Okay, we’re not supposed to go out much after weight loss surgery…but let’s be serious. Most of us do, either regularly or occasionally, and either by choice or because friends, family, or work demands it.

So how do you get by? Please share your restaurant secret – either tell us which menu item you order at which restaurant, or give a general tip!

Here’s my go-to trick. Don’t limit yourself to the menu! Most restaurants are happy to serve whatever you ask for, whether it’s a side of veggies instead of fries, or a bowl of cottage cheese that’s not listed in print on the menu. Whatever you want, there’s no harm in asking for it!

What are your tricks and tips?

I had hot wings appetizer last week and only managed to eat 3 wings, lol! lunch for the next day!

Were the wings breaded? I just started back on solid foods. I thought about trying some wings but everywhere I go here they are breaded and deep fried. We bake ours at home, but it would be nice to go out for them occasionally since my boyfriend loves hot wings.

As the posts above show, anyone can make restaurants work as a WLS patient if -- and that's a big, necessary IF -- we are willing to be our own advocate and be responsible for eating what's healthy.

Something others haven't mentioned yet that I do is this: When we're going to a restaurant that has an online menu, I use that to consider what my best options are before we arrive at the restaurant. And if the restaurant is a chain / corporate restaurant (and not all are "fast food"), I look at the nutrition docs re the menu choices' macronutrients (calories, grams of Protein, carbs, fats, fiber, sodium, etc.).

If I'm going to a fine restaurant that doesn't have an online nutritional guide, I use other restaurants' nutritional guides to guesstimate the fine dining restaurant's choices' macronutrients.

I know that my daily My Fitness Pal records are not "correct to the exact calorie." However, I know from over a year and a half's experience using MFP to plan and track my food that my tracking results are not far off.

Yes I do this too. I try to find out where we're going ahead of time and look at their menu online and figure out what I want at home. My favorite so far has been the ahi tuna crisp apetizer at Friday's.

It's def tricky, cause I can't eat a lot of what is offered. Not that I'm not supposed to due to diet, but I can't tolerate it. I've found it's not worth the money! I usually order salmon, any place it's offered. I get grilled veggies with it...small amount of potatoes if offered. I ask for 1/2 the order size and plan ahead to take it home. After about 4 bites, I'm full. If I do mexican (which is great) I get the fajita mix of grilled veggies and grilled chicken. There's usually enough to take home and eat for about 4 days.

Thanks for all of your answers and ideas! It looks like you have it down pat!

For me, the doggie bag is a huge one. I love finishing whatever’s on my plate, whether it’s a reasonable amount or way too much. Packing up half of my meal first, before I start eating, is key for me. It’s such an easy way of keeping my meal reasonable while getting all the satisfaction of eating everything let on the plate.

Some other great ones: going bunless or breadless (or crustless or tortilla-less) and eating only the burger, turkey, cheese, or Beans is a simple trick especially for fast food restaurants. I love the idea of choosing restaurants that serve Breakfast all day and ordering an omelet!

From this thread, it sounds like there’s no reason to fear eating out. Just be smart about it!

One of the early postOp tricks I learned, was to take the waitress aside and quietly 'confer' with her, that "I have recently had stomach surgery and just can not eat much. Can you help me make some kind of reduced size order"?

Also, get the take-out box & put most of whatever you order in it first.I had small 'fish & chips order last 3 or 4 extra meals.

I became very familiar with the Soups available. The first 6 or 12 months mostly I had "CUP" not 'bowl' size order.

Savor each bite. Sometimes I would pace myself with the slowest eater around me; often times either kids or oldOldOLDsters some of whom had various eating troubles themselves.

Learning how to pace myself like normo eaters rather than just jamming it all in as fast as possible and looking for more, was the Old Bad Habit I didn't know I had...that was 'normal' for my early years.

Strive to recognize when "NOT hungry" strikes rather than "full"....'full' is when I had already OVER eaten, while 'not hungry' was the place I never had learned to appreciate.

I have not gone out yet but when or if I do I'll keep these helpful tips in mind.

Strive to recognize when "NOT hungry" strikes rather than "full"....'full' is when I had already OVER eaten, while 'not hungry' was the place I never had learned to appreciate.

Best advice ever!

A few have said that Indian is a good place to go. I love Indian, but not sure what to order. Tandoori chicken would be good. But I'd rather have some saag paneer.

A few have said that Indian is a good place to go. I love Indian, but not sure what to order. Tandoori chicken would be good. But I'd rather have some saag paneer.

Nothing wrong with saag paneer--just skip the rice and naan. I had paneer tikka masala when I was still in my soft food phase.