Good luck and hope all goes well. Please keep us posted.

You sound motivated and realistic about the challenges..family and social events take planning and committment to your purpose. YOu can do this..you will be happy to know, that for me..adding bbq to my food in small quantities has helped the food go down better! deb

Congratulations on this big decision. I just got my surgery date: 11/05 -- maybe we will be November Bandsters together. Actually I am hoping they will call and move me up -- I feel so ready!

Sounds like you are quite the cook. I love to cook for our family, gatherings, the freezer -- you name it. Volume cooking -- the kind that takes hours and messes up the entire kitchen. Our son is turning into quite the cook, too. I plan to just keep at it as for me it's not really about me eating it in the end, it's the act of cooking itself that I really love. And I'll still be able to have my cup of whatever.

Meanwhile, I've also been wondering a bit about Thanksgiving. If I am banded 11/5 with a week of liquids and a week of mushies I will just be back to "regular" food for that holiday. Could be a good lesson in what the future will be like for me. Very small portions, chewing, chewing, chewing -- making sure everything is cut up into teeny-tiny pieces. Since I'm not telling every one about band it will be a social challenge as well. May as well get it over with!

Good luck to you!

wishing you luck bear

Best of Luck I know you will do great.. it's been a life changing decision for me.. and T;giving will come and go.. you really will be amazed at how much you won't eat....