I am wondering if any of you are measuring your food, or if you are just listening to your body signals to stop eating.

I just had my first fill and am finding that I am still eating too fast. I watch the clock to make my meals last at least 20-30 minutes but I find that I am eating too fast yet. I am a nurse who is used to eating my entire meal on my feet, in one swallow, in under 5 minutes. Changing that behavior has been harder than I first thought it would be.

I have ordered baby utensils and am awaiting them from amazon. I am trying to chew my food into mush before swallowing and I have really not had any problems with sticks, or anything. I am just really worried that my quick eating will stretch my pouch because I am eating too fast, before my body can even figure it out.

I figure I am eating about one to one and a half cup of food. I am just wanting some pointers from my fellow bandsters that have gone before me.

I never measure anything. My body tells me when to stop. Most things I can just look at and know if it will be more than I can eat. I got used to throwing away those last few bites. Eating very slow is tough sometimes, but my body also speaks to me on that one. If I don't chew some things well enough or eat them too fast I will be in pain or throw up. It's a tough lesson to learn sometimes. After a few episodes like that you slow down and chew.

I weigh and measure everything. I eat 2-4 oz of meat (weight) 1/2 cup veggie, 1/4 cup starch at the most at one time. I think that it protects my pouch from stretching, but it could just be that I am neurotic!:confused:

I listen to my body.

I also think you cant say you're watching the clock and eating too fast. You naturally eat faster until you have good restriction, as restriction increases, you slow down.

Until I achieved restriction, "listening" to my body would have led to overeating. I still don't have consistent restriction--and I still weigh and measure.

I can eyeball a good serving now, and listening to my body works most of the time. But I still have bottomless days---and choose not to continue to eat beyond what I really need to eat to promote good weight loss.

At the beginning, this meant that I was hungry a good deal of the time. I was willing to pay that price to lose consistently during bandster hell.

I found with myself that measureing is a key. Its amazeing how your hunger will effect your vision.My eyes tell me what I want not what i actually need 4oz. My Doc continues to school me on the 4 oz rule. I too have a problem with how quickly I eat. I never sit in front of TV and eat because its mindless.I found the baby spoons helpful they force me to think about what I am about to put in my mouth

I am glad to read these posts. I have been dealing with the pain of either eating too fast or eating too much. I started off the day today with a protein shake with added protein. I drank it all. I am not feeling too much pain so, it went down fine. I found that the ok from my doctor to start soft foods and mushies, made me go overboard. I am excited to get this band thing under control. This overeating thing needs to be put down, for me. The first few weeks (I am only 11 days out form surgery) are so HARD. I resolve today to measure measure measure~ Thank You all! You do not know just how much you have helped me.

K:thumbup:

I don't usually measure as I don't have time and am always on the road for my work. I had to learn real quick to "eyeball" portions which my dr and I reviewed by using saucers and small salad plates. I try to always keep the meat smaller than the size of my palm and then starch and veggie together equal the size of my palm. That usually is the right amount for me and I am now 16 months post surgery and 110 lbs lighter. This was the thing my Dr was most concerned about because of my job and wine/dine mentality that comes with my work. I think I have done a great job of sticking to my small plate rule. Good luck on your journey and just do whatever you find works best for you.

I weigh or measure everything I can. If I'm out someplace and am eating, I'll try to eyeball it and then eat less than I think I should eat. (I figure I'm overestimating when I eyeball it).

If I get full before I eat what I've measured, I'll stop. If I'm still hungry I'll stop too, but it is much harder. :biggrin:

Mary

I am glad to read these posts. I have been dealing with the pain of either eating too fast or eating too much. I started off the day today with a Protein shake with added protein. I drank it all. I am not feeling too much pain so, it went down fine. I found that the ok from my doctor to start soft foods and mushies, made me go overboard. I am excited to get this band thing under control. This overeating thing needs to be put down, for me. The first few weeks (I am only 11 days out form surgery) are so HARD. I resolve today to measure measure measure~ Thank You all! You do not know just how much you have helped me.

K:thumbup:

Kelli- Thanks for sharing- the same exact thing happened to me after the doc told me Thursday that I could advance my diet- I too went overboard. It is so nice to know that I am not the only one. Today has been better but I agree... measure measure measure!!

I just give myself the same portion as my six year old daughter.

Cathy