How Do You Handle Eating Out?

[feb27bandwoman 112]

I am thinking about after you have moved onto eating regular food, how do you handle eating at places like the cheesecake factory or Japanese restaurants, Chinese , Indian, Thai?

I know how to deal with these eating out situations from long time membership in weight watchers. But, I would like to hear from successful banded people who handle these situations. Thanks!

[1shauna1 129]

Honestly, I haven't found a good way yet. I never know, depending on the day, how tight I'm going to be. Although most of the people I eat out with know I've been banded, I still feel bad taking so long to eat. They always tell me not to worry and take my time, but I still feel that pressure. For right now, I prefer to eat alone. But at restaurants, there are some things I know I can't eat, like deep fried, Asian dishes with bean sprouts (they just don't work for me)....I usually prefer to order a Soup (I know, not the best for a bandster but I'd rather have that and get hungry again soon and not PB in a restaurant bathroom) and an appetizer. Sometimes I'll have a couple of spoonfuls off a friend's plate with a soup. And really, I find a glass or two of wine really helps at a restaurant. Seems to make things a bit looser. And then I still make my good choices.

[lellow 1,713]

When I was well restricted and would go out with friends to a restaurant, I'd always order something more slidey than I wouldn't eat at home. I know it's counter productive but I don't eat out with friends often and I don't want to have to slow things up or spend my evening PBing in the toilets instead of socialising.

If there is nothing too slidey, I would order and then pick on my food, and drink my wine instead. All my friends know I have a lapband though so they tend to ensure that there's something I can eat or we go somewhere else.

[twi 40]

Tried and true foods. I still am very carful to eat extra slow which isn't hard when I eat out with friends we gab a lot.

[Holly Dolly 575]

I eat out once or twice a week and don't have any problems. If it's a new place I always check out the menu and nutritional info on computer before I plan on going. As for the Cheesecake Factory, they have a great skinnylicious menu and I had salmon the last time I went that was really good. There is almost always an option for me at places, if not I wont eat there!

And at the Cheesecake Factory you have to ask for the special menu that has all the calories on it. Atleast at the one I have gone to the values weren't on the regular menu.

[garfield461 25]

Take home. I usually order appetizers or share a meal with the hubby. Most places don't mind sharing anymore. If it is a place that serves a lot of starchy or dense foods, they usually have something on the appetizer menu that will work.

[readytogoforit 172]

Wow, I looked at the Cheesecake Factory menu, I am impressed! I always loved that place!

I usually have a fish item and substitute any potato with a veggie. I love salmon so that is the usual choice. yesterday I went out and forgot to have the sub and had wild rice pilaf with the veggie. I obviously used all my carbs once I ate that! It was delicious but I do not want to do that, way to stressful! I took a look at the baguette they put on the table and decided it was not worth it. At least I made that choice correctly!!!

[KristyT 16]

i tend to drink a cup of coffee at a restaurant before my meal, this A, helps the stoma open up to prevent food from getting stuck and B, helps feel me up a bit, then I order a salad with dressing because that goes down well for me but no broccoli on it and I always get some sort of chicken and steamed veggies, chew slow, small bites ask for a take home bag. chinese i find that the pepper steak goes down well and it is alot of Protein. good luck

[123crod 170]

Always know where the restroom is. When you are first banded and getting fills, you never know. I got stuck alot the first year no matter what.

If you feel like it might come up don't wait, because it will. I am 2½ years out and that does not happen anymore but did at first. That is the first thing I always look for is where is the bathroom. I still get stuck sometimes but it does not come up, I just have to wait it out till it goes down and take my food home. I can still visit and talk when I am stuck just can't eat.

As far as food try to stick to things you know will go down. Sometimes you just have to consider it a treat. Once for Breakfast I wanted biscuts with gravy (I know it is not healthy) but I would have rather had 3 bites of that and end up stuck then scambled eggs that day. I was of course stuck after 3 bites and that was it but it was so good.

Cheri

[mrsclooney918 47]

I always research new restaurants online so I know going in what I am getting. And then just follow the basic Portion Control rules.

There are some places that I just really don't go to anymore because there is nothing on the menu that fits my lifestyle. These are the chain restaurants.

Luckily, I live in a big city with wonderful restaurants and chefs are very willing to make your meal as nutritious and tasty as possible! Just ask!

[lellow 1,713]

Oh and I have been known to ask the waiter to get the chef to please overcook my Pasta, because I don't like my pasta al dente.

[B-52 7,113]

Resturants are a challenge for me, not because of what I might eat, but because I have to search the menu for something I CAN eat, Band Friendly Foods. Many of your chain resurants like applebees, Outback, etc, have lots of Beef or Fried food entre's which I cannot eat. Pasta is wasted calories IMO. Once I determine what is safe, then from there I choose what is the most nutrional in value. NOT BASED ON CALORIES! or Portion Size.

I eat what I can, and bring home the rest.

No appetizers or salad, that would only fill me up and be my meal! I can always pick at my Wife's appetizer.

Of course, no drinking with my meal,only before. And because I get full very fast, there's no chance for dessert.

For me, it is no longer about dieting...But eating with and following the Band's Rules.

[Jachut 487]

Something slidey for me too - I'm maintaining now and have for years and to be honest, eating Pasta or rice doesnt scare me. I sometimes eat steak, I occasionally instinctively know I really need some red meat and even pub cooked steak is less tough than Jachut cooked steak, lol. I pretty much eat what I feel like, only eat a little and enjoy a glass of wine.

it is NOT worth overdoing it, so I dont. Eating out is not even a weekly event for me anyhow, I'm at that stage of life where I have three kids and work full time and such and am well into the cooking and family life sort of lifestyle, so it really doesnt matter what I order the once or twice a month when I go out.

I have a huge fancy for pancakes at the moment though - we might go out for Breakfast tomorrow, just DH and I. I just order what I want and eat a little bit. And dont eat again then till I"m hungry, which might not be till 4 in the afternoon.

[Stace2882 43]

Hi guys! Thanks for the input I'm 2 weeks out just wondering what PB stands for?

[feb27bandwoman 112]

PB is a productive burp... Essentially it's vomiting.