how do you deal with social situations in the month after banding?

I have only told my immediate family and 1 or 2 close friends, and I'm not sure how I'm going to handle the typical backyard BBQ or pizza with the football team families in that critical month of mushies and liquid only.

I've heard some suggestions that if you're going to bbq and dinners and stuff, make a dish to bring with you that you can eat that others can possibly eat too. I'm very lucky because my family and friends were very supportive, so they for the most part of been understanding about going out to eat or things like that (except one occasion with my roommate yesterday). Good luck!

I didn't tell very many people about my band (just a couple of family members) so I definitely understand this issue.

Usually, I tell people I'm just not hungry, I ate earlier, I'm not feeling well, or, if it's a BBQ type setting, I take just a little, make it look like more by spreading it out over my plate, eat about half of that, and then throw my plate away early. If I'm out in a restaurant, I get a to go box early and put 95% of my meal in it so that it looks like I ate more than I did.

I know it shouldn't matter what other people think, but to me it does. Just being honest. I also usually have my husband with me and he is usually happy to eat some of my remains. :-)

You'll be surprised how little attention other people pay to what is on your plate. They're more concerned about their own. Put a small amount of the foods that you know you can eat on your plate. If anyone asks what's up, just say you're not that hungry, or you're trying to watch what you eat. The reason is none of their business.

take a cold potato salad, make it really yummy,

then you can have some and make sure you chew it really well so it slides down....

I tell people that I'm on a diet and I don't want to sabotage it. I have also brought my own food. People are very supportive.