Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Life after the band question



Recommended Posts

What is a norm dinner you order after being banded if eating out? (getting my ducks in a row..) Banded 9/11/06 (not really excited about date!)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I often order the crabcakes off the appetizer menu. French onion Soup is a regular choice. Chili is a standby. chicken marsala or piccata. Also Tilapia or Mahi Mahi. Tortilla soup. Occasionally, I'll go for a salad. I take a box home quite often. Your band date is a great date! One you'll always be able to remember. I chose that same date to become baptised last year. ;) Sort of like reclaiming my life, or rising out of a kind of dead-ness, in honor of so many who never had the choice. Good luck !!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm a year out, and still thrilled with my band! I hope you will love yours, too!

My dinners are just normal dinners, usually...but instead of two (or three) plates of food, it's just one smaller serving of dinner. I even eat dessert many nights.

As you go, you will have choices to make. You will choose the level of restriction (per fills) that you want. This will give you control over the amount of lifestyle changes you have to make, which will also affect the rate of weight loss you have.

The band is a wonderful tool, where you have control over how to use it.

Good luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

We order just about anything from the menu. Of course, we have extra meals for days. Frequently, my husband and I will share a meal, and then I'll have the extra for lunch.

Sometimes we both order off the appatiser menu with a salad.

Honest, once you have gotten used to your band, and to the Band lifestyle, you won't even think twice about going out to dinner, or out with friends. You won't even think about it, you will just life life normally.

Except you will live it thinner. (unless you are me :) )

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Dinners are the same as I always ate, just smaller servings. We generally eat a Protein such as meat, chicken or fish, and steamed vegetables, I often leave out any potato or rice for me now as I cant fit it in. We also like Pasta such as lasagne or spag bol or pesto with roast veges, home made Soups, lots of things out of the slow cooker including many lentil dishes, good healthy food.

When I go out, sometimes I make healthy choices and sometimes more indulgent ones, life is for living afterall, but I never eat a huge amount. I like a glass of wine when I'm out too. Usually I cant fit in dessert.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

If we go to a regular resturant I try to get hubby to split a meal with me. He is still in the eyes bigger than the belly stage. :)

I have found that I can eat anything in moderation. I know that if I eat too much Pasta or anything that swells I will regret it, but I am still human and I crave it. I have found that giving in every now and then and having a bite or two is better for me than eating too much or going crazy wanting something.

So far it seems to work. :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My surgeon's advice? "Don't even look at the menu...just stick to the appetizers". Like others I usually have an appetizer, a Soup or salad or I split a meal with my boyfriend. It's good for your dining out partner to be on board with the whole thing so they can help you make good choices. My bf has often come up with good ideas that I didn't think of but that worked great.

Good luck! Hey, think like this about your surgery date....it's a day of much prayers and so there is much love and compassion everywhere. Let's not think about sadness but about the beautiful lives those people lived. I think it's a beautiful day to have surgery. It is a day of life changing events. You now make is a beautiful and positive life changing event!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Great thread.

I can't help but imagine the money we will save in a lifetime of eating small meals and ordering appetizers.

'Oh no thanks, I just couldn't possibly.' hahhahaha

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×