I had my first fill one week ago. Nothing! I'm going to call tomorrow for a recheck. Mornings I ave no issues. Afternoons I have no issues. After 4 I am starving. What to do.

I don't use sauces with my fish. My sea bass is pretty simple but very tasty. I put a wee bit of EVOO on it, then garlic powder and lemon pepper. That's it. Bake at 350 until done. I have only eaten in a restaurant twice since my sx (12/16). I prefer my own cooking. At least I know what I am getting. I have noticed my tastes in food have changed since sx. I used to love sushi and sashimi, and now I can't stand it. I do not crave red meat any longer, and was my staple Pre op. did you go through that?

The only foods I no longer crave are fast foods. I never was a sweets eater. I just overate a few hundred calories every day. I eat about everything but try to keep it all healthy. Red meat 2 times a week maybe.

Sea bass is not really available here in Denver and if it was it would be very costly.

Speaking of EVOO. We have about 8 bottles of EVOO in our pantry. We go to a couple of different Olive Oil stores and they have dozens of different flavors including just organic. Great stuff. I like to put the lemon EVOO on our fish. And I put the Tuscan on the mushrooms/onion/red pepper I stir fry.

Check out your local olive oil store. Lots of different balsamics too!

http://kristosoliveoil.com/

Sea bass is expensive. $27 a pound here! But one lb lasts me 4 meals. That olive oil sounds great! I will check it out. Thanks.

Culinary school will serve you well, I think, as banded life is really about "real" food and since we're not having much of it why not have the very best. Succulent meats, for example -- chicken thighs that are really falling apart, beautiful fish, etc. I make a lot of stock and use that in cooking various dishes. Also stewing apples and pears leaving chunks in them -- that kind of thing seems very band-friendly for me.

On the not liking foods we used to love, avocado turns out to be something I just don't want now. I used to try to eat a half an avocado with a beautiful balsamic, a little olive oil, etc. and would always end up eating the other half -- couldn't get enough. Thought avocado would be a nice food once banded but I have no interest in it now.

Speaking of balsamics, those independent olive oil stores have some amazing vinegars as well. We have a chocolate balsamic that is so intense it just takes a few drops, and some nice white vinegars as well.

Have fun cooking! I am so happy that I can continue to love food preparation and just have very small portions or even at times I don't have any of what I make -- but I feel like my relationship with food is very intact and healthy with my band. I think I worried I wouldn't want to be "in" food anymore.

I thought that too. I was so sad bc I thought I had to give up cooking. I have slowly found that I can cook. And it's ok. I don't have to hate food for this to work. I can love it and make better choices. I justify spending the extra money on the foods I want bc I know I will eat less and it will last longer! Lol. 2 weeks post op I made the best Paula Deen chicken soup. Left the noodles out and it was fabulous. Started with a whole chicken in boiling water. The old fashioned way. And I have not had fast food since November, 2013!