Hi all,

I am wondering what you eat daily? If you go to restaurants, what do you choose? How do you get through daily struggles or hurdles? Was the initial weeks after surgery the hardest?

I think I may be flipping out a little here. I am 8 days post-op and feeling very uneasy...

Thanks Everyone....

Yep, the first 4 weeks are a b**ch! Once you go through it you will never have to do it again. Keep reminding yourself that every day is a new day.

Try doing a search in LBT for "food suggestions". There are a ton of postings with recipes and suggestions.

Welcome to bandland and the beginning of a healthy happy you!

I am almost three months post op and I go out to lunch everyday, my choices are sometimes Soup, chili, steak nachos which is split three ways (there are three of us my sister and best frein have had gastric) two appeatizers which we spilt. The bill is quite ow at the end!!!

Banded May 23, 2005

Current Weight 185

Lost 40 lbs. as of today

Iam 16 motnhs out..when I got to a restraunt I order either chicken, fish or beef, the first thing I do though is ask for a box and immediately put 1/2 of my meal in a to go container, this helps to not ever eat or to be tempted to nibble once you are done, then I have a meal for the next day or later that evening. It works great. I also leave one bite of each food on my plate regardless if Iam full or not, it is a behavior modification, changing from cleaning my plate clean....I eat my protein first, then veggies & salad, if there is room I then have my carbs..

THere are also times I orderfrom the kids menu or my husband and I split a meal..

I eat out alot too, since I travel for work. I hardly ever order a full entree anymore. Normally, I order off the appetizer menu or share with someone else. I also eat alot of chili, tortilla soup, fish or crab cakes. Chicken breast is on about every menu you can find. It really can be done..

I eat out a lot also, and soup is great. I don't eat meat so there are a number of really good veggie soup's. When I eat other foods like tofu stuff or fish it can not be dry, when it is too dry.......... look out!!!! You had better be close to the bathroom. Also take your time, eat as slow as you can. I am the most dangerous when I am hungery, because when I am hungery, I tend to eat to fast, and...... you guessed it..... up it wants to come. This is all in the first year or so and it will take some getting use to. I have been banded since 03' and lost 200, looking to lose another 200. It's not a race, it's a day at a time. I am at about 2.35 cc in the band and could use a little more. But... I am scard to do it, because as of right now I can eat almost a full meal, as long as it's the right stuff, and not too dry and I eat slow, and chew a lot. And I mean a lot. Chewing and slow eating are the keys to being able to eat out, without excuseing your self from the table 1/2 way through the meal. I hope this helped a little. Go easy and try and be nice to your self. Alos when hungrey, drink a surger free non-carb drink a little fast, and it will take the hunger away.

Butch

My wife and I are 10 months post op. We eat out almost daily. The first weeks are the worst. Now we eat about anything. Meats first, salads and soups. I find myself eating much more meals with ground beef. It goes down easier. We have trouble with dry meats like chicken breast and steak. We share a meal or a starter. Laterly we have been bad. We share a patty melt and share an ice cream (got to stop that). The worst thing we do is go to buffets. I always try to eat more at buffets. Bad habits are hard to break.

Dow

I tend to get the regular salad and soup. No need getting the salad bar, won't be able to eat much of anything on it. I ususally have the dark greens, a little cheese and some dressing. I'm too afraid I'll have to spit.

Fast food...chili from Wendys on a regular garden salad or pintos and cheese from Taco Bell. Take your time and try different things, if you're not sure, have your lunch or dinner date give you a spoon full and test the waters so to speak. Good Luck.

We eat out a good bit too. I've found that I can eat nearly anything, in moderation. The only food I've really had issues with to date is gnocchi. I'll never ever try that again LOL, even though I love it.

The first few weeks (probably 6 weeks to be honest) were the pits for me. But you move on. You learn what you can and can't have and you remember to chew chew chew.

Its definately hardest until you starting getting fills that make you realize you really WILL stop feeling hungry all the time and you WILL feel satisfied with a small amount of food - it was that way for me anyway.

I am still on the liquid phase of my diet since my revision surgery but normally when I go to a restuarant I try to choose something healthy. Unless its Friday night. On Friday night I eat whatever I want (but I don't binge!) and that usually means Papa John's bread sticks with LOTs of garlic butter or Outback Steakhouse cheese fries. Ohhh yum.

I like to eat at El Pollo Loco because the chicken is fabulous and its easy to remove the skin. I like Taco Bell because one soft taco is filling and a lot less calories and fat than a hamburger and fries. But for the most part I cut calories when I cook at home by using light or fat free substitutes as often as possible. I always eat low-cal, low-sugar ice cream and I always use "I can't believe its not butter - LIGHT" for the other things. So that helps a lot too I think.

The thing I like so much about the band is that it puts control of food back in my hands. Before I had the band I would literally eat out of control and just gorge myself trying desperately to feel satisfied and never feeling it. Now food doesn't control me and I find it easy to make the right decision about what I eat or prepare for myself.

Thank you all for your awesome advice!

Have a great day!

Lisa Marie

Here's what I ate yesterday. Not the best day but I'll share.

Breakfast-coffee

Lunch-Outback Steakhouse french fries with Ranch dressing (1 c.)

Dinner-Chicken with cheese (1/2 c.)

Snack-1/4 c. M and Ms

Felow Bandster,

I had dreams of eating just an ounce of food for every meal. Mu surgeon told me I would eat out of a shot glass for the rest of my life.

What I have come to discover is that my new stomach is very tempermental. Sometimes, I have been able to go out to eat with friends and "fool" them all. Mexican food is especially easy. I can eat an entire mexican dish if it is mostly Beans, rice, and a vegitable servinge (i.e., chile releno). Other times, I can barely eat a few bites.

For me there are two factors that go into what I can eat: time and texture. The later in the day it is the more roomy my stomach becomes. The smoother, more moist my food is, the easier it slides on through my stomach. The bottom line, If I strategize well I can fake out anyone who I don't want to know about my surgery.

I think you will be just fine.