Just wanted to see if anyone else feels this way post surgery.

One of the things I had always done when eating out prior to surgery is that I would look at the menu and make decisions about what I would order based on how much food I thought I would get. It was the quantity that was most important. It didn't matter if it was something I might have liked the taste of as much as whether it would fill me up.

It actually took some time after surgery to get to where I was out of this mindset. But now, it is really liberating to sit down and know that I can't eat like that even if I wanted to, so I now can focus on the quality and taste when in choosing what to order. For example, my favorite item might be ceviche or something like that, but I never would have ordered it presurgery because it was a small plate of food. It's very liberating now. It was amazing when I realized that i was actually stressing about whether something was going to be enough for me.

I totally get what you are saying! Eating out has taken on a new perspective for me - I choose carefully because, whatever I eat, I want to enjoy and savour it. The size of portion is now irrelevant.

Never thought of it like this, but it really is liberating :-)

That's a great realization! For me, it's knowing that I don't have to eat a lot now, "just in case". Just in case I get hungry later, just in case lunch is late, just in case I'm in a meeting for too long. I now carry bars and some edamame and I know they are my "just in case". And I know eating a few ounces of those will fill me. So i can focus on how much I really want right now...and let later take care of itself.

I hadn't thought of that until I read your post so thank you for sparking the realization!

Yep. Unfortunately since my capacity has decreased my tastes have gotten more expensive. I would rather have a small piece of filet or a couple of scrumptious scallops than a burger and fries.

Like gamergirl said I never really thought about it...but I still do have issues with it.....I find myself watching Diners Drive-ins and Dives and some of the food that is served I think oh my that portion would never fill me up...and then I realize that I could never even eat a small amount of that and then I get all puffed up and proud of myself for this great tool I have now.......

I just realized that since making my decision to have the sleeve, I have stopped watching the Food Network entirely! (I love Barefoot Contessa and Giada at Home.)

at a support group meeting, shortly after my sleeve, I used that exact same word, "liberating" I was/am no longer a slave to the menu and it's pretty pictures. I look for the lowest caloie/carb/fat highest protein and non starchy veg. I can find. My fave is salad with steak or grilled chicken. NOT the big plate of fried, disgusting, greasy, carby stuff I used to get.

Like gamergirl said I never really thought about it...but I still do have issues with it.....I find myself watching Diners Drive-ins and Dives and some of the food that is served I think oh my that portion would never fill me up...and then I realize that I could never even eat a small amount of that and then I get all puffed up and proud of myself for this great tool I have now.......

Me too! I always think I can eat more than what I actually can. You should see the amount of food I order and then I can't eat hardly any of it. My husband is like, "why are you ordering so much food? you can't even half of that!" The sleeve changed my stomach, not my mind. Maybe when I'm further out from my surgery date I will be like the original poster.