Eating out and holidays after stomach surgery

[Pugwash]

Having just had surgery, I am on a special diet for life, which reduces the type and amount of food I can eat. In future I can only have about a tea plate of food upto 6 times a day, no bread, no beer, no carbonated drinks. Looking to hear about people's experiences in going on holiday ( we tend to go to hotels either on half board or B&B basis) and also like to socialise with friends in resturants 4/6 times a year. As a beer and diet coke drinker, and not a wine fan can anyone suggest a suitable drink other than fruit juice? My view is that I will need to concentrate on chinese and Thai menus where I can share dishes with others. but open to suggestions from other ED readers.

[Ladymuck]

Pugwash,

Oh, that can't be much fun.

Unable to help you with regard to your request. But, just wanted to wish you a very speedy recovery from the surgery. I also hope that your new diet doesn't spoil your enjoyment of eating (and life in general) too much. xx

[giggirl]

Hi Pugwash. Glad you're OK. As bad as this seems now, believe me, it's just a matter of changing your habits. Your eating habits are deeply ingrained - most likely you're a 3 squares a day person (I'm guessing)? Anyway, give yourself time to adjust to 6 small ones a day and then you'll be fine.

Don't allow yourself to feel that your new diet is inferior. If you start out by embracing your new diet/way of life and accepting it as a positive thing, then you will find the switch much easier.

Treat yourself to a wine tasting evening at Green & Blue. They have the best wines so if they can't convert you to being a wine drinker then nobody can.

Good luck.

[londonloves]

Hi Pugwash-Don't worry it is do-able-I had to change my diet for health reasons 18 months ago and you would be amazed how you can adjust-I was a very big eater-the idea of a teaplate full would certainly have been a snack, not a meal! Holidays can be a problem, but I was amazed at how, after a few months of smaller portions I had gotten used to it-a bit at least!My first tip would be get cooking! once you make things yourself ands start looking for recipes you would be amazed how many options there are that have nothing to do with bread-i think its just an odd british thing that we depend on it so much-I can eat bread but since my new regime probably only do so a couple of times a month-out of laziness really!drink wise-not to everyone's taste but have you tried iced teas and coffees? We're not that great at them in Britain-but some places do great ones-and homemade is always good-not just black tea either weak green tea-well iced with lots of lime juice and sugar to taste is a great summer drink-and pretty healthy to boot! Alcohol wise a mate of mine had to give up beer some years ago, they switched to scotch-sounds hardcore i know, but they saved a packet-savouring a short drink rather than necking a pint-not for everyone though. Good Luck!

[candj]

Hi Pugwash,

Assuming you are asking for an alcoholic drink suggestion, how about Bailey's and brandy with ice? or Vodka with any juice (greyhound, seabreeze, etc). Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Best,

-C

[giggirl]

Pugwash - I just re-read your post. Regarding eating out - I'm afraid you just need to get used to not leaving clean a plate. This goes against the grain with many people but there's no way around it. You order a main course only and don't finish it. If there's a long gap between main and pudding then you may be able to have both.

I've been doing this for years - people don't notice because I don't draw attention to it (I must remind myself not to eat out with anyone on the forum though). Again, it just takes planning and getting used to. Sorry to sound like a broken record but it's best that you remain positive and tell yourself that that's the way it is. I know it sounds harsh but if you complain then you'll find fewer and fewer people want to eat with you.

[londonloves]

giggirl-just order 2 starters-and ask one to be served with the mains-if they really small they don't add up to half a main still-and you get to feel like a normal member of society!-I do it all the time restaurants don't seem to mind-i've even just had one starter as a main with maybe a salad/veg on the side-makes it look like more-but isn't really any bigger depending on what you order-and mussels are a good one-they bring you a huge steaming bowl-and of course it only has about a teacup full of meat in!-and pugwash-you could mop up the sauce with a handful of frites-rather than bread!mmmm making myself hungry.....

[cate]

Sorry to hear about your surgery. What about tapas style food? Lovely small plates of different starters. Also South Indian food - Ganapati would be a good place to start. They do some nice set lunches in the week (if you can get there then) with small portions of rice, tasty lentils and dosas for example. You could always take home what you don't eat and have it the next day.

For alcoholic drinks try flat cider - French ones are good and I think Green and Blue have some. Green and Blue also have a new menu which accompanies their wine tasting which provides small plates of tapas style food for only ?6 and you get several dishes for that price. For non alcoholic drinks try cordials. There are some tasty ones out there like lime and elderflower. Just mix with water.

If you don't cook much now might be a good time to start. If you make sure you include protein with each of your small meals you should feel full(ish)!

[woofmarkthedog]

Pugwash

Have you had a tummy tuck/gastric band op ?

Poor you , still a 16" Dominos pizza folded right can just about fit on a tea plate

That washed down with a can of flat "Diet" coke ( up to six times a day you say )

Should have you sorted in no time

Followed by a medicinal Vodka chaser

Next ?

W**F

[Ladymuck]

woofmarkthedog Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> ...a 16" Dominos pizza folded right

> can just about fit on a tea plate...

> That washed down with a can of flat "Diet" coke (

> up to six times a day you say )...

*shakes head in utter disbelief at the mad dog's audacity*

*and then breaks into fits of giggles*

[Pugwash]

Many thanks for all suggestions. I am not a 3 meal a day person in the traditional sense, my job (10 - 6.30 pm) is part office based and part'on the go'. By this I mean I am visiting people at home, and in care establishments, and not always in SE London - can be Cheshire, Bognor, Essex in fact anywhere.Lunch can therefore be anything from 12.30 - 3.30 depending on where I am. Used to take sandwiches on these long journeys, but can microwave when I am office based. I am a fairly good cook and pretty adaptable. My main problem is that of attending parties/eating out/holidays. Medical advice is that I should take 45 minutes to eat what amounts to 2 cupfulls of food, drink either 1 hour before food or one hour after (this includes water) certain vegetables and fruit are not permitted and alcohol is not advised!!. I do drink herbal teas and I like cordials, but unlikely to get these at a party.Did think of booking a holiday at a hotel as can have an egg for breakfast. without cereal or fruit juice and in the evening whilst hubby stuffs himself over 3 courses, I will make do with a starter. My work colleagues very often celebrate leavings/birthdays etc in the pub at lunch time with food so it is the question of what is the smallest dish I can purchase.I am only permitted to eat white meat and fish.

I had forgotten about Tapas - apart from Barcelona in Lordship lane, where is the next best Tapas bar?.

Many thanks for all of your good wishes, I am ploughing on with my liquid diet ( on week 2 now)which will change to pureed food in week 4, then normal food in week 7.Ganapati sounds a good idea - keep meaning to go there. At the moment I am on the rough equivilant of 500 day calories so pretty tired most of the time - drinking yoghurt, half a cup of soup and half a cup of smoothie or shake, plus 4 -6 cups of tea/water/squash a day. Not sure when I will be going back to work after my current 3 week medical certificate is up - but am spending more time reading Forum news.

[Bellenden Belle]

Pugwash Wrote:

> I had forgotten about Tapas - apart from Barcelona

> in Lordship lane, where is the next best Tapas

> bar?.

>

Number 22 in Herne Hill does fantastic tapas.

Good luck though - I imagine it will be hard at first, but as the ever-wise giggirl says over time it'll become second nature..

I'm going out for lunch and am going to try and brave asking for a kid-size pasta dish - I'm hoping restaurants are getting more and more used to such requests.

[cate]

How about making yourself a tortilla - eggs, potatoes, herbs, what ever veggies you are allowed and some tuna? You can cut it up into portion sized pieces and take it with you when you travel. Take a cool bag with you. And definitely check out Green and Blue for their ?6 small plate orders as I mentioned above.

Can you put protein powder in your smoothies? That would fill you up and you would get more energy.

[giggirl]

Can I second the protein powder suggestion please. 500 calories a day is too low and won't help the recovery process. Go to the health food shop on LL and they'll sort you out with some protein powder that you can turn into a shake or add to whatever you're already drinking. Very important that you do this to up your calorie intake and improve the balance of your current diet.

[londonloves]

500 calories a day-I bet you're tired! Crikey-unless you are 120 years old 4 ft tall and about 3 stone in weight then yes 500 calories would be nightmare!(n:b to any 120 year old 4ft tall 3 stone women-500 calories a day is assuming a low level of activity!if you play any sports etc please up your calorie in take-see above;-))

[david_carnell]

I'm presuming the 500 cals is on medical advice....

...in which case unless giggirl and londonloves have a sideline in gastroenterology perhaps we should stick to the advice the OP asks for....

[londonloves]

david_carnell- I didn't actually say Pugwash shouldn't eat 500cals a day-I just sympathised that it would be very hard indeed-as this would only be normal for a teeny tiny geriatric which i'm going to go out on a limb and say Pugwash is not!-I was agreeing yes you would be exhausted it must be awful. Nevermind the lifestyle change of not being able to go out for big meals, drink alcohol etc which is bad enough-being constantly cream crackered is something I too can relate to for medical reasons and it's no fun.

[solstice]

When I was on my liquid diet I felt great, had plenty of energy, loved my smoothies and all the different soups I made, but I became obsessed with watching cookery programmes, and wanting to eat things I could`nt, it was maddening to think that life would never be the same again, but several months on I got used to it. I share my food with the people I am out with, and am not afraid to leave food on my plate, and I can still have a few glasses of wine here and there. It took me ages to pluck up the courage to go out for a meal.

[SteveT]

Lunch might be an apple sliced very thinly

through the skin and the core

and eating slowly is assisted by

how many slices you can obtain from your apple,or cucumber

and then you eat all, skin and core.

Low fat yoghurt eaten with a small spoon will e.x.t.e.n.d eating time.

[woofmarkthedog]

SteveT Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Lunch might be an apple sliced very thinly

>

> through the skin and the core

>

> and eating slowly is assisted by

>

> how many slices you can obtain from your apple,or

> cucumber

>

> and then you eat all, skin and core.

>

> Low fat yoghurt eaten with a small spoon will

> e.x.t.e.n.d eating time.

______________________________________________________

Yes, so would 6ft chopstix

Hardly the point though is it ?

W**F

[Pugwash]

Many thanks for your comments and suggestions. Yes the diet is prescribed by the hospital and I was warned by my GP and practice nurse that the tiredness will be also from the operation as well as low calories. Since now on week 3, have done internet search and discovered that other hospitals say 2 weeks liquid then pureed food, so if I feel a bit peckish since I have gone shopping down LL or been a bit more active, I can have a scrambled egg. I too am an avid cookery programme watcher and reader of receipes. I am allowed toast but not bread (this expands too much), peeled fruit eventually.

Must admitt I have never been off work (apart from maternity leave)either as sick or on leave for this length of time, as I am a bit of a workaholic. My work colleagues send through the odd email but no gossip!!

[candj]

Sorry Pugwash for suggesting alcoholic drinks because stupid me misread and thought that was what you were after!!

Again, hope you have a swift recovery.