That sounds basically the same as mine, he advises a one cup meal. Carbonated ok anytime but prob wont like the trapped burp feeling. Cali

Just a thought--and I'm not banded yet, but it looks to me from your plan that total cups/day would be between 4.25-6. If you aim for more "mini-meals" thru the day---even adding your fruit/veggie as a SNACK then you should be fine, right? I didn't see 'DAIRY' as a food group---are you planning to cut back on that?

13. Eat slowly: Chew 3 min., wait 3 min. between bites

14. Meals should last no longer than 20-25 min.

Based on this, that's 6 minutes per bite. If meal time is no more than 25 minutes, then your meal will have to be 4 bites. There is something wrong with this - 4 bites won't equal even 1 cup!

Ok, most of the rules sound like what I follow. I stop liquids 30 min before meals and I don't drink for an hour after. Now, the 3 min chewing "crap". NO WAY. I chew well and I pause maybe 20 seconds then I eat another bite.

I eat consistently 1200-1500 calories per day and I log everything that goes into my mouth on fitday.com to make sure I am honest. I normally take 15-20 min to eat.

For instance: If we go out to eat I can eat about:

-1/4-1/3 of a regular cheeseburger and maybe 7 fries.

-Pizza- would be 1 slice of a 10".

-2 chicken tenders and maybe a few fries

-1/2 cup refried beans with 1 serving of chips (yes, I count them out) with cheddar and ff sour cream

Also, I drink a Starbucks venti non-fat caramel mocha no whip (2 pumps mocha, 4 pumps sf caramel ) every day

Now I'm stressing about this!!!!!! )

I thought carbonated beverages are not allowed even after 12 weeks? I will have to go back and look at my nutritional work sheets. I did not drink them to begin with so no big deal for me.

Murphy