Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Yes, you can eat out after surgery



Recommended Posts

So, I see a lot of people and nutritionists and surgeons saying you must cook all your food at home and restaurant meals are terrible etc. Well, sure, in an ideal world you would be a gourmet health cook and have an extra three hours a day for meal prep and exercise, but that's just not reality.

I travel 4-7 days a week for work, so I eat out almost every meal. I'm down 110 lbs total and 60 since surgery. Here are some suggestions for traveling/eating out:

1. Get a Protein Drink for Breakfast, like Core Power, which can be bought at drug stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, and even some airports. This gets you a good chunk of your Protein for not too many calories

2. Go to the grocery store when you can to buy things like deli meat, sugar free Greek yogurt, washed/chopped veggies and fruit, etc.

3. Watch those coffee drinks! I love me some Starbucks/Dunkin' but I limit it to just iced coffee with milk (2% if possible) and Splenda. No Syrup, whipped cream, sugar, etc. I actually find that coffee and hot tea help keep me full.

4. Protein first: I've heard from lots of bariatric people that even years after surgery, if they start with low fat protein, their restriction kicks in and they can't eat too much. I try to order a protein forward meal, like grilled fish or shrimp. Sometimes I eat other kinds of meat, but I find I can't eat as much and I am more likely to get hungry later

5. Fill up on veggies. I have been hungry since right after surgery, but even if you lost your hunger, it will come back. Then, eat veggies with your protein. The Fiber will keep you full. salad is hard for me, but I still eat it because it just tastes so darn good

6. Figure out what your go-to restaurant meals are. These are things that you can get easily, like at chain restaurants. I like Chipotle bowls (no rice, Beans, barbacoa, cheese, sour cream, and lettuce, with a bit of hot sauce), chili from just about anywhere, cheese burgers with no bun (I don't like the lettuce wraps; I just eat them with a fork and knife), etc. Ask for what you need. Want double veggies/no rice? Ask for it. You might get charged a dollar. If you feel like you will eat the carb if it's put on your plate, ask for them not to bring it. You're the customer. Be nice, but you're allowed to have the meal work for you. And tip well!

7. Don't try to be perfect. Just aim for doing a good job 80-90% of the time. I eat occasional sweets, but small amounts and not every day. The other day I ate a biscuit with JAM!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My doc told me the same thing. Don't eat out, cook at home. I think so I could control what goes in it?? How cute. I am alone, I work 40 hours a week, and do NOT feel like cooking and cleanup after. And often I get nauseous at smells, so the crock pot does not cut it. I do the best I can and right now, I am in a stall.....

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, lizonaplane said:

The other day I ate a biscuit with JAM!!!

You rebel, you! LOL

Great post.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

22 minutes ago, oldandtired said:

My doc told me the same thing. Don't eat out, cook at home. I think so I could control what goes in it?? How cute. I am alone, I work 40 hours a week, and do NOT feel like cooking and cleanup after. And often I get nauseous at smells, so the crock pot does not cut it. I do the best I can and right now, I am in a stall.....

Yes, you can't control what goes in your food when you eat in restaurants, but you can still GUESTIMATE your calories and track them in MyFitnessPal. No, it won't be as accurate as if you cook at home, but this has to be for the rest of our lives! It's not reasonable to expect us to never go out with friends, on dates, travel, etc.

Stalls are a b***h. Drink your Water, count calories so you know you're getting enough/not too much, and be patient!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I concur with @lizonaplane. You can eat out, if you do it smart.

1. If you know where you are going to be eating (i.e. a friend is having a birthday party at Restaurant X on Friday), then study the menu in advance. Find the right meal for you.

2. If you are just coming off surgery and don't have a ton of stomach space, order something ala carte. About a month after my surgery, my wife and I went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. I ordered a single scrambled egg and a small side dish of grits. Also, don't be afraid to order off the kids menu, especially if it is a restaurant that offers healthy kids options (like grilled chicken).

3. Always eat your Protein first, followed by veggies.

4. Again, lizonaplane is right: make the substitutions work for you. If they charge extra for it, Tim Ferriss says that you should consider those charges as your Six Pack Tax (the tax you willingly pay to develop a six pack).

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

We eat out lunch at least 5 days a week. I just make good choices.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I “eat out” (or take out) all the time…maybe 3-4 times a week (and almost always when its NOT my turn to cook, lol)

I don’t actually eat much (compared to others) when i do, and sometimes i wont even eat, i’ll just drink.

Im not losing any more weight, but im not gaining any either.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yeah, same here Take out, delivery, eat out. All the above. Many fast food chains and restaurants have decent choices. If they don't, Portion Control ftw.

Sent from my SM-S908U using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×