With my last fill, I have notice a great change....but with that my family has too. I think they have problems knowing for one that it does take me a while to eat anything and for two that I can't eat everything that they eat....Does anyone else have struggles like this, and also what do you eat or do so its not so obvious that I can't eat what my family eats?

I don't really struggle, I just eat my dinner and they eat theirs and we all get along. I eat mostly what they eat, but sub a few things on my plate and leave other foods off. Actually, my new eating plan has helped my family as we all eat better now.

With my last fill, I have notice a great change....but with that my family has too. I think they have problems knowing for one that it does take me a while to eat anything and for two that I can't eat everything that they eat....Does anyone else have struggles like this, and also what do you eat or do so its not so obvious that I can't eat what my family eats?

I started from day one..well as soon as I was allowed food after surgery we all ate the same food. I never thought of this as a diet...it is a lifestyle change. I didn't want to think of this as a diet or eat only certain foods because if I ate that way that once I hit my goal and started eating other foods I would gain the weight back. Plus I feel that we all need to be eating healthy. Since being banded I cook 95% of all of our meals. We enjoy family time so much more now. We vote on the meals to see if we want to make them again or never again or maybe once in a great while. We still have fast food night every so often...Wendy's works...I can order chili and they can get whatever they want...we also do Taco Bell. I have found deserts to make that has no calories that are very good. As I said me doing this has helped us in so many ways...much better homemade meals...I may eat less than they do but we all eat the same thing. I hope you can do the same...it would make your life so much easier. Good luck!!!

I agree with the above posts. Providing healthy meals for your family will be awsome. Find things they like that fit your plan. It may work to do a meat, veggie and carb. You can cut out the carb and just eat the meat and veggies. I also stick to Wendys and Taco Bell for fast food. Although I don't eat there very often, I think they provide reasonable choices. I get the chili at Wendys or one taco at Taco Bell. Good luck!

I don't really struggle, I just eat my dinner and they eat theirs and we all get along. I eat mostly what they eat, but sub a few things on my plate and leave other foods off. Actually, my new eating plan has helped my family as we all eat better now.

Now that I'm not overfilled, I'd agree. When I was overfilled, a meal wouldn't go by that my husband and soon would look at me and (apparently by the expression on my face) ask, "Stuck again?"

Since we sit down together as a family for meals, I cook the way I need to eat and, as a result, my family eats healthier now as well. I also now only fix enough for that one meal. In the past, there would always be leftovers because I'd cook extra 'in case' someone would be hungrier. Now I understand that normal people eat normal amounts and then they're satisfied. So I fix normal amounts...and nobody has ever walked away from the table hungry.

I do occasionally bake french bread or my special artisan type crusty bread because they like it, but I never eat it. I also will 'occasionally' (*maybe* once a week on Sunday) make a dessert, but I never eat it. Wheat and sugar are taboo to them.

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When we make dinner, my husband or i just make sure there's something on the menu for side dishes that everyone likes and we fill our plates accordingly. Now when we eat out it's a little different. I've crossed places like "Friendlys" off my list because after looking at their menu, it's really not just some place i can go & be happy about a choice i make. For my kids that means, GRANDMA gets to spoil them by taking them there & i've told her so! That's perfect for her cause it can be their "thing". Fast food...we didn't eat it much in the first place but now that's even harder because for me, fast food consist of Wendy's chili & a baked potato. If there's no Wendy's, I'll swing in somewhere for them, but i'll pass. Otherwise, i've looked at most menus of the restaurants we frequent & checked out their nutritional pages so i'm pretty on top of what i'll eat at those places.

Thanks everyone! For the most part, we eat together at dinner....but it takes me longer to eat than my husband and 3 pre-teen boys. I had to tell my husband today that I have lost 9 pounds since Dec 27th and that I'm ok with my proportions and everything. My life does not revolve around my next meal anymore and that I Do Not feel like I am missing a thing. I think once I have clarified that....he will be bettter with the change.!

Thanks guys!