My entire building had our first annual chili cookoff today. I have spent the last 1 1/2 hours sampling chili and all the fixings and numerous deserts. I feel like I could just POP!!! :rolleyes I can almost eat as much as pre-band. I'm pretty sure that I am going to be one of those who has to get a fill immediately after the initial 6 weeks. Anyways, at least no one suspected anything and I am still a closet bandster. However, I can tell it's gonna be pretty tricky keeping the secret around here. Our building gets together for lunch a few times each year, but our department usually goes out to lunch together at least once per month. I know as I get fills and restriction there will be some raised eyebrows around the table, afterall, they are used to seeing me scarf down everything in sight! Anybody else in the closet long term? And what do you say to when someone asks if you are ok because you hardly eat anything?

They had a neighborhood bbq right after I got banded, I was on liquids. I put some stuff on my plate and pushed it around alot. Nobody even noticed that I didn't eat the stuff.

Closet Bandster here! People really don't pay as much attention as you think to what you're eating. Only my husband, surgeon, and ya'll know. Not even my 2 sons.

Blossom..WOW! you are one of the few who was alllowed chili's, fixin's and desserts just being 2 weeks post op.....Lucky you I was still on clear liquids at 2 weeks post op with a week of full liquids after that, then 2 weeks of mushy's and then I was on solids. I was told no food for 3 weeks so my band can set in place and I can heal because any food in my tummy would have to digest and the digestion process is such a grumblin, rumblin thing that I did not want to risk slippage since my band was not set into place and I was not healed al ltheway by having to digest any food prior to being 3 weeks post op..so interesting how every Dr. has different post op instructions, it varies so much between Dr.'s...Anyways.

I tell everyone and anyone who asks how I have lost my weight..as a matter of fact one of my customers this morning asked me and I told her, she has all ready called Dr. Orti'z office...she said she has been watching me get smaller and smaller, she is overweight by about 80lbs..so for me, the more I can help and the more I can educate about the band..The better! That's just me though!

Hi Blossom! Most of the time when co-workers have lunch together everyone talks alot and worries about their own food and the time limit. I really think this will be an easy thing for you to "hide".

Good luck.

And dont forget Betty's suggestion. Pushing food around on your plate is also real good way to disguise our band!

Michelle, I was really surprised when my dr said 1 week full liquid, 1 week mushies then introduce solids. I figured I would just do what felt right and if I felt I needed to be on liquids longer then I would stay on them. But, I am a fast healer. The swelling went away after only a few days and I have very little restriction and a voracious appetite, so I went ahead and started mushies the 2nd week. The chili was probably a day or 2 early on my schedule, but I had no problems with it. Geez, I can hardly wait for my first fill!!!

Thanks for the suggestion, Betty. I will try that. Marie, your sons don't know!!! Have they noticed how slim, healthy and active you are becoming? Paula, I hope you're right! We are a pretty close knit group, though, hence the worry they will notice. LOL, instead of worrying about the time, we just make sure the bosses come with us!!!

My sons are 20 and 24. I'm just "Mom" to them. I'm looking at this positively and choosing to think that they didn't notice when I was "blimped out" either. LOL

LOL!!!! Marie that is just too funny!