Able to EAT Anything and EVerything?

 You might want to consider getting a book about living with the lap band.  I had one from my surgeon's office called "Adjustable Gastric Banding" by Jessie Ahroni.  It's pretty basic, but is a great intro book on banding.

www.amazon.com/Laparoscopic-Adjustable-Gastric-Banding-Achie ving/dp/0595311148

Jean McMillan, one of our veteran bandsters here, also has a book out about living with the lap band.  I haven't read it, but I know Jean from this site, and she is smart, funny, and I *trust* her.  You can also order her book from Amazon, but you might want to order from her directly.  Here's a link:

jean-onthebandwagon.blogspot.com/2010/08/how-to-order-bandwa gon.html

 /Thanks for the book suggestions! 

I can eat most things, but there are certain things I avoid at all cost...
Tough meat, sticky rice, polenta, doughy bread, waffles and thick pizza crust are some examples.  I also have trouble with some kinds of pasta, but don't eat pasta often (maybe once per month). 

I have found that travel and weather affect my band tremendously as does my hydration.  In warm, humid climates, I am very tight and in cooler climates, sort of loose.  If I am a bit dehydrated, I am looser and well hydrated I pretty much feel like my band is at optimal fill.

I don't dump(that is a side effect of malabsorbtion and lack of a pyloris valve-we don't have that) but if I eat high simple carbs occasionally, I do get a bit queasy and can have some digestive issues and the shakes...sort of like hypoglycemia.  Our bodies get used to our healthier lifestyle and when we "break" the rules, it is a shock to our system.

The whole idea of our band is not to restrict what we eat so much, but for us to make better food choices, exercise portion control and keep us from being hungry between meals...it's a lifestyle change.  It's okay to eat "forbidden foods" from time to time, just not every day or at every meal.