When no one around knows that you've had this surgery, how do you handle eating out or just eating around other people? I have a dinner to go to next week. I'll be one mo post-op, and two weeks pre first fill, so there aren't any major restrictions on what I can eat, just volume. I'm stressing about it though. I'm a clean your plate kinda girl ... I don't know what's on the menu yet, I'm hoping to find out in advance and do some planning. I can see this same situation coming up a lot though, and want to have some kind of idea as to how to handle it.

So what do you do? Make excuses for eating less than people think you should? Try to hide the food? Overeat and pay for it later?

I've had good luck with taking the tiny bites, eating slow, chewing a lot and taking the rest home in a doggy bag.

I had my mom and dad visiting for 3 weeks at Christmas. For every meal I had to sit down and 'eat' with them, I would postpone and then eat VERY slow. If they questioned why I didn't eat more, I just said my stomach was bothering me. People won't usually push you to eat more (if at all) if they think you are going to be sick.

Good luck!

-Becky

It sounds like the main gist of your question is how to hide your surgery from your friends, not how to eat out with a band. If that's the case, just tell them you are trying to eat less or you are trying to lose weight, if they ask. Both statements are true. For goodness' sake don't eat more than you want to fool your friends--that is so counterproductive!

My husband and I eat out all the time. We have gotten over the fear of feeling "cheap" because we order so little. In fact, I'v gotten proud of it. Why should the people you are paying to bring you food make you feel bad about not overeating?

One thing I do, however, is overtip. I figure the waitperson is working just as hard to bring my little appetizer than s/he would to serve me a full meal, so I don't do the percentage thing for the tip; I tip what I would have if I had had a regular meal.

It sounds like the main gist of your question is how to hide your surgery from your friends, not how to eat out with a band. If that's the case, just tell them you are trying to eat less or you are trying to lose weight, if they ask. Both statements are true. For goodness' sake don't eat more than you want to fool your friends--that is so counterproductive!

My husband and I eat out all the time. We have gotten over the fear of feeling "cheap" because we order so little. In fact, I'v gotten proud of it. Why should the people you are paying to bring you food make you feel bad about not overeating?

One thing I do, however, is overtip. I figure the waitperson is working just as hard to bring my little appetizer than s/he would to serve me a full meal, so I don't do the percentage thing for the tip; I tip what I would have if I had had a regular meal.

I agree! NO ONE in my family or at work knows about my surgery (though most of my friensd DO know) and when I eat only about 1/4 what I used to eat I just tell people the truth: that I am watching what I eat, learning to chew slowly and appreciate the flavor of food. I used to feel like a failure if my plate wasn't 'clean' at the end of the meal... I grew up with the whole 'Clean Plate Club' mentality... and it now annoys the CRAP out of me to see my friends and siblings teaching this same damaging behavior to their kids...buts that another rant all together.

I also tip more now, because I spend less on my meal, and I think overall I just ENJOY dining out more than I used to...

I eat almost every single meal out - and have since Day 5 after being banded. I haven't ever looked back. It is so rare that a restaurant (even fast food which I don't care for) doesn't have something band-friendly.

Now 2 more of my pals are also banded (so that's a total of 6 good friends that also have LapBands) so we go out, split an appetizer and each have a cup of soup (Plus since I have a glass of wine or a martini, I'm still in the 'social swing' of things. Nobody notices, really.)

Since LapBanders can eat most foods in moderation or smaller portions, I rarely feel limited. People really aren't paying attention to what we eat / or don't eat - unless WE focus attention on it. The Soup of the Day is always a good choice, as are Baked Potatoes as mentioned above. Seafood is almost always a winner for us Bandster folks. Since I don't eat pork or beef (nor did I eat it before being banded) I can always find a yummy appetizer and/or a satisfying soup for my meal.

I usually order a "starter" or appetizer course as my main dish entree, and I generally start with a cup of the soup of my choice.

I eat Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and beyond with my band - and we've yet to have 'an incident' at a restaurant that I couldn't handle.

Remember this band is going to be an accent to your life - not a hindrance. You'll get the hang of it, I promise.