BlueRain76

Yes I am finding that out! I dont know how many times I've read, take small bites, eat slowly, chew chew chew while preparing for surgery. But you can read that a thousand times and have no idea what it means until your getting stuck every time you eat!

You're very welcome. I found out the hard way, too. After my last fill in May I was constantly stuck for a week before I realized my idea of a small bite wasn't nearly small enough, switched to bites the size of the pic, and have been fine ever since.
I actually took that pic the day I figured it out, it was my "ah ha!" moment LOL.
Hang in there, the band has a definite learning curve

I eat really tiny bites, chew it until it's mush, and pause between bites.
Here is the size bites I take. I put my finger next to it for size comparison,

Oh my, no wonder in getting stuck! I guess I just didn't realize how small small is. Thanks so much!

This is after 67 pounds. I have about 20 pounds to go. The ones in red are before and the ones in black are after. I still can't tell a difference. LOL

I suspect when you reach 199, you'll be happy but inclined to go further. I have relatives who hit nearly 400lbs and had no intention of getting any bigger, PARTICULARLY when I am nearly 37yrs old and have been on beta blockers for blood pressure since I was 25 and at risk for type II diabetes. We are all trying to be healthier, so it serves to anger "skinny bandsters" when their efforts are poo-poo'ed by those who started at much higher weights. It's also quite common that folks, like me, who were banded at ~200 started out higher and paid for the surgery out of pocket as a reward for getting down that low from a higher weight. For the record, I'm 5'5", try to be encouraging to everyone, and assume negativity I could have toward anyone on this journey could be better directed at someone else, like criminals or general jackarses.
Saying skinny bandsters are infuriating is the same as saying bigger bandsters waited too long... it doesn't really help anyone either way. LB for folks less than 35BMI was just approved by the FDA in early 2011, so that is why there seem to be more and more skinny bandsters. I suspect some with >35BMI would've had the surgery sooner if it had been available to them in the US. I had no idea at a BMI of ~33-34 that I was eligible until I was reading something else from the FDA. I was tentative, but really happy to have the opportunity to improve my health with this tool! We could all get mad at the real skinnies who lost so much they need to re-gain some, but their struggles are just as real as everyone else's and their mental and physical health just as important, so they need to share and get encouragement as well! Happy health everyone!

My doctor says no smoking....period....i used to be a smoker, and the way i kicked the habit is when i stopped, I stopped cold turkey and I just had to tell myself when i felt the urge to smoke that this is as bad as the urge will get, if i give in now i will only have to go through this feeling again..do you really wanna relive the first few days of not smoking ever again? The answer for me was HELL NO!!!! I am smoke free for 4 years now!