when exactly, or how, does it become a habit? small bites and chewing food into nothingness? decades of gulping food and now I am supposed to know how to do it carefully and slowly?

Its fine when I am having a proper meal with other people, dinner time and stuff, but grabbing lunch, with my 2 year old hanging from my pants demanding to ( fill in the blank, park, food, Water, tv....) i go back to my usual bad habits, and it hurts! I dont want to damage this thing by doing something stupid... If i could just concentrate....

tellie

on my 4th week

Well, if you're as slow a learner as I am :ermm...when not chewing means a big lump of unchewed food ends up blocking your stoma and your brain starts The Saliva Thing, and you have to stand over a toilet and spit for 30 minutes is right about when you start to learn new habits. Because even a wiggling, squealing toddler cannot stop the saliva and because there's nothing you can do until it stops, you will eventually do whatever it takes to make it not happen.

Most of the time.

Sue

*whose baby sister has grandchildren older than two and who has several more decades of bad habits to unlearn than anyone rearing a two-year-old*

ouch! ack!

I get it.... thanks for that....

tellie

I've only had good restriction for a few weeks so I am feeling brand new at this - and evidently I'm a slow learner. So I definitely understand what you are talking about. But Sue is right about the motivational factor. The blockage/saliva thing is a harsh teacher, but an effective one.

Nancy

Yeah, it's hard when you're in a hurry. With stuff that's really tough to chew (like meat) I cut it into bite-size pieces with a knife first so I can't gulp it down.

Hi Everyone,

I have found a technique which works well for me. I eat with my fingers a lot!!! I find that if I put a piece of chicken or fish between my fingertips instead of cutting everything to baby size portions, I am able to control the portions better and eat faster than I can picking up a fork and knife and cutting. Also, I never put anything in my mouth bigger than something that can fit between my thumb and first finger, so I wind up with really small quantities. I hope that makes sense......

Babs in TX

334/263/180

-71 and counting

6/23/03

I use a tea spoon when eating and fill it only 1/2 way with food. You can also try eating with a small fork. I found that it also helps if I don't wait until I am absoloutly starving to eat. Because then I tend to stuff my mouth and pain sets in really fast.

Hope this helps,

Mary

thanks for the tips! I will be sure to try them, and avoid eating in a hurry....I am just sooooo happy that salads go down well, and raw vegetables ( so far).... i have been careful to only eat soft, ground beef ( skirt and girello are good to as they shred), chicken is fine, fish no problema, but i gave up on the idea of crisp pita bread.... ugh, that was bad....

so much to learn....

tellie