so i am 5 days post op, and find that i can drink liquids and what not like normal, i am wondering i hear people talk about how it takes them so long to eat a regular meal, so am i likely to experince that when i get to real food?

It takes a long time because of the chewing, and the time advised/required between bites. Since you're still on liquids, you won't have the same issue - unless you're sipping or drinking slowly (that would be the drinker's version of the chewers problem).

Nerdpunk, the answer is that it happens when it happens. We are supposed to eat slowly from the gate, because that's generally good diet advice. But many people feel no real restriction with the band until after it's been adjusted a couple of time, so whether you will actually HAVE to eat very slowly this early in the game is an open question. Of course you SHOULD, because you don't want to find out the hard way that something you didn't chew carefully enough won't go down. But you may also be surprised at how little difference the surgery makes in your eating ability--at least, until after you have a couple of adjustments.

So the answer is a resounding maybe. Helpful, huh?

thanks for the info, lately i've been pureeing my foods so it makes it easier to go down, and i think it's best to stay away from breads and rice and pasta when i get to "real food" stage, i do try to chew to cremation just for good practice

Hey nerdpunk,

I am 6 weeks post op and have to eat very slowly and chew, chew, chew or I get that golfball in the chest feeling I'm sure you've read about. I know some people feel very little restriction before their first fill but that's not the case for some of us. Eat slow and chew, chew, chew is my advise.

I have only had one fill. So far, I can eat anything I want. The only time I have had problems is the couple of times I over ate. I later felt too full, buy no pain. I can't wait to get more fills.