First things first, you all have been so great! I am so impressed with the support and help I have gotten as a new member. Thank you all so much!

I have a question about being normal. I still havent really had a serious talk with my husband about it. He will be resistant. I know he is just araid of things. One thing he is afraid of is that I would always feel sick and never be able to be normal again. Besides complications, I am sure this is his biggest fear.

At some point will I be able to go out to dinner (and eat a smaller portion) and enjoy it? Or have a drink? Or appear normal at all? Will I always feel sick?

Thanks so much!

Carol

Nope, you won't always feel sick!! DH was banded two years ago, and he feels MUCH better then he did before getting banded. We eat out a lot, and he enjoys his food just fine. In fact, because you have to chew so carefully, he savors it more then he did in the gulp-it-all-down days.

I'm a week out now, and feeling pretty good. Still on liquids though.

when i want to eat out i have to plan ahead and see what is on the menu firstas it is embarrasing when u have to run off to be sick. i only eat out now if it is a necessity to.

Just to present a different view, my experience is totally opposite from Sugarplum's. I eat out every week. Even with being vegetarian (which presents its own list of menu issues) I don't plan ahead and I've never gotten sick in public. I do, however, often only order an appetizer, which sometimes requires explanation to the waiter or dining companion.

You have a choice as to how tight to keep your band and what lifestyle you wish to maintain while banded. Many people choose to be tighter, which means that they have to be a lot more careful about their choices, restaurants, etc. The upside is that they get a lot of control from their band in the weight loss journey. That is absolutely the right choice for some people.

For me, I'd rather be a little looser and be able to eat any texture of food (even bread, though I don't often choose it). It's important to my lifestyle (I'm an attorney that takes clients out a lot, I'm single and I live in NYC so eating out is inherently part of the picture) and it hasn't interfered with my weight loss goals yet, so it's working for me. The band really dimms my head hunger, though quantity control I have to work on myself more than some, given that I chose to be looser.

My point is, you have choices. Getting the band will not make you miserable. It's adjustible for a reason!

I've been wondering about this too. I just wonder if it is always going to feel like someone punched me in the stomach. I know it won't, but I can't help but wonder. It is hard to imagine the nausea being gone and being able to go on about our new healthier thinner lives normally.

I have a question about being normal. I still havent really had a serious talk with my husband about it. He will be resistant. I know he is just araid of things. One thing he is afraid of is that I would always feel sick and never be able to be normal again. Besides complications, I am sure this is his biggest fear.

I ma not sure what you mean by "sick".

If you mean PB, I do not PB all the time. If you mean feel sick, as in nauseous, no to that too. I am far more "normal" now, than I ever was.

At some point will I be able to go out to dinner (and eat a smaller portion) and enjoy it? Or have a drink? Or appear normal at all? Will I always feel sick?

Thanks so much!

Carol

I eat out at restaurants all. the. time.

DH and I love gourmet food. I just make sure that I eat slowly, and only ever order an entrée for myself as a main. I do have a coffee before my meal, but most of the restaurants I eat at offer a drink before/with your meal anyway, so it is not seen as unusual.

My whole point is to be "normal". To eat like a "normal" person. I enjoy eating out, and usually choose what I enjoy, even if I can't eat all of it. I have changed my perspective about that. I don't think I'm not getting "my money's worth" if I don't stuff myself to the gills. I get my money's worth if I enjoy it, even a very small portion of it.

Like JulieNYC, the band is adjustible for a reason...I prefer not to be extremely restricted, so I can enjoy a variety of food. You are in control of how you use your band.

I also eat out regularly and although I was only banded a few weeks ago I have had no problem going to restaurants (admittedly I only eat about 1/4 of what I used to). I have also been out to restaurants with friends who do not know I've been banded and they haven't even noticed my reduced food intake....I just take it slow and chew, chew, chew.

I eat normal food in very small portions. We eat out a lot and one of my favorite places is Market Street (it's a lot like Whole Foods). I have 1/2 of a slice of prime rib (about 6 oz) and nothing else. Fills me up for hours.

At traditional restaurants I usually order off the appetizer menu. A skewer of broiled shrimp is a good meal for me.

I can't eat potatoes, rice, Pasta, pizza, breaded foods, etc. salad is iffy. For lunch I often eat tuna right out of the little foil pouch, with a few crackers.

I guess variety does suffer somewhat because I have to work to get in my 65 grams of Protein every day. Sometimes I miss the veggies, as I just don't have room for them at most meals. In the winter I make veggie Soup or veggie beef soup, and put everything thru the food processor prior to cooking. It is the epitome of good, healthy eating.

The band is NOT surgically induced bulimia! NO! no! No! The band is about restricting you portion sizes, not restricting your life.

My DH and I go out all the time, and yes, I have drinks, but many bandsters find that alcohol affects them much easier than before, and blended drinks like margaritas will Close lots of folks down from the restriction it brings.

We usually order off the appitizer menue too, or we share, or we bring home all the left overs so I have "good" lunches for days!

I know that not being "normal" is the fear of so many baby bandsters, that and worry that the band won't work for them. Because the Band is a lifestyle, it will take some work and mental adjustment on your part to figure how how to live with your new lifestyle.

Like figuring out that eating in your car is a thing of the past... Or at least eating while you drive is ...

What is normal? It's a mind thing. I am able to go out to restaurants and just eat what I can. I've only come close to PB'ing once and I've been careful not to let that happen again. Normal isn't being able to go back to the buffet 3 or 4 times,or even necessarily finishing everything on you plate. Nothing to fear, we are all probably more normal now than we ever were before.

I eat out but stay away from foods that have given me trouble. For example, shrimp can be tough for me to handle but scallops I do fine with. I ignore the bread and butter, skip dessert and stick to the main course. By the way, only 2 people know I am banded and nobody has noticed my change in eating patterns when I dine out so don't worry.

Is there certain foods that make me sick?? Yes!

With that being said I know what I can get away with and not feel ill. Not to sound crude, but you cut off your right arm you learn to adapt.

If done correctly (placement and fills) you will not be sick all the time. Will you do something you regret as far as eating something you shouldn't probably, who doesn't? but after losing almost 130lbs I am happy with my weight loss and energy level.