I bet that there are some of you out there like me that were taught or otherwise learned not to waste food, up to and including eating everything on your plate.

I am the youngest of six children, and not wasting food was drilled into me. When I couldn't eat everything on my plate, my father made me sit at the table with my plate of food after the table had been cleared and everyone had left. It usually didn't work as I was full, and I just sat there until my father said I was excused from the table.

I was thin as a child, but I ate plenty. I used to pick the peaches and plums and figs from our trees as afternoon Snacks, and maybe that is why I didn't always eat all my dinner sometimes. Or maybe it was because my father insisted that we occasionally try unusual foods like tripe, cow brains, tongue, soy Beans, octopus, and a few other weird food that I remember being forced to eat as a child.

Anyway, I digress, and, yes, I should probably see a therapist about my abusive father issues.

So, now, I have lost 56 pounds so far with my sleeve, and I'm wondering if there are others out there who eat food that could be questionable just because they don't want to waste it.

For example, I bought a lobster, and I ate 1/4th of it for four nights in a row. By the fourth night, I was wondering if maybe I shouldn't eat it, but it smelled okay, and so I did.

I can eat very little now, and so I end up eating a Chipotle burrito for four days in a row until it is gone when I get one.

One trick I have learned is to freeze food that I won't be able to eat much of and then defrost it for dinner when I am ready. I did this with a few things, and it helps relieve the pressure of having to eat it before it goes bad.

A few things I did throw out like a can of fat-free refried beans I had made with onions and cheese that I had in the refrigerator but couldn't get to for about a week. I really do hate wasting food, but I figure it is better than getting a bad stomach ache from food that has gone bad.

I hate to waste food. I'm picky what I feed to my dogs. "They get gas that will run a human out of the room." Someone gave me baby chicks for Easter. Now, I never throw leftovers in the trash, cause those chickens will eat ALMOST anything!

I am sorry too, Crystalite, that you experienced that. There is no rational explanation for why that occurred. My father was abusive too and had an anger management problem but not like yours. I hope that he is not in your life anymore and therefore cannot hurt you any longer.

I understand you, today my family and I went to applebees i had a tilapia fish w/ mashed potatoes, i just ate 3 bites of plate and bring the rest to home, every hour I have been taking 2 bites ... I know it is not correct... For thus reason that I know is too hard for me to stop eating like this.. I prefer not to go out for lunch... Fir people like us is better to cook our own food at home.. This way you will save some money and would avoid the temptations... Im almost one mo adter surgery.. I'll try to avoid as possible to avoid going to restaursnts...

Mggonzal, I agree with you. Restaurants can be tricky now because they bring you so much food. I've read that some people ask for a to-go container right away and put half or more of their entree away right away. I've also seen a great video blog where a woman talked about how waitresses always question if there was something wrong with the food when they see that you haven't eaten much. A few nights ago, we went to Ihop, and I just told the waitress, "I've had weight-loss surgery and can't eat much, and so I need a to-go container." She seemed to understand, but really, I didn't have to tell her that at all if I chose not to.

The other problem with restaurants is not only the quantity of food that they bring but the quality. So many Entrees are laden with fat, salt, and sugar. I've really noticed that my tastes in what I want to eat has surely changed since my sleeve surgery, and I am grateful for that because now I want to eat healthy food and can. Before my surgery, I wanted to eat healthy food but wasn't able to in many situations.

I find that appetizers or side salads make for great choices at restaurants now. One of my favorite meals now is a salad with some sort of Protein on it like salmon or shrimp.

I have been known lately to let my dogs help me finish something because I hate leaving those last 2 bites. Before surgery they didn't get much off my plate.

That idea is why I love my bulldog!! She is my fuzzy garbage disposal. I don't feel like I am wasting anything. And these days there are so many good garbage disposals looking for homes at shelters!! Take one home with your burrito bowl lol!!

I don't waste food. Ever. I will measure out food (I still weigh and measure 10 months out) and store the rest. I will eat the leftovers until it is gone. Five day old refrigerated food is fine by me. If I get truly tired of something it goes to the chickens.

If I'm not in a position to measure things, my eyes can be bigger than my stomach so I just portion a tiny bit. If I'm still hungry I can go back, but it's rarely necessary. That's how normal people eat right? I was at a potluck yesterday and made sure I got one teaspoon of everything. I'm learning.

Funny about some parents and control issues. Many times I have sat at the table for hours al a Mommy Dearest in front of lima Beans, oatmeal with milk, soggy Cereal in milk, hominy or liver. I still hate those foods today. One time I actually blistered my throat swallowing hot oatmeal.

That idea is why I love my bulldog!! She is my fuzzy garbage disposal. I don't feel like I am wasting anything. And these days there are so many good garbage disposals looking for homes at shelters!! Take one home with your burrito bowl lol!!

Just remember to balance out the scraps with lots of doggy walking. My dog maintains about same weight ( still overweight a little) even though I walk him at least 2-3 miles a day. The garbage disposal is working a little too well.

My dog waits patiently outside the kitchen everytime I prepare any kind of food. As soon as I'm done, he's in there scowering the floor for anything I may have dropped. I love not having to pick up dropped food bits, but I don't know what that says about me that he's been trained to know there will likely be something on the floor.

I freeze a lot of stuff. I buy a rotisserie chicken and freeze portions in baggies. I can then thaw and use in salads, Soups, stir-frys or sandwiches. I also freeze lunchmeat, cheese, bread, bagels, rolls, soups, chilis, etc. I freeze stuff in baggies, first I squish the baggie to make a thin package and then I stack the baggies like books in freezer once the food is hard. They thaw super fast.

Before I could eat more, one of my favorite veggies was frozen mixed veggies, because it's so easy to take out just 1/8 cup or whatever portion size I could manage.

For restaurant food, I eat what I can if it doesn't freeze well, such as salads and just toss the rest. I also eat junky stuff out and don't bring the leftovers home. French fries, Desserts, etc. Restricting these foods to restaurants and leaving the leftovers behind is one way I manage to have treats without overindulging.

When buying raw meats, fish and poultry, I freeze in portion sizes for my family's meals. For me and hubby, that's usually 12 oz. of ground beef or skin-on fish. Four ounces cooks to about 3 oz, which is what I eat at dinner and lunch. Hubby eats 8 oz, which cooks to about 6 oz. For chicken, I package 4 thighs. I eat one, hubby eats two or sometimes three. If we wind up with one left over, someone eats it for lunch the next day.

Lynda

I am less than a month out....and I keep cooking big amounts of food. Old habits trying to find their way to the freezer..... Hope this gets better

I love all your comments. It is nice to know that we are all dealing with the same issues.

Isereno, I didn't know you could freeze cheese. That is great. I may have to do that.

Newgirltx, I totally agree with your posting. My dogs are really important to me, and I can't imagine my life without them. Everyone should adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue:-) Your bulldog is adorable in your picture.

Fiddleman, I like your picture too!

Butterthebean, you are funny! It is nice not to have to bend over to pick up stuff!

Summersmile, it will get better. You will begin to recognize how much you can eat. I still make a big salad and sit down with it. Last night my plate was full of lettuce, homegrown tomato, cottage cheese, and smoked salmon with salad dressing. I ate about six or seven bites, and I was done. I'll have it again for lunch today, and then what I don't eat will go to the chickens, but it will be all lettuce by then probably.

I have learned in my own journey so far ---- to throw things away! Donating feels good too' date=' and yes I'm talking about everything. From food to kitchen stuff I don't use.

I'm using this life change as an opportunity to make myself lighter and more free than I ever have been in my life

<3 it's a very liberating habit to get into.

All the best to you! <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

This is an old post and I know it probably doesn't get checked anymore but I HAVE to tell you you have an absolutely gorgeous profile pic and my dream body! When I am that size I can not WAIT to buy a cute suit like that! F the last few pounds f the scars and the stretch marks. None of that matters to me! Your profile pic (even may be old) just gave me an immense amount of inspiration.

Starting weight 321- sleeve date 07/10/13 Sent from my iPhone using VST