Question:
This is so weird. I used to get stared at before WLS when I ate..
And now I get stared at after WLS when I eat. Wahhhh. I'm down about 60 lbs, and I'm still big, and waitresses don't understand why I can only eat half a cup of soup. Yesterday I got...."Do you want a refill on that.. oh, you're not even done yet!" I guess this isn't a question, just ... How did YOU handle situations like this? — Michelle J. (posted on November 24, 2003)
November 24, 2003
I don't worry about it. I ask for a doggie bag if I want to take the
leftovers with me. I assure the server everything is just fine and I wasn't
particularly hungry, or was talking so much with my friends I ran out of
time to eat. Then, if the service is good, I leave a nice tip.
— JoSyrNY
November 24, 2003
I know just what you mean. We had our Thanksgiving potluck at work last
week and the big boss, who is new, asked me if I had gotten enough. I just
said yes and commented that we have lots of great cooks in our midst.
— LisaHillsinger
November 24, 2003
I catch people watching to see what I eat but don't let it bother me at
all. I just keep in mind that this is a relatively new thing to most people
so if they know I've had the surgery, they're really curious which is
natural. As for waitresses, I haven't had any comments other than some of
them think I'm on the Atkins diet. If they ask, I just tell them yes and
politely ask for a carry out box if I want to take the food home.
— SCbabe B.
November 24, 2003
I frequently have servers ask me if there was something wrong with my
food....I simply say that either I wasn't very hungry or I just don't eat
very much. They've always accepted that and asked if I wanted a doggie
bag. Good luck to you!
— Lynette B.
November 24, 2003
I hate going into a resturant and getting "watched". So I make
it a point to enjoy myself and if I catch someone watching, I WAVE. I am
only 13 days post-op so the next time I go out to eat, I plan to be -60 or
more pounds and if people still look, I'll still wave.
— Renee B.
November 24, 2003
This happens to me sometimes whenever we go out to breakfast or dinner. At
breakfast whenever I order just 1 egg with toast (and I never can eat all
of that, just the egg and maybe a bite or two of the toast) the waitress
will sometimes say something like "just that??, you dont want any
hashbrowns with that??". I just say no thank you and usually my
husband or the kids will finish my toast. Dinner usually isnt a problem.
Ill just say I just got full real fast this time and they will usually wrap
it up no problem.
— Kris T.
November 24, 2003
I suspect people are far less interested in us than we sometimes think they
are. Wait staff don't really care how much you eat; they are trained to be
alert to a potential problem. So, when someone eats very little of their
meal, they ask (and should) if everything was OK. I've never felt the need
to explain myself to anyone (before or after surgery), so I answer the
question that was asked, not the question I think they might have menat.
For example, if a wait person says "is that all you're having?",
I simply look at them, smile, and say "yes, thank you." I do not
assume that they're really asking something like "I know from the size
of you that you must eat more than this--c'mon, what's going on
here?". If I get "you didn't eat much of your meal; was
everything OK?" I say "it was fine, thank you" and then
either ask for it to be wrapped or not, depending on my mood. I don't feel
like I need to explain why I didn't eat everything on my plate. I have
never had a problem when I answer just what was asked, and don't assume
more. And, trust me, you are probably much more aware of your plate than
anyone else is. You'll get used to it.
— Vespa R.
November 24, 2003
I had the couple at the next table ask me if what I'd ordered was bad,
because they were going to order it until they saw me sending it away,
largely uneaten. I laughed over it. Learning to laugh over a lot of
things these days :>)
— [Deactivated Member]
November 24, 2003
One of these days when you get to goal and still eat small amounts they
won't ask you anymore since you'll be eating the same amounts that
naturally thin people eat. Enjoy the doggie bags!!
— Cindy R.
November 24, 2003
Here's a tip I learned: ask for a to go container right when the meal
arrives. That way you put all your "extras" in beore you eat, or
while you eat. The server usually doesn't know how much is in the
container.
— Heather M.
November 24, 2003
Simple start to frequent sushi bars, and eat at the bar where you can oder
by the piece. I do all the time. If you mix it up enough with many small
orders, those around you will lose track of what you have eaten all
together. Nice think about sushi is, you can pretty well figure out how
many pieces your pouch can hold, and never overeat too;)
For those who hate sushi,I don't have any good ideas.
— Greg P.
November 24, 2003
Love sushi, Greg! Great tip.
Funny thing happened to me yesterday. My mom took me to IHOP for dinner
and we decided to split an order (common occurance when i got out to eat
with someone) of stuffed crepes. When we told the waiter this he said one
order? For both of you?? (My mom is obese) We said yes, we don't eat
much (well, i don't and she takes what is left!) When he brought out our
food, he included the crepes (2), hashbrowns, and 2 pancakes and 2 large
mugs of hot chocolate! We were suprised and said we didn't order all of
this, and he winked and said it's on the house, I know how it is this time
of year. He thought we were trying to eat cheap! Embarrasing but what a
nice guy.
— salymsmommy
November 25, 2003
I absolutely loved this post!! I don't intend to be mean, but I was in
stitches because I relate to it so well. I am 8 mos post op LAP-RNY. A few
weeks after surgery I had to go to a business lunch and stupidly allowed
myself to get talked into salad, entree and dessert (that doesn't happen
anymore, I now order appetizers or take home what I don't eat of a regular
size meal). The salad came, I ate a bite, moved the food around and asked
for the rest to be packed. The waiter looked at me funny and I said "I
started a new diet". The entree came, I ate a bite, moved the food
around and asked for it to be packed. The waiter asked if I liked the food
I said yes and smiled. Then we get to dessert. He brought out a
1"x1" cube of plain cake with a slice of strawberry on top and
already had the rest of the dessert in a to-go box - his comment "I
know you didn't want to ruin your diet with a big dessert either". He
smiled, we all laughed.
— M B.
November 26, 2003
How funny, this fit perfect w/my lunch. A fellow WLS friend & I went to
lunch at Garfields today, we both order a salad w/grilled chix on it, we
both ate 1/4 of our salads and the GORGEOUS HUNKY waiter thought we didnt
like it. So we just explained it to him. He gave us AWESOME compliments,
congratulated us, wished us great luck and MADE OUR DAY!! But I like to
brag about my WLS and usually tell the server why I am not eating but a
quarter of my order. THey are always always full of congrats and way to go.
I enjoy the compliments!! LOL
— Leslie N.
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