Eating Out

Yer kaz - its certainly a test early into things!!!

Just for the record - I have decided to go... Am feeling a lot better this week (change in multi-vitamins) getting some strength back, so have decided to go along.

A good thing is that they have changed it to ordering off the menu - as they didn't get enough numbers for the buffet - suits me fine!!!

One of my friends at work who knows about my surgery is going to be my support person on the night :) (ie - eat whatever I dont.. hehe)

haha ants i feel your pain!
I've been back at work a week today and was told that our annual work party was a dinner @ miss mauds!!

I'm only new to this, but I have a slightly different point of view that I thought I'd throw into the mix. For me, the value for money question wouldn't relate to the quantity of food offered in the buffet (and didn't, even before my sleeve). It would be more about whether there were tasty well-prepared options that I would enjoy eating morsels of or whether I'd be offered rubbish food that had been left stewing for hours in bainmaries. Would there be enough time set aside for the function to allow me to chew slowly, savour the food and socialise, or would it be an out and back in an hour affair where I'd be too rushed. I'd be weighing that against the company I'd be keeping too of course.

Yes, have to agree with Applesauce on all she said, although I know at times I still feel a bit vexed if I have to pay for something that I didn't eat, old thinking I know. This is particularly true if I go out with my family (mum being the only other one to have had surgery - banding) and they want to split the bill evenly. It does sometimes piss me off that I am expected to pay the same (and particularly as I don't have as much money to spend as them in the first place) when all I had was a $15 entree and they all had 2-3 courses etc. so have had some disagreements with my brother over this. I just can't see how hard it could be to just all work out what we had and pay for that (he says it is not the done thing, therefore evenly split the bill, and I say that is not being fair). I guess I have been thinking about this, as it is my older brothers birthday this Sunday and originally we were going to this swanky winery with 3 course set menu for $65 which I was a bit peeved about, given that I wouldn't be able to eat it all. It was decided that oh well, will just have a taste of each plate. However, plans changed and we are going somewhere that is ah le carte now (probably will still have to argue though, about bill spliting. lol. but at least now not just me as a solo person, so maybe able to get partner to finish my meal. lol), phew, as everyone agreed that $65 was too expensive given there were only 2 choices per course. That said though, I still agree with Apple, it is about the company etc rather than the food.
Sorry all, rattling on again. lol

applesauce wrote:

Going out for a meal is NOT all about how much you fit in, it is about enjoying what you eat, it is about enjoying the company you are with, it is about enjoying the atmosphere. None of those things vanish with the sleeve you still get all that value for your buck. Infact you get even more on the enjoy food as you do learn to choose only the best and nicest things. It is a pleasure doing that rather than seeing just how much you can pile on your plate without drawing to much attention to yourself

applesauce

thats sums it up so beautifully
shelly

Thanks chrisbychic... its good to know I'm not the only one who has felt like this - especially so soon post op!

Look, I totally get where you're coming from. It's a lot of money to spend on a little bit of food, and the truth is that there are heaps of places that you could go that wouldn't cost you as much and you could enjoy with the same company.
I was a member of a banders group before I moved to Melbourne, and went to a buffet meet-up with them when I was only a couple of weeks post-op and felt really ripped off - I didn't know them well, couldn't eat anything but soup, and wondered why on earth they'd choose an all-you-can-eat venue when they were all trying to lose weight!
I did ask if I could order a separate meal, or pay a child's price, but the restaurant declined so I had to pay full price.
That was then. Now the flip side:
Last weekend my hubby took me out to a restaurant that we'd heard was really good - and yes, you guessed it, it's a buffet! It was expensive - $55 per person - but included seafood. It was a major turnaround for both me and my husband to feel okay about paying that much for my dinner post-sleeve, but I really enjoyed it. I got to have little tastes of lots of things, and that's what I really like to do - have lots of variety. I do recall at one time, though, saying to my hubby "is it wrong for me to wish we'd been here before I had my sleeve?" LOL
I guess that if I were you, I'd be asking myself "do I really want to go?", without the whole money/food angle. If the answer is yes, then go and enjoy yourself. If not, save yourself the angst and don't go!
Whatever you decide, it will be okay.

hehe.. good point CG!!!!

Still deciding :P

Countrygirl wrote:

You just need to ask yourself. Do I like these people enough to enjoy the social side without the food side. lol

To quote myself. LOL

Thanks colli!

Maybe its more a reflection on the people I'll be going with... and no so much the money/food... hehe

If it was sleevers - there would be no problem! I know you guys are a hoot - so I wouldn't question it... maybe its just that I don't want to go out for dinner with people that I spent 8hrs+ per day with!!!

If it is an option when I go out I actually prefer to choose the buffet, one of the Perth GT's was to The Cove Indian restaurant & you had the choice to choose from the menu or the buffet ($35 I think it was) I chose the buffet because the way I look at is I get to try a tiny mouthful of everything... I only put 1 teaspoon sized piece from each dish on my plate & then only ate 1/2 of each, but really enjoyed the diferent flavours & textures that I would have missed out on if I had just chosen the one dish.

I think for me the price is not an issue, I basically go to these things to catch up with the mad sleevers here in WA hehehe... the food is just an added bonus

Thanks to you all for your replies...

I have been reading them through the day, but haven't had a chance to actually reply - lots of food for thought. (no pun intended!!!)

You are all right , and I guess I'm still adjusting to changing my thinking. apple - you are right, I am still thinking like an obese person - "how much food can I get for $35!! / how much food will I miss out on" - and that will have to change - I guess this is the first time I've had to think about it, as I've been cocooned up in post-op eating!

I have to stop thinking of it as a waste of money - and start enjoying life.....

There are about 60 people invited to the dinner, and I have only told a handful pre-op. Unfortunately the person organising it is brand new (this week!) so I haven't felt comfortable to tell everyone as yet. Once the questions start coming, I will confess all (surgery etc) but at this stage, no one really has noticed (13kg in a month)

I will see how I go this week - as it is my first full week back at work full time - and I am generally feeling pretty knackered by the end of the day - so might not be able to make it anyway.....

Thanks again :)

but as I said a buffet is only about how much you can stuff in your face if you think like an obese person for the rest of the population it is about variety and experences be they food atmosphere or good company. that is what you are paying for.

applesauce

For us girls that have just had our operations it may take us a while to get use to the idea of paying for something that we know we cant eat much of, I'm sure it took you guys a while to get use to the idea also it doesnt just happen once you have the op.

I have made the wallet comment so many times. We are obese people we view going out for a meal as how much we can get in our bellies for the least amount of bucks. To us this is value. The reality is it is an obese persons way of thinking, other people just dont think that way. Going out for a meal is NOT all about how much you fit in, it is about enjoying what you eat, it is about enjoying the company you are with, it is about enjoying the atmosphere. None of those things vanish with the sleeve you still get all that value for your buck. Infact you get even more on the enjoy food as you do learn to choose only the best and nicest things. It is a pleasure doing that rather than seeing just how much you can pile on your plate without drawing to much attention to yourself.

Here in Perth us sleevers even went to an all you can eat at eat greek it was an awsome night out and over 25 of us turned up and had a ball it was about $40 a head from memory and it was great value for money :) We had tiny little tastes of lots of things it was fun :)

applesauce

Can you order seperately and just order an entree size meal served for you?Im sure you could do that directly through the venue or whoever is organising the buffet might be able to put it in as an extra order.the other thing to do if these people know youve had the op and its not a secret would be to ask to pay for a kids buffet price.Im sure theyd understand.
cheers
michelle

Something Apple has said many many times. They didn't cut your wallet in half only your stomach. So go and enjoy yourself. Forget about the food, its not worth the worry. I think that is the best thing I have found about the sleeve. I am not obsessed about food any more and what does or does not go in my mouth.

I have a school reunion in September 12 months nearly to the day of my op. The cost is $55 for food alone. Still have to buy my drinks. My main aim is to catch up with friends from school which I could do on the Sunday at the free bbq down the park but I would much rather a drink and nibbles at night.

You just need to ask yourself. Do I like these people enough to enjoy the social side without the food side. lol

Wow $35 and then to only be able to eat a small amount not sure i would do it, you could always take a doggy bag lol. But then again its always going to be like this so maybe we should get it out of our heads the cost of it, easier said than done though.

Nicole

Buffets are the bane of sleevers, so I guess you'd better decide whether it would be good to go for other reasons - socialising with colleagues etc.

Usually that is the real reason for these events, and the $35 would be worth it.

If you don't want to spend time with them, just come up with a good excuse and don't go.

Sorry for another eating out topic - but I didn't want to hijack the other thread....

I'm just into Week 4 post op this week - and next week I've been invited to a work function.
In previous years - we've gone to a pub - and able to choose (and pay) for our own meal.
This year - they have changed it - and are now going to a BUFFET!!!!!!!!!! argh....
Not only that, its going to cost me $35!!!!

I don't know whether to go or not.....

Eating won't really be much of an issue (as to what I can eat) - as I'm almost onto solids, and am allowed seafood, rice etc - so thats ok....

How do I get over feeling ripped off that I have to spend $35 - when I will probably only eat $5 worth??
Or maybe I just politely decline the invitation...?