Goodbye All-You-Can-Eat Buffets

My family loves to eat at buffets, and I hate being left out of any outing so I reluctantly agree to eat at an all you can eat Chinese food buffet. Everything looks soooo good but of course I was only able to eat a small portion. I feel as though I wasted my money since I still had to pay full price. Does anyone still eat at buffets? And if you do, how do you survive?

Once in a while when I get the urge for chinese food, I  get a take-out box. Many chinese buffets, at least in my neck of the woods, charge you by the pound if you want it to go.  Lunch for me the other day cost $2.57 (at 3.50 per lb)...but of course, I couldn't stay there to eat. 

Every once in a while I will eat at a buffet to able to get a little this and a little that but not when I was first banded and make it a habit to get what I think I will eat, and eat off a smaller plate, and not to go back.  Since I dont do it too often, I dont feel that I am wasting my money because I am paying for what I eat, not what I feel I am entitled to.

if youre an alcoholic in recovery you dont hang out in bars...if youve had weight loss surgery.. an all you can eat buffet is not the best place for you to be..no??

i respectully disagree with you.  Not ever obese person is/was addicted to food.  To me it is about moderation..true not everyone is able to go to a buffet because it could trigger something but when I hear someone compare being obese, fat, overweight or what ever you want to call it to being an alcoholic or a drug addict, I truly just shake my head. Grant you I dont think it is a place for you right after WLS because you have not learned new habits and no it should not be a thing that you do regular but as a treat every once in a while after WLS, why not.

I agree with Baby and feel Tazee was a tad harsh.

We have to develop a new approach to food is it easy NO can it be done YES
there are times where I'm stronger than other so at my weak moment will I go to a buffet NO
but when my head is on right it's okay.. the hard part for me is desserts so I give in there and I after I try to walk around and I make sure to hit the gym the next day..

In life we are confronted with all kinds of situations that include food like parties etc.. do you stay home because you might eat a piece of cake or some pasta salad.. NO either you eat before and don't eat at the party or you decide to eat but a NORMAL portion and call it day.. we can obessive with food because we most likely have been for a very long time.. so it's not a switch that turns off and on.. but it's manageable.. Breath.. relax.. and don't have pity parties about food.. that makes you mourn it and want it more.

respectfully,,wasnt trying to be harsh..but if there is another way to become morbidly obese without having an addiction to food please enlighten me? 

You are so right Taezee, but I do understand that all you can eat means just that....all YOU can eat. I just can't eat much.

 I get what looks good, eat what is and toss the rest. But as a rule, I love small portions, opposite of my pre-band attitude. 

Well for me my band helps me survive b/c I pretty much know my limitations. I stay away from bread,pasta,pizza dough and rice b/c they do not go down for me. So I concentrate on protein and veggies. Also I do not "waste" money at a place that I am not sure will be worth the money now. Before I would eat anything ....now....I want good quality food for my body and money. Just today we went to a pizza buffet for lunch. I paid full price (5.99) and had one trip to the salad bar. They have an amazing one here so to me it was worth it. I had a nice lunch out w/ the hubby and was satisfied. To someone else one little trip to the salad bar may not have seemed worth it but hey....we have to still socialize and enjoy our food too.:)
I would suggest avoiding these places until you have some restriction and are confident you can not over do it and can make good choices. Otherwise you are setting yourself up for a fall. But once you feel confident just make good choices and ENJOY !