Hello all

The NUT I have been going to thus far is not a bariatric specialist, so what she has been telling me, quite frankly, is what I have been hearing from every reducing program I've been on since I was 12 ( I actually spent 8 weeks at an official Weight Watchers camp in 1968<scary spaghetti squash and chicken boiled in tomato juice with no spices or salt, etc>).

ANYWAY, I digress, as usual,. The point is, that I haven't been given any direction, except eat less, as to how I can get used to eating tiny meals every hour or so.

Please understand that I truly want to learn to do this and I know that in order to be successful for the rest of my life I am going to have to train myself to do this.

Are there threads here or books ( I am waiting for "The emotional first aid kit" to arrive and that might help) or are there suggestions you all have for ways to start to train myself (I have seen posts on baby spoons, baby dishes, 1 oz containers, etc) for this? Or does it just come naturally.

I am going to the NUT again on Thursday, and have an appt with the bariatric NUT in April, but I am getting "performance anxiety" about being able to do this.

TIA for advice given.

Buy really small bowls and baby spoons... and just practice eating like 1/2 cup of whatever real slow... I did it some before surgery just to see how it would feel. I sure didn't do it consistently...but tried it out. After surg you won't have a choice and your stomach def lets you know you have had enuf after a few oz. It's a GREAT tool!!! 5 weeks tomorrow and down #24.

For me the best way I've learned to reduce my portion size is to reduce my plate/bowl size. I eat out of baby bowls now and off of tiny sandwich plates. I also use baby utensils. It totally tricks my mind into thinking that I'm getting way more than I am.

Just got back from Wallyworld where I bought some baby spoons and bowls. I was thinkkng of going on ebay to see if I could find some special small dishes/cutlery for a reward later on ( like Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit china or something). Thanks for the advice!

I am glad there was some answers to this. I am pre-op still and I guess I was wondering how hard it is to start before surgery. Part of me wants to just have a frenzy with food before I do this, but I know that it is probably to my benefit if I start to train my body and mind now. It is reassuring to know that after surgery it will be easier physically to do it.

I guess I am impatient, because I am perusing the pre-op part of the forum and finding amazing answers there! Love this forum!