| From cruise ships to gambling meccas to | | | | - Protein First. Take this rule of weight loss |
| hometowns across America the all-you-can-eat | | | | surgery to the buffet with you. Select good |
| buffet is ubiquitous for plentiful choice and good | | | | quality protein including seafood, hand-carved |
| value in dining. A recent survey revealed that | | | | meats, omelettes, and main dishes. Avoid all |
| most people who dine at buffets enjoy them for | | | | protein that has been battered and fried. |
| the variety and value, and most admit they eat | | | | Remember, battered and fried food is likely to |
| more food than they feel they paid for. The | | | | cause dumping syndrome for patients of |
| atmosphere of the all-you-can-eat buffet | | | | malabsorptive procedures. Quality protein dishes |
| encourages copious consumption with a never | | | | are the best value for your dollar at the buffet. |
| ending supply of clean plates and a busy waitstaff | | | | - Skip the Starch. Rice, pasta, breads, and other |
| on hand to remove the tell-tell evidence of | | | | grain dishes take up precious pouch real estate |
| mounding dirty dishes on the table. | | | | and they are not a good value for your dollar. At |
| Listen to conversations in line at the buffet and | | | | most buffets these side dishes tend to be bland |
| you will hear many dieters of sound mind admit | | | | and common; eating them is a waste of space |
| they are taking the meal off from their otherwise | | | | and money. There will always be rice and pasta |
| strict dietary compliance. Not long ago I heard one | | | | and breads to eat so when dining at the buffet |
| AWOL dieter confess, "Tonight I'm pulling out all | | | | leave them for other less savvy diners. |
| the stops and giving myself permission to eat as | | | | - Pace Yourself. Remember, you are in charge of |
| much of anything I want. No rules. No limits." | | | | your fork. Others at your table may be eating at |
| Perhaps that worked out fine for her, but for me | | | | a sprinters pace, but you are in a long race. Take |
| and my gastric bypass stomach pouch, taking the | | | | your time, put your fork down between bites of |
| night off from all the rules is not an option. No | | | | food, chew your food completely, and enjoy your |
| matter the day, the meal, or the occasion my | | | | dining companions. Slow and steady wins the race. |
| stomach pouch has only the capacity to hold | | | | - Experiment. The buffet is a good opportunity to |
| about one cup of food at a time. Anything more | | | | explore new food choices as you become more |
| brings great discomfort and disruption to my life. | | | | comfortable with your weight loss surgery |
| For myself, and gastric surgery weight loss | | | | stomach. Try a new kind of fish or taste a |
| patients everywhere, the all-you-can-eat buffet | | | | different fruit or vegetable. Take time to explore |
| can be a living purgatory where watching others | | | | the flavors and texture of food. Our tastes |
| take culinary delight in choice and abundance is | | | | change dramatically with surgery and eating at a |
| pure torture. We would never be so heartless to | | | | buffet is a terrific opportunity to explore a variety |
| take a diabetic child to a candy store with | | | | of different things for very little cost. |
| instructions to look at the candy but do not eat | | | | Keep in mind that after weight loss surgery we |
| any. Yet here we are as adults, fighting a morbid | | | | eat to nourish our bodies: food is fuel. That must |
| illness with surgical intervention, sitting in our own | | | | always be our first concern when putting the fork |
| kind of candy store with rules and restrictions. | | | | to our mouth. But we live in a social world where |
| Some may suggest that we simply avoid having | | | | dining plays a key role in many workplace and |
| meals at buffet-style restaurants. But in this | | | | family activities. Give yourself space to respect |
| country many social events and gatherings are | | | | your body and the surgical pouch that is providing |
| conducted at just such places. Chances are good | | | | treatment for your debilitating morbid obesity. At |
| we will saddle-up to a buffet now and again. | | | | the same time enjoy the company of your dining |
| Here are some smart ideas for navigating the | | | | companions knowing you will leave the buffet |
| all-you-can-eat buffet to emerge nourished and | | | | feeling nourished and healthy without suffering |
| comfortable: | | | | eaters remorse. |