I've read that one should eat eraser-sized bite-sized pieces. Is this acurate? Cause that's corn kernal! Also, all you tuna eaters - are you using mayo? I drink about 3 cups of coffee every morning - is this going to end for me? I understand I'll need to eat our food without drink and chew until it's babyfood consistancy, but eraser-sized bites are super tiny. Thanks.

I'm surprised there isn't more discussion on the topic of bites, chewing and swallowing. I mean afterall, we are all big eaters at heart. I know I am particularilly interested in this area. I am pre-op. I've been thinking about it a lot. I've been eating lately like I'm heading for the electric chair. I wonder if people will notice me taking small bites and then chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing. I'm thinking perhaps I should carry a cloth napkin in my purse at all times just in case I need to hurl before I can get to the ladies room. Just think about it.... ladies take forever in the bathroom and we often stand in line for a long time for our turn. I understand that some foods don't taste that great when chewed up so much. I think I will really, really miss bread. But I at this point, I would do anything to be 75# thinner. I really can't wait to be banded and filled so I can see first hand what it's all about.

You are so right about needing that cloth napkin! Shoot, I may need a collapsable cup! I was eating with my family at Logan's last weekend, and I got that stuck feeling. Well, before I could get to the bathroom, I PBed in my mouth. I walked into the ladies' room and all the stalls were full and there were three women in line. I had to spit it out in the sink because I couldn't even get close enough to the trashcan! When a lady walked up, I politely did my best to obscure the sink and told her she needed to use the other one. Of course, I piqued her curiosity, so she had to look. She asked, "What is that, Honey?" I told her I got a little sick, and she was happy to look away. I got a glob of those brown bathroom papertowels and cleaned out the sink. Now, that is an experience I hope I never have to repeat!!!:smile2:

I use these small bite utensils to help with my bite size. I was banded Feb 9, 2010 and I haven't had any problems withs PBs. Well, except once when I ate Nachos (finger food). My doctor suggested I use baby utensils at my pre-op visit, but that's kinda ackward when dining out. These are perfect to use in a social setting. Here's the link to their site. They also have alot of other cool products to help you with portion control. Especially if you take your luunch to work. Here's the link: Portion Control Concepts - Home - Dallas, TX

Kiniharri--you are welcome to add the link to the site into your signature, but unless you are an advertiser on this site, you cannot use posts to promote it. You will find details in the posting rules.

I never used baby utensils or found a need for them, I occupied some of my time eating making small bites. You eat less, and are filled quickly, so the extra time, equals out with your eating partner!

An analogy I use frequently is one of a cake decorators icing bag. If you will consider the consistancy of cake icing, it will give you an idea of the consistancy you want to chew your food to. If you imagine the bag to be your stomach, When left standing, the thickness of the frosting does not ooze out without help. You must squeeze the bag to push the food through. Your stomach muscles knead and squeeze, helping to push the food on through the stoma. If you chew to a paste consistancy, that alone is enough to push it through. If you swallow too big a bite it is going to be like dropping a grape into your decorating bag-----it is going to block the opening, and nothing is going to pass....so when the food backs up, up it usually comes. By the same token, drinking with your meals, and drinking high calorie drinks, even if they are Protein drinks....if you add that to the bag it just rolls right on through, no slowdown, no sense of fullness for very long. If you think about keeping it to a texture that will allow you to feel full for the longest period of time, it will help with your weightloss.

4 years later---small bites are habit, portioning out how much I think I can eat, and boxing the rest is habit, drinking in moderation saving the liquids for between meals, is habit. I have learned some foods for me are harder to chew. Some are not worth it to me....some are!

I have learned it is better for me to pay more for a really nice lean steak, because no matter how much smaller it is it WILL be enough for me!

Practicing the small bites early is a great plan, the sooner it all becomes the norm, the better off you and your band will be!

Good Luck All!!

Someone asked about mayo in tuna, well what i use instead of mayo is greek yogurt. It adds protein to the mix, has the same consistency and if you make a ranch did with the yogurt it is even better.