Went out to eat last night

I know lots of pre-ops and newbees wonder if they will ever be able to eat normally again.  Well, kind of. 
I went to Carrabba's last night with my husband and friends.  I could have had a bowl of soup and felt deprived while everyone else was eatting yummy stuff but I decided to try a different way.  I didn't get a drink which didn't bother me at all.  They ordered 2 appitizers.  I ate the middle out of a pumpkin/butternut squash ravioli and a bite of the crust of a popper.  The bread came with the wonderful herbs and EVOO and I had the crust of an end, scooped out the soft part, and had 2 bites of that.  I ordered a salad with the dressing on the side and ate a few pieces of lettuce, skimmed over the top of the dressing.  Dinner was Chicken Bryan and garlic mashed potato.  I ate about 1/4 of it and ask for it to be boxed.  So I have 3 more meals for here.  They ordered apple pie for desert and I had one slice of apple and a tiny bite of crust of my husband's.  I felt wonderful and great about my ablility to share a festive meal, not overeat and not feel the least bit deprived.  Hurray.

Hey Price, Carrabba's is my favorite restaurant, so it's nice to know I can go there again one day after surgery. It will feel wonderful to go and enjoy and not be deprived. Just taste a bit of this and that. Thanks for sharing!!!

Price - congrats on successfully figuring out how to eat out.  Its called "moderation" not "deprivation" and about making good choices.

Sometimes I beat myself up about how much I eat, but when I look back I realize it really isn't all that much compared to the way I 'used' to eat.  I'm so used to eating smaller portions now that when I eat a little more I think I've pigged out! 

I love going out to eat. We pretty much go out every weekend. I still try to make good choices and depending on the restaurant/meal, I can eat 1/3-1/2 of the meal (so recommended serving sizes). Usually I don't take leftovers home because I am a freak about tracking what I eat and I have no idea what's in the restaurant food, but it feels so good to be able to eat what I want, and stop when I am full.

Good choices Price. I became hungry just reading your description.

A few weeks ago, I went out with co-workers and ordered a salmon salad. It was a good piece of salmon on spinach leaves and roasted veggies. I ate about a third of the salmon, a few bites of the veggies, and I was done. I think, I had at least 2 more meals out of it.

So, it is possible to go out and make reasonable choices.

Sounds like you had a wonderful dinner!  I LOVE eating out with friends because it makes me slow down and ENJOY my food. 

I love having little bites of lots of different things and feeling FULL and SATISFIED!  I haven't felt one BIT of deprivation since my surgery....This whole journey is such a blessing!

You know what I am realizing, based on what my thin friends eat, is that that IS "normal" eating! So good for you for having what you wanted to have, stopping when full, and bringing the rest home! :) I look forward to food not having that control over me anymore. Can't wait! :) 

Abby

It really felt good and I got a good glimse into my new normal, and really liked the view.
Thanks everyone for your support.

Good for you, Price!  Sounds liberating!

I eat out almost every day.  It's just a fact of my life, and I always have the chance to make good choices!

 Way to go Price!  It sounds like you did terrific.  I'm glad you got to enjoy your meal out.

I love to eat out with friends because I get to order an appetizer which they share with me.  Then I get to eat part of their entree.  It allows me to have a moderate amount of something that I wouldn't prepare at home.