Dating and "the Sleeve"

[Peony 3]

I'm recently single and I know that I'm going to start dating again fairly soon. My ex-boyfriend knew everything about my surgery and understood the fact that I couldn't eat like a "normal" person, but I'm worried about how to justify my lack of food consumption to someone new. I know that I can push for non-food-related dates, but food is such a big part of our culture, I feel like I'm going to have to sit down for a meal sooner or later!

How are others dealing with this? I'd much rather keep my sleeve and weight loss private.

Thank you!

[Oregondaisy 2,019]

You can say you're trying to lose weight or watch your weight or watch your girlish figure etc. I dated a lot with the sleeve.

I said I had late lunch, or a little bit of an upset stomach too.

After I got to know someone, I told them the truth. I've never had a negative response and my current bf tells me I am a cheap date. We share food a lot!

[CaseyKay 12]

I've also gotten the response that I'm a "cheap date" now.

I've had a hard time being comfortable to tell anyone I date. It's so awkward. And I feel like Im an alien when they can eat a pizza and a half and I eat three bites. :/