I am scheduled for 7/26. I occasionally have to participate in business dinners for my husbands business. We are the owners and many clients are European. We pretty much have to take them to lovely dinners, usually ordering the chef's tasting menu (7-9) courses. Of course each course is tiny and they are served over a 90-120 minute period. Should I be able to make it through these? I will not have an option of opting out or for another selection. (all or none - wife can't ruin it for visitors!!) I will be able to nibble on each course. I will for sure avoid these in my first maybe 2 months. I will get my first fill after a month, maybe never schedule a fill prior to a dinner? Any advise is appreciated.

oh, LOVE this site! c

The secret is to just pace yourself. I would take a bite or 2 of each dish waiting in between dishes. Also, I read a book recently and the doctor in the book said take a sip of wine in between. It will not kill you and it will space the food out. Have fun and enjoy.

Just act normal, push your food around on your plate a lot and people won't even notice that you aren't eating much.

Thanks for the replys. You make it sound very do-able. I keep finding "issues" to worry about when I really need to keep focused on the goal. I think it's the pre-band jitters!

I think you will just have to tell your husband that, unfortunately, your good friend Marjon9 will be substituting for you at those dinners.

I think you will just have to tell your husband that, unfortunately, your good friend Marjon9 will be substituting for you at those dinners.

That offer PROVES it's very do-able! Thanks!!

I've been to a couple of chinese banquets. You will NEVER be able to get through all the food, lol, but what I've done is just a bite or two of each course and skipped one or two entirely. Let them serve it up and just dont eat it.

I have no shame or embarrassment about telling people I'm too full. Simple as that. Just say it. "I'm a bit too full, I'm going to sit this one out". Its easy. You dont have to say you are banded.

I want to give you a little bit more serious answer as well. This type of dinner is something that you should be able to manage, but in fairness it is true that if you are having really tight restriction then eating a long, public dinner can raise some issues. Once you've had the band for six months and you sort of learn how to manage it things should be OK. But if you are just learning how the band affects you it can catch you by surprise sometimes. I don't want to give you a bunch of stories and examples that are going to make you worry needlessly. But I would say that it would be a good idea to read more on this forum. People have raised the issue before about how to go out to dinner with friends and family and you can find threads on that question. And post more questions if you have them. This is definitely a manageable situation, but you are right to think about it and to plan for it.