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I was invited by friends to a buffet brunch. There were wonderful Protein choices. I ate slowly and made sure I tasted what I wanted to. And zero guilt about one bite of something that wasn't wonderful and throwing out the rest! It was fine and I didn't overeat. I think as long as you see the buffet as not a place to "get your money's worth" you'll be fine.

I had the surgery so I could be in control of my life. It's not easy but i am doing it!

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We have two places where I live, I don't go there anymore, but one of them charges by the pound, the other charges a flat price.

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My group of doctors gives there WLS clients a card that states we can only eat a small amt. of food and some have said its illegal not to allow u to eat a child portion if it's on the menus

Our doctor gave a card stating that we had a gastric procedure. If the server doesn't honor it, speak with a manager. They will allow u to order off the child's menu. It's not illegal. That's for regular restaurants not buffets.

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While I will do everything in my power to avoid going to buffets, it isn't always going to be possible.

An option that I've read about is to ask about a To-Go order. From what others have stated, many buffets will charge by weight for a to-go order, so you can get what you need, pay the appropriate price, but then just opt to eat it there rather than leaving with it.

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I try to avoid buffets since I know I will not get my money's worth of food. About a month after surgery I went to a buffet to Celebrate my mom's birthday since buffets are her favorite (she weighs only 95 lbs). However, I won't go again because all of the different food smells made me nauseous.

Edited by missbrown30

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My preop team said people either love or hate buffets. You can probably understand the hate part of it. One of my nurses (who had RNY herself) said some people love buffets because you can have 1 bite of 7 different things, allowing you to experience a variety of tastes. We're all different and will decide what is best for us!

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I just went to a buffet for the first time since surgery (6weeks) last night for my youngest daughters birthday. I had a couple bites of steak some veggies and a spoonful of sugar free chocolate pudding.

I most likely didn't get my Protein in for dinner. But I didn't over eat, eat too fast, or get sick.

Of course I didn't "get our money's worth" on as much as I ate. However it wasn't about that. It was about spending time together celebrating a birthday.

I have wasted money on far more stupid things.

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My two cents....it is obnoxious to respond to a legitimate question with a lecture that has nothing to do with the original question.

I am glad you are able to purchase just an appetizer at the buffet you will be visiting.

I am not planning on allowing this surgery to hamper my social life and I am not planning on allowing my social life to ruin the benefits of this surgery. The beauty of most buffets is that there are always healthy food choices. Heck, even pizza buffets usually have a salad bar. While I am not going to choose to go to a buffet, if the group I am with chooses to go to one I am not going to be antisocial. I will suck up, pay the price and choose the foods I should be choosing.

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Thank you, and I 100% agree.

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    • LeighaTR

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    • Doughgurl

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      · 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. 💗

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    • 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.
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