Eating Out - Embarrasing???

[Tera 3]

Yesterday I ate out and the table across from us had 3 people just staring at me the whole time. I guess my small portion and tiny slow bites had them awe stricken! LOL! Wish they had just asked me why. I felt very uneasy. They stared until we left, even watching me box up my leftovers.

[Jinjin 21]

Haha IM SO OPPOSITE! I would have said "BOO"!!! wouldnt have given them a chance at the 3rd stare : )

but I know what you mean, i get that too- but got it a hella of alot more BIG ( 310 ) eating out..

LOVE MY SLEEVE LIFE!!!

[kellyw74 258]

you should have stuck your finger in your nose!!

:D

Kelly

[lise 0]

There is nothing to be embarrassed about!!

I haven't had my surgery yet but sometimes when I go out with my friends for dinner (actually my "breakfast" since I work the overnight shifts and I wake up at night), I have no appetite. I know I would be hungry later on during the night so I order a plate of food to nibble at so I can doggy-bag later. Being the only one sitting at the table with no food in front of you is more awkward-- I think.

[apple-saucy 17]

I would have intently stared back until I made them uncomfortable

[Rootman 1,101]

Just ignore them, the wife and I get stared at, asked questions and hounded by wait staff all the time.

I had surgery and wifey is petite. We buy ONE entree, split it and typically take about half home with us. Some ask if we are doing all right financially, one dude even asked if he could buy us dinner! He must of thought we were poor. I explain that I've had surgery to my stomach and can't eat a whole lot - without going into detail that it is for weight loss. Recently a woman told me that she "hoped I got better" because "You really need to put some weight on" ! That's when I realized it really, really was working!

[Sara Ann 0]

Just ignore them I get it a lot when I go out to eat with friends but most of my friends know about my surgery so they usually just split an entree with me

Like a couple weeks ago, I went to downtown Disney with a friend and we just split a burger..we got a few looks but whatever

[treequeen 13]

the family went out for Breakfast and all got the buffet and I ordered applesauce..the waitress seemed confused but i said I had surgery and couldn't really eat... so she brings me a double order and then comped it.

[sweety93 18]

Apple-saucy.....too funny. That's golden, but it truly works

[LindaS 316]

I have been out to eat a few times since my surgery including when I was on an all liquid diet. I've relied on ordering cups of Soup. I don't explain myself. There are a lot of reasons people might not be eating such as they just ate but went along with friends, etc.

The hardest thing for me is ordering something to drink in a bar. They don't carry Sobe Water. I tend to order Tomato juice, which comes in a little can.

The other day I had chicken alfredo. I ate the chicken and broccoli but didn't eat the noodles. I scraped most of the sauce off. Someone with me ate my dinner roll. I ended up taking most of it home, and my husband had it for lunch the next day. I have no idea if anyone was watching me eat. I concentrated on the people I was with.

[AutumnLily 77]

You could have done chew and show that would have gotten them to stop looking.

[apple-saucy 17]

I shared a meal with my hubby recently. Just asked the waitress for an extra plate. He ate the steak and potato, I ate the shrimp and steamed veggies. No one stared because it's perfectly normal for a couple to share a meal

ETA: Anyone shocked at the amount of food served as a "normal" portion at restuarants now? I'm SHOCKED at what I used to be able to consume. 6oz steak 5 shrimp large baked potato with butter and sour cream and a serving of steamed veggies. HOLY CRAP I'm EXPLODE if I tried more than the 5 shrimp and veggies. LOL

[SurrenderDorothy 1]

I eat out all of the time! Super supportive friends help with that. I've learned to push my food around a lot, so i'm not just sitting there watching others eat. Ask for a to go box when you order. Sometimes when I order, I'll ask the waiter if a certain menu item is a lot of food, because I'm just not that hungry...but boy that sounds good, could they also bring me a box? I've also had wait staff ask if everything was ok as they stare at my mostly full plate, and in those instances i just tell them the truth, briefly. Or when ordering, I'll ask for extra veggies, no potato, and end up telling the truth, or that i'm on Atkins, etc. So far, everyone I've encountered has been very supportive and usually knows someone that had the surgery. The food pushing trick and the early box really help with others nearby that might be watching. Chances are, if you aren't feeling self conscious about it, they won't even notice!

[lash44 313]

Tera,

Get use to it and learn to ignore the ignorant. They are ignorant to your situation. They are not aware of the

life saving decision for a healthier lifestyle. It's not you, it's them. Don't let others dictate your mode and your attitude.

You are out to enjoy and Celebrate your meal.

I once ordered a child's plate in a fancy restaurant, you should have seen the looks, stares and whispers.

In leaving, I explained to the waitress about the surgery and suggested to request her on my next visit and she would talk to

the chef about preparing smaller potions at a reduce price.

Other times my wife and I will splint the the meal. Most restaurant's want your business. In today's economy, a little business is better than

no business. Some patients have cards printed to issue to servers stating about their surgery.

Please enjoy your new life, and don't let others make you feel bad.

Take Care,

Lash

[Kris 78]

My husband and I eat out a lot. We either share a meal or, if I order my own, I usually only end up eating a small amount. Whenever we go to a new place the waiter/waitress always thinks I don't like my food because I barely make a dent in most dishes -- in those instances I always have to make a point to say how much I like the food. Sometimes when asked I will say that I have a little stomach (in most cases the waiter/waitress looks at me and says, "Oh," and I know inside they are thinking, "Like hell you have a little stomach, you little pudgeball!") LOL. I do find that as I lose more weight, I get less scrutiny. It's worst when you are just post-op and still big but can barely eat anything. Once you get close to goal, people don't pay much attention to how much you eat (except maybe the waiter/waitress).

I do agree with the observation that regular size portions look absolutely HUGE to me now, especially once I start eating. Today I went out to eat at Chipotle and got a burrito (brown rice, pinto Beans, carnitas, & a little hot salsa) and was able to eat not even 1/4 of it, and was stuffed. I just had a bit more for dinner. That burrito is going to last me about 4 meals! Glad I like leftovers!

My hubby and I talk regularly about how much money we save on food since I have been sleeved. I think my operation will pay for itself within 3 years just on food savings alone ((I was self pay in Mexico) . If you were/are lucky enough to have your insurance cover your surgery, you will save THOUSANDS of dollars in food over the years. It's like getting a nice promotion at work, but not doing a doggone thing extra.