Apologies if this seems silly or ignorant but just looking for some long termer's perspectives. I just got sleeved 2/28 and just a little down (head hunger and the gas pains mainly lol).

Lifelong issues with portion control, food security, etc led to this decision and I'm 100% happy I made the choice and am committed to the process. I took the classes and talked to people on Facebook but most seem to be within their first year and I don't see long-time people interacting as much. When the concept of going out with the family down the road for a "normal" dinner and getting an item on the menu (i.e. chili's/olive garden) and just eating an appropriate portion, vs the large prior portions, was brought up in classes or online the person asking was always attacked. "You're basically a drug addict you can't ever have fried/fatty/carbs again in your life" or other all-or-nothing mentality reign surpreme (a lot of Facebook doctors then emerge with insight such as "after a sleeve/bypass if you ever eat 1000 calories in a day you will now always gain weight"). My surgeon debunked those but when asked "so like this time next year could I enjoy a slice of pizza while out with my son?" I get told "don't think that far ahead".

I just want to hear a real world scenario to see if I am crazy to think that in the future I could eat a regular meal but obviously smaller portions (i.e. that one piece of pizza with my kid vs me crushing 5-6 slices like I would in the past).

Not advocating anyone go against doctors, the process, cheat on the program or anything... Just curious for life long effects past 1-2 yrs.

TIA