Dinner Out Was a Success (Warning Long Post and Food Pics Ahead)...

So as you know, I had my first dinner out last night since being banded. I am not, nor have I ever been, a fish fan. However, I know that I need to incorporate it into my repitoire if I want to eat anything other than turkey meatloaf or refried beans! So, I chose Blue Fin. A restaraunt I have been to twice before but both times ordered the Filet Mignon. Boy was I missing out! More about that in a minute. First off, an hour before leaving, my nutritionist emailed me back to say "Hi Jen, It is fine for you to have alcohol tonight." Yeah me! Of course, this brought up its own host of challenges. I have always been a vodka girl, I have a drink called the Jenni-tini that is Stoli-orange and tonic, or club (depending on my mood). So, the new challenge was what to drink that didn't involve bubbles. I thought about a Cosmo but didn't want all the sugar and thought it might be too sweet. I thought about a martini, but I've never had one and didn't want to waste my choice on something I might hate. So, I settled on a glass of pinot grigio. I drank it over about 30 minutes while my friends were having their appetizers and was done with it just as my dinner arrived. Before and after pics of yummy meal below. Halibut on top of greens (which I avoided - for those who aren't bandsters i.e. my family, greens are tough to eat), lemon herb gnocchi and jumbo lump meat crab. It was fantastic! I ate very slow and chewed everything about 1,000 times. I watched my friends to see where they were with their meals and finished after they had. A nice way to time my eating. My girlfriends helped with the gnocchi, I probably had two bites. Then we ordered dessert. Smore's was its name....I had one small bite of the cake and one bite of the graham cracker ice cream. Perfect! I never believed those people when they said they could actually be satisfied with just one bite but I've found that I can. Sure, I could've eaten the entire piece of fish, and defintely all of that gnocchi, and clearly the dessert but will power and the band helped me stop. I just really want it this time. And am so inspired by those of you that have come before, Amy, Angie, Cara, Catherine and those of you that are on this journey with me!  Your blogs and your successes and even our mis-steps makes me know it's possible! There will always be challenges. We may make the wrong decision, but then make a great one the next day. But the fact that I can still eat yummy food and lose weight is thrilling. Once I got home I did an hour on the Wii but not because I was going to gain 7 pounds if I didn't. Just because I wanted to. Felt good going to bed last night knowing that I was able to go out with friends, eat a fabulous meal in a great restaurant and still keep my goals in focus.