To swallow or not to swallow

[grumpys wife 1]

I haven't been banded yet but I am wondering about this. How hard is it to chew, chew chew before you swallow your food. I was noticing yesterday than when I eat , as soon as I have the food in my mouth I am already starting to swallow some of it. Some gets chewed a little but some just goes on down. I'm sure this is a habit from eating on the run. How did yall handle this ? thanks

[reverie 49]

Train yourself to chew. Trust me when you don't chew with the band and you get stuck/PB, you'll learn to chew quickly!

[Miss A 1]

Just practice now while your not banded and by the time you get banded you should be fine.

[ElfiePoo 109]

That was the hardest thing for me to learn. I was a chew 2-3 times and then swallow eater..not something I can do with a band. My doctor discourages chewing food to mush and said if I have to chew my food to mush to get it to go down, that's the same as still being on 'mushies' and a sign that I have too much fill in my band.

Now it's habit, but at first, I just had to be mindful while I ate that the food in my mouth was a small bite (not an overflowing fork) and that I chewed enough to break it up into small pieces the size of a pencil eraser.

Trust me...one stuck episode and you'll find it's a great reminder.

.

[honk 780]

I agree with with previous poster if you chew to much it defeats the purpose of the band. Everything will slide right through. BUTTT don't chew raw carrots enough and you are in serios trouble!

I agree about my natural way of eating is half a chew and it's gone. I had to take a mindful eating class pre surgery and they had us eat one raisen and really savor it. At times I stop myself and say remember to enjoy each mouthful. This is'nt a race. I have to admit the whole "chew chew chew" thing gets on my nerves.

[TKW 501]

I learned the hard way! But eventually I learned!

[papoose 48]

Make sure take smaller pieces and chew, chew. The size of a pencil eraser is what I was told. I find when I don't follow those rules. It is very painful and pb'ing may follow. I started practicing a month before my surgery and still had a problem. So chewing and chewing is very important. Good luck.

[CheckYes 46]

I found it to be pretty easy once you REMEMBER to chew chew chew. The remembering was the hardest part!

[Melissannde 41]

Practice before banding. And cut your food into small bites before you start eating.

I was banded while my DD was away at college. When she came home, she commented "wow you take small bites". I watched her eat and it was kinda repulsive to see the huge bites she shoved in her mouth (and she's a tiny girl).

[vickyd 24]

I would also say that another thing I have found is to not be distracted when you are eating...the other day, I got stuck because I was in a hurry to go into a meeting at work and didn't pay attention to what I was doing. I put a small bite of food in my mouth (much smaller than pre-band) but only chewed it a couple of times and swallowed like I used to do and BOY DID I REGRET IT!!!

[ChopswyfT 1]

Lawd, I'm so confused now. I am on stage 3 soft/moist. I was told by my my Bariatric coor. to chew, chew, chew until it's "applesauce" consistancy. Now, I've yalls post stating to chew till it's the size of a pencil eraser.

Oh, what's a girl to do (or chew) ?

[HeatherinCA 10]

That was the hardest thing for me to learn. I was a chew 2-3 times and then swallow eater..not something I can do with a band. My doctor discourages chewing food to mush and said if I have to chew my food to mush to get it to go down, that's the same as still being on 'mushies' and a sign that I have too much fill in my band.

Now it's habit, but at first, I just had to be mindful while I ate that the food in my mouth was a small bite (not an overflowing fork) and that I chewed enough to break it up into small pieces the size of a pencil eraser.

Trust me...one stuck episode and you'll find it's a great reminder.

.

I chew enough, but I don't mush it to the point it's not recognizable. Just eat slowly, and cut things up pretty small. Like for me, for example if I'm having sushi, I'll cut one piece of the roll in to 4 or 5 bites, versus eating it all at once. I don't do pencil eraser size, but just make sure it's small. I also bought a shrimp fork and a tiny spoon that helps a lot.

[HeatherinCA 10]

Lawd, I'm so confused now. I am on stage 3 soft/moist. I was told by my my Bariatric coor. to chew, chew, chew until it's "applesauce" consistancy. Now, I've yalls post stating to chew till it's the size of a pencil eraser.

Oh, what's a girl to do (or chew) ?

No, the bites you are taking should be pencil eraser size. I think thats a little small, but just SMALL in general, no huge fork full of anything.

[ChopswyfT 1]

No, the bites you are taking should be pencil eraser size. I think thats a little small, but just SMALL in general, no huge fork full of anything.

Heather, I can always count on you to get me straight ..thanks