First time at a real restaurant .....

[dork 114]

So today we did some shopping for my daughters wedding in 2 weeks. I wanted to wait till the last minute to purchase clothes. Well, I've lost 45 pounds but seems my old clothes are really really loose, but new clothes are the same size I'm losing every place but my belly.....tops loose at shoulders but still need the girth around the belly.

Anyway, we stopped at Red Lobster for lunch. Thought lunch would be good, much smaller portions. Got scallops and shrimp, broiled of course. I took 1 very tiny tiny tiny piece of my hubbies biscuit....I don't want to feel deprived of anything. Ate about half the shrimp and scallops, a bite of the roasted squash and was done. Took the rest home and it sat in a hot car for an hour and had to throw it out.

I think next time I will just take a small part of hubbies dinner...it will help him lose also.

Anyone got any good tips and special restaurants they use?

[teacher 36]

When my husband and I go out to eat, my husband always asks where do you want to eat? My answer is I don't care where we eat but we need to eat somewhere that I can have a little bit of something off your plate. Also, if we don't go to a place where I can eat off his plate, I have a thermal bag that stays in the car and I pack a gallon size bag of ice before we leave home. I live in TX so it doesn't take long for food to spoil in the hot car in the summer so I put my to go container in the thermal bag with the ice.

[Aries 95]

I had similar concerns when I would go out to eat also. I honestly either pick off of other people's plates or I order from the appetizer menu. I used to order regular Entrees but I realized although it may sound good at that point, it doesn't seem appetizing as a left over. In other words, if I want it then, I don't want it again later. It's also not very cost efficient.

[dork 114]

I was looking at apps also, but hubby said here's a nice full lunch for the same price. Good idea about the thermal bag...although today was a spur of the moment.

I have had a few Wendy's chilis...small of course. Burgers just don't sound good. Trying to stay away from bread. And all RL had on the lunch menu was fried fish. Staying away from fried stuff too. Ugh...thought of grease makes me nauseas.

[Fiddleman 4,376]

Red lobster is a great place to eat with all their low calorie low carb low fat options.

Other good places are olive garden, red robin and Panera breads. Yes, I said Panera Breads. There is a secret menu you can order high Protein low fat and low carb stuff off of. The key is you have to ask for the secret menu as it is not on display anywhere. At least it was not when I went a few months ago.

My wife and I can pretty much go to any restaurant and find some on their "lite" menu or modify z menu option to fit our needs. Most restaurants are very accommodating. We have eaten at the restaurants above in addition to Thai, Indian, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Greek and so on. We have not had to use the special bariatric card once.

Good luck!

[anniemay 150]

Cheesecake Factory has small plates. Love the choices

[dork 114]

I didn't get a bariatric card. I've heard of secret menus before, but thanks for the tip on Panera. I remember when the Atkins diet was all the rage. I did it and lost about 60 pounds...but I found it again. Burger King had a low carb sandwich...or should I say it as all the fixins without the bun....lol

[Fiddleman 4,376]

Cidmore- after hearing, watching and reading about what fast food restaurants put into their chicken and beef products, one would be smart not to touch those with a 10 foot pole. Eg. McD and their "pink slime" to make the chicken and beef safe enough for human consumption. Not to mention all the injection of GMO into the animals to make them grow bigger and faster. No thanks!

[ElaineB 207]

I ate out a ton before sleeve and thought I would quit post. But, I'm about 3 weeks out and have eaten out several times with no problems. I had a cup of vegetable beef Soup at Denny's that was excellent. I just left the corn and Lima Beans in the bowl. I tried a cup of vegetable soup at Cracker Barrel and it didn't work out as well. It had too many vegetables, too many fibrous vegetables, so I had less than a quarter of the cup. I did the 2 for 20 at chilis. I let my sons choose the app, they ordered one meal they both liked, I ordered grilled fish, gave them my sides and gave them 3/4 of my fish. I tried chili at steak and shake, but couldn't eat it because it was too greasy and spicy. I think it's trial and error, but usually easy to find something I can enjoy. I have never been a huge fish lover, but surprisingly, it's become my favorite. Grilled fish can be found almost anywhere. I've eaten out with my kids, who don't know I had this surgery, friends and family and no one has made me feel strange or awkward. I don't make a big deal of it and I don't think anyone has noticed. My strategy has been to order a cup of soup or chili, share a meal or take it home. Even when it hasn't worked, like the bomb at steak and shake, it wasn't a problem. I still enjoyed being out, the people I was with still enjoyed it and I just ate something later at home. I'm learning to enjoy these events for the people I'm with and the socialization and not look on it like a last meal:). Every time I can go and make a healthy choice and turn away from an unhealthy one, I feel great about myself. Love this sleeve.

[cindymg 629]

Boston Market is my go to place. Their chicken and turkey are moist and easy to eat. I get a market bowl with mashed potatoes and steamed veggies and make 2-3 meals out of it.

[dork 114]

Great suggestions. Wish we had a Boston Market in the area. i do purchase the rotissarie chickens from the grocer deli. Yummy.

[superstartover 101]

chicken fajita minus tortillas chili hamburger with cheese on lettuce leaf all yummy

[dork 114]

We went out the other night. I just ordered 1 piece of fish. Wasn't on the menu but it was our little local grocery restaurant and they were so good about it. But went out to the deli case and bought 3 more pieces to take home for the price the restaurant charged me.