"But It's Free!"

One more thing, My Center has already given me a laminated card to carry in my wallet that ask wait staff to allow me to order off the child's menu or just serve me a three ounce portion due to my being a weight loss surgery patient.  This will help a lot with that issue.

Steve, I've never eaten off the child's menu & don't know if I'd like to - too many carbs of potato, breading & buns.. But I was told to flash the card & use the senior menu. The menus offergenerally healthier choices because oldsters know they need to lower the calories to stay fit & slim. You save a lot of money, too.

I haven't really had an issue with this. I order water because I drink up until I eat. I'm sure people have thought my small portions are odd, but no one has said anything or looked at me weird. 

I guess I don't eat out very often, so I am trying to recall my experiences. I have eaten at my local Chinese place with the gluten free menu several times; maybe they are just used to it. Plus I used to go there all the time before surgery and they've seen me shrink. I've been to a local Italian bistro, Applebee's and a fancy casino restaurant. No one batted an eye.

As for other society norms...hmm, I don't know. I am pretty "normal" (or at least the same as I was before, haha) except for my eating habits.

Give up now, take the water, then just leave it alone.  I've found no other real way of dealing with this.  I quickly got tired of trying to explain the no liquids with meals thing.  It was just too much talking when doing the previous solved the problems in seconds.

I agree with you - I normally do at sit-down restaurants.  This one was a little out of the norm, in that we had to grab a glass as we went through the line, and I just didn't want to go back!

The one time I have gone out to eat, I ordered a water and then just pushed it aside.

Like others have said, I just order a water and drink it up until I eat my meal. We really don't go out to eat very often and when we do my husband and I share a meal. He jokes that I'm a pretty cheap date! ;)

Fortunately, my DH also has a VSG, so we usually split something. Or, if we can't agree, we just pick something and use the leftovers for lunch the next day. We ask for veggies as a replacement for starchy carbs, haven't had an issue yet. We order water and just take a sip or two and then let it sit. We learned from a friend who is a server at Applebee's that they can get into trouble for not "taking care of the customer" if the manager notices no beverage.

I have also been out alone, and get funny looks when I order something really small. I will usually say, "I just need a snack for now" it seems to take the pressure off of the staff to get me to order more food.

you could just say you don't like water 

I never had a problem at any restaurant, with bringing home the extra or sharing with my hubby, I have a card from my surgeon but never needed to use it 

 the kids menu sucks all carbs and fat , (hot dogs, grill cheese , cheese burgers )

best thing to get at a restaurant, is grilled fish with roast veggies ,I eat 4 oz of fish and a little veggies and take the rest home for tomorrow, it heats up fine taste great and is good for you

you can always say you had stomach surgery and can't eat a lot and not say what kind of surgery if they don't like it I can always go elsewhere  

 

Haha, I just have to laugh. This has happened to me. The waitress will come over again and again trying to refill my cup. They get the message when I fill the cup with napkins. I also get a million questions when I don't finish enough or I am infamous for asking for a to-go box as soon as I get my food. Then my waitress really thinks something is wrong but I just want to portion out what I know I should eat so I don't over eat. LOL, I just don't feel the need to explain it to everyone else. 

I really don't care about other people's opinions but if they push enough I will explain that I am a bariatric patient and can't eat but so much, that stops them. Just goes to show you how over eating is the norm!