that feels. I had to go to Outback with family for birthday party and ordered the potato soup. I know I'm not supposed to have potatoes but that was my only option as I am allergic to seafood. My husband was great and asked that they bring the soup out early since I couldnt have appetizers and it took me all through the dinner to finish half a cup.

Don't know what stage you are in but I found for the first several months I would have one of three things Beans (served at many restaurants as a side or on their salad bar), chicken wings (I know not the best option as they're fried but when you eat two or three and are full it's not too bad, or chicken breast with some light sauce whether it was light dressing, hot sauce, or something else to moisten the white meat.

I found that once I started inviting the carbs back they came back tenfold and lead to 7 weeks of up and down with a total of a 2 lb gain and some old habits creeping in again.

If you can control it to once and a while that's good. It's also important not to beat yourself up if you go in without a plan and order something that really isn't part of the plan. The way I look at it is I think if this was before my new healthy lifestyle and sleeve what would I have ordered and ate and in most cases appetizer, meal, dessert, and several dr. peppers was the norm...

Pat yourself on the back for just having mashed potatoes or soup, you've come a far way!

Ya - I remember going to Tampico - a Mexican seafood place. I was planning to get the seafood soup and I was sooooo excited. Darn - never realized it is very spicy. I couldn't eat it. I sat and tried not to cry as my family gorged like piggies. It sort of felt like an out of body experience and really gave me a different view of the eating habits I've taught my kids. Cokes, queso, chips, enchiladas, etc etc. It was gross.

But I go there now and get the fish and shrimp soup all the time with a lil side of asian rice. I can still hardly eat any, but it is no longer too spicy. If my husband doesn't eat it I take it to go and eat again an hour later. Soup is very filling to me.