Insights 3-1/2 weeks post-surgery....your thoughts?

[Stacie from St. Louis 3]

I was banded on October 11th and am going in for my first fill on November 8th. After a rough first couple of weeks, I am feeling great and doing well with my eating. I don't weigh myself at home so I am eager to see what the scale says next week. So far, however, I have learned a couple of very important things about myself and my eating habits:

1) I have probably eaten WAY TOO FAST for years. I know this because I just can't do it with the band and I've noticed my meals take longer now.

2) I have probably not chewed my food adequately, because now that I have the band it will not go down easily unless I chew and re-chew my food. I find my self attempting to swallow way too soon, which causes discomfort - my old way of chewing just doesn't work now!

3) Having second or third helpings was a reflex! When I finish my dinner now, it feels WEIRD to not go for another helping of something, even though I'm not evn hungry. It had become second-nature.

For me, these are great insights, and every day I am more and more aware.

Please feel free to comment and share your own insights!

[transforming jlaroux 78]

First of all, congratulations on your band! It's an amazing journey and all of these little things will appear in your life, and you will wonder why/how you ever managed before! This is just the beginning!

[Dibley Dawn 84]

I can totally relate to number 1. above. Before the band, I was a vacuum. I would literally sit down with a plate full of food and then a couple of minutes later not even remember eating it. I didn't chew at all....and I would be hungry again by the time I put my fork down.

Now, it takes me at least 30 minutes to eat a meal and i chew every single bite. I realized that with the band, not only am I forced to chew things, but I am forced to taste them as well. When I started eating real food again (after all the liquids and the mushies) i tried to eat some of my former favorite foods. i discovered that by having to really chew them and taste them, I didn't really love the taste of some things any more. My favorite hamburger joint burgers now taste like greese and gristle. yuck!

I remember eating my first chicken cordon bleu post surgery and not remembering that ham taste inside of it. before, I would just take a bite, maybe chew once and swallow.

the band has really opened up a new world of tasting things, that's for sure.

I think I actually enjoy eating food now more than I did before the band because i can really take my time with good foods and taste every bite.

[KBaum 7]

I can totally relate to all of your points above. I get my first fill on the 8th too. I'm a bit nervous...but its a good thing!

[Lorianne-in-VA 3]

I'm an October 11th bandit too! I can relate to all of the above!

I had my first fill appt yesterday but because of the 21lbs I have lost we decided to hold off on a fill until 12/7. I'm still satisfied with 1c food every 3.5-4hours. I'm on mushies until next Monday then I can begin soft solids.

Yesterday's weight was 177.4!! I haven't been below the 190s in ten years!