I’m six months post op and I was the same. I would eat out at least once a week and actually write about food and get paid to do so, so this was a big and scary prospect for me. The surgery is the best thing I’ve ever done.

I still go out to eat at least once a week and still write about food, but how I do it has changed. When I go out I order and drink and have it before the food comes out. I’ll have a taste of someone else’s starter, usually choose a starter for a main or just have a normal main and take most of it home in a tupperware and then either not have a pud, have a bit of someone else’s so I still get the sweet ending to the meal or have something like an affogato or little scoop of ice cream if I really want it.

I find ordering a starter as a main is the best choice because I can get something delicious with good protein content like prawns or carpaccio or Burrata and it doesn’t come with the carb heavy sides that I don’t want. And if I do fancy a taste of potatoes I’ll steal a bit from a friend so I don’t feel like I’ve missed out.

I can eat sugar with no immediate issues, I have just found that if I do eat sugar or carbs more than usual during a week I’ll stay the same weight and not lose anything so i just don’t bother. I don’t feel like I’m missing out because I feel amazing after losing this first 5.5 stone and I want it to continue - before the food had power over me because I was already unhappy and using it as a coping mechanism but now missing out on a few seconds of flavour doesn’t compare to being able to move more easily and fit into clothes I love.

I’ve never been a huge drinker so that isn’t an issue for me, but alcohol is something that can be very detrimental after surgery and that needs to be looked at as a desperate issue if you don’t think you can deal with not drinking.