Question:
Pre-Op I ate out all the time..now post-op I still insist on eating out..can't stop?
Okay, pre-op I ate out all the time. Fast food, restraunts two to three meals a day. Now, 6 months post-op RNY I still eat out a lot. I do make better choices but still. Why can I not go home & just eat a turkey sandwich or chicken or something for lunch or dinner instead of going out? It's really starting to scare me because it's like I can't break the old habit!! Not to mention it costs me tons of money & I end up only eating half of it anyhow. Does anyone else experience this? It seems as if I can't get away from it. I think it scares me because I spend a lot of unecessary money & I'm afraid sooner or later I will start to order the bad stuff like I did before. Any suggestions to stop this silliness? — Allison T. (posted on October 21, 2002)
October 21, 2002
You didn't say if you have a family or you are fending for yourself all the
time. I think that makes a huge difference. But even if you are alone I
can give you a suggestion that helps me. I too have trouble because I want
to do the fastfood thing like I did before. But now I plan my meals ahead
of time. I also will actually cook or at least prepare them completely in
the morning. That way all I have to do is pop them in the oven for
example. If I have it all prepared I never give in to the temptation of
eating out, just knowing that I have a meal that is already waiting for me
at home without the preparation keeps me from driving, top speed for those
golden arches. It also helps thinking that if I don't make what I am
planning to make for dinner that it might spoil and I would be throwing
that money away as well. I think you are right about continuing this
obsession is only going to lead you down a path you don't want to go down.
After all, if you can't control giving in to this temptation, what is going
to keep you from eventually ordering that Big Mac? Good luck!
— Laurel C.
October 21, 2002
I was thinking that you could do what the last person said but also try
doing this as well...figure out the amount of money you are spending a day
in eating out. When you get home from work put that amount you would have
spent that day in a jar. Do this every day. In just one week you can go
buy yourself a new outfit! After a while you will actually see how much
money you are putting into your tummy. GO GROCERY SHOPPING and get all the
stuff you like and put a sticky note on your steering wheel or window of
your car telling yourself that you have wonderful food at home waiting for
you....good luck! I used to love going out to eat...now I don't because I
can barely eat anything and I can't tolerate meat yet so that doesn't leave
me with much to choose from. Good luck and email me anytime you would like
to talk.
— Michelle J.
October 21, 2002
Hi, I also eat out alot.... However, I eat more salads out than
anything... I like the atmosphere etc.. I have a family and we eat out
about once a week, and thats ok.... I eat what I can and box up the rest
for later.. I also order from the childs menu, if I want like a grilled
cheese or something. Andf alot of times I go out to eat at work for
lunch... same thing, I usually order a chefs salad or grilled turkey
salad... it's filling and usually I can eat 3/4 of it because your lettace
is like 65% water anyways,... or order a fresh fruit platter. Best of
lucky sweety.
— Kathy A.
October 21, 2002
I think you are definitely setting your self up by going to fast food
places. Some place like Boston Chicken or any other place that has cheap
good food. I do take out, but not McD. The chili at Wendy's is good. I
do not go in because it is too tempting. It is like an alcoholic going to
a bar to get a soda. It just doesn't work.
— faybay
October 21, 2002
Read the book Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by
Eric Schlosser. It is a book about the inner workings of fast food
restaurants and the way the food is processed prior to getting to your
mouth. If that doesn't cure your obsession with fast food, I don't know
what will. It worked for me. That's not to say I don't still go to Arby's
for a Market Fresh sandwich or Wendy's for baked potato with cheese. But,
Girlfriend, it has definitely cut down on my desire for fast food. Good
Luck to you!
— merri B.
October 21, 2002
I found a wonderful guide (for those days when fast food may be your only
choice) It has all the nutrition facts (including sugars) for fast food
places. You can buy it at www.fastfoodfacts.com I have one for each car
(just in case) I think they cost around $7.00 (open RNY 8/6/02 down 57
lbs.)
— Dana B.
October 22, 2002
We eat out at least once a day. We live in Las Vegas now, so it is usually
buffet. I take a lot of protein and some salad & 2 T. of bleu cheese
dressing. Sometimes, I take a bite of his pie. I try to stick with turkey,
chicken or fish. Often, I choose prime rib. I'm at goal, so it is a matter
of maintenance, but if I lived alone, I would eat at home. Eating out has
always been "recreation" for us. That and movies. What else is
there? (LOL)...good luck.
— Barbara B.
October 22, 2002
As busy as I am all day at work, I'm too tired to cook at night. We
usually order out dinner. It works for me because I choose a good meal to
eat and my leftovers are my lunch the next day at work. I don't end up
wasting a lot of food. I would suggest choosing your foods wisely. There
are plenty of places you can get food to go that you don't have to order
junk. :o)
— Jennifer A.
October 22, 2002
Allison, try keeping a food journal maybe on fitday.com. Most fast food
places have their nutrition information on the web, so you can look up the
calories, protien, carbs and fat before you go. That way, you can make a
choice that fits with your plan for the day. (And your budget.) Sometimes
just looking at the nutrition information for something I want from fast
food is enough to make me eat the tuna I keep in my desk drawer instead.
— Amber L.
October 22, 2002
I do eat out somewhat often. Just primarily focus on protien and
stay away from starches and really high fat.
I like Taco Bells chicken border bowl. I have them hold the rice
and add extra lettuce.
Try eating sandwiches, but eat just a little of the bread and all
of the meat. I also love Wendy's Chili and a side salad.
The main thing is to make wise food choices and stay away from sugar
and refined carbos. And when you order that dinner, take home what
is left and have it for lunch the next day.
— Dell H.
October 22, 2002
I am 3 years post and now weigh 125 lbs. I started at 288 lbs. I lost 163
lbs in 12 mths. My loss has been maintained for 2 years. I have eaten out
from DAY 1 a minimum of once a day and most days twice. I have done this
by eating at restaurants that have "good" food choices for me. I
eat at Red Lobster many times a week...eating broiled fish. I eat at olive
garden, eating sauteed chicken breast....no pasta. I eat at cracker
barrell...ordering a side of grilled chicken tenderloins only. Where there
is a will there is a way. I can make good choices eating out and good
choices eating at home. Clearly we have to change what we are eating or we
will never lose and maintain our weight losses. I drink a lot of
tea....before my meal..... eat my meat very slowly...and enjoy dining
out...every bit as much now as I ever did before...
— lee J.
October 22, 2002
I'll bet a lot of it is to avoid going home and cooking.
That can seem like drudgery and a pain; eating out, someone
else doing the dishes, can be a nice indulgence.
One solution might be to indulge yourself from the supermarket.
I know it's illogical, but for some reason we'll spend more
eating out than we will stuff we fix at home--but why? Try
some of the prepared foods at the grocery store, like
rotisserie chicken. Bagged salads are good, if more
expensive, but probably cheaper than a salad out and it will
last for several days. Some markets near us even have sushi!
Some of the frozen things are good too, like the cooked white
meat chicken that you can use for salads or fajitas or
whatever. You can even buy baby spinach, all washed and
trimmed, in a bag you can microwave in. Try new things that
are a treat, like exotic fruits or veggies or a nice cut of
meat, if you can handle that. If you make eating at home
as rewarding as eating out, you can transition away from it.
— Celia A.
October 22, 2002
I eat a LOT of meals out, and in my lap-the worst kind. HOwever,
nutritoinally I'm covered supplementally. So then, the next thing for me is
volume. I was a volume eater, not a grazer. I have found that I am more
likely to overeat at home! When I'm out, I just eat what I need & toss
the rest. At home, there is the "rest" and it seems
"ok", at least til I eat it. Like the mental safeguards are not
always on or something. I don't over eat at every meal, but I rarely eat a
bite too many when I am out. Paying more attention? I don't know. I just
know that is how it is for me.
— vitalady
Click Here to Return