how do you handle going out to restaurants or other peoples homes for dinner? If you either order or take just a little...or leave over most of your meal..how do you explain and how do you avoid insulting your host/chef?

I find that with friends, I tell them that I had my stomach banded so can't eat a lot, or some things, and I do so with my attitude of "Isn't it great, I'm feeling so much better and getting healthier". I don't say that, but I act(not really an act, it's how I feel) that my band is the best thing that ever happened to me, and I haven't had any negative feedback.

For restuarants, if I have a request, I just do like Jack and say I recently had surgery.

Everyone knows I'm banded so I dont have to explain anything.I just leave what I cant eat, although when we go to friends, its nearly always serve yourself type BBQ or something, formal dinner parties just arent really done these days - well not amongst my generation. At a restaurant I just leave what I cant finish.

I'm a big believer in dissasociating myself from the food. I think to worry that you're *wasting* money by not eating all your meal is the kind of mentality I want to avoid. To me it seems kind of dysfunctional. I just dont care about it. I eat what I feel like eating, stop when I'm full. Not interested in taking it home or splitting with others or kicking up a song and dance over not having to pay full price becuase I cant eat a full sized meal.

You could always just take a doggie bag home with the rest of the meal and parcel it out over a few days. Or order Soup or some kind of small side. Most of my friends are dieters anyway, and their skinny!! (yuk), they are constantly eating light, so that won't be a problem. I'm just thinking of Thanksgiving dinner, what to do then. I guess I'd probably just eat a small amount and take home a care package for the next day too.

Don't worry. People are more supportive than you think.

i know this past sunday i went to a get together with friends and they had sooooooo much food i just took a tables spoon of each of what they had and it filled me up so just when you go just think protien first veggies second carbs last , i know i had a lil bit of ham steamed veggies they had a chicken dip i had a little of that and they had taco dip and i had little of that and i was full i dont even think it amounted to a cup of what i had but it was good. i think they called me the test taster of the night. but it worked. it wsa all good and i didnt go hay wire of gimmie more more more lol. its just a trial of thinking about what your gonna eat and not knowing if its ok. just remember portion your meals as directed by your doctor.