I have in the past had issues with pbing and so now I have finally got it and am doing the slow eating, chew, chew,chew, thing. My question is: I am wondering if I am eating like everyone else as far as speed. We do not go to resturants much anymore because of the way I have to eat. Which is very slow, in other words take a bite and wait about a minute and take another bite and wait, this goes on for about an hour or more and still I have of course never finished any meal that a resturant actually serves you. The waitress/waiter if we do venture out to a resturant keeps coming over and asking if everything is alright, I do feel people staring wondering what's my problem with that kind of eating pattern? Does anyone else eat like this or am I not normal? :omg:

There have been times when I ate like that, sure! You learn after a while how to manage a meal so it doesn't take forever, and then of course there are times when you can eat a bit more at a time. But no, you are not alone.

It depends when and what I am eating. I eat very slowly at night, I'm tighter then, but for me, not so slowly that people would really notice, they just think I have nice manners.

My first few bites are always extremely cautious though. I tend to get a bit of that first bite syndrome.

I just had my first fill yesterday, and my first couple of meals have been similar to what you described. I've only had very soft foods (poached egg for Breakfast and Brunswick stew for lunch), but after each bite, I feel like I have a bubble in my chest. I have to wait for it to pass before the next bite. But, this just doesn't make sense to me. I thought that the idea of the band is that we eat to fill the upper pouch which then slowly empties into the lower stomach. But, eating like this it's more like each bite has to pass through before the next bite.

I hope my situation is just because of swelling due to the fill yesterday, because if I have to eat like this from now on, it's totally gonna take the joy out of eating.

Tami

Hi, last Sunday we were out shopping and my husband and son just HAD to go to Ryan's for lunch. Boy!!!!!! My willpower really had to kick in. I had only been banded 12 days.

I thought...OK...I'll just have some broth from the soup on the bar. Well....I asked the waitress if I could get a cup to get broth in (they had to weigh it so I wouldn't have to pay $9.00) she said sure but never brought it. Finally after about 10 minutes I asked again. Her response was that she thought I wanted to take it home with me. Duh!!! Why would I want to take their broth home with me? I guess she didn't know what to think. But then she kept checking back and asking me over and over if I was alright and couldn't she just PLEASE get me a glass of tea or water. I told her no repeatedly. I'm like.."I'm trying to be nice but you're really getting on my nerves! No is No.

Then there was a guy ( A BIGGGGG GUY) across from us who kept watching me. I guess he was thinking "what kind of fool comes to Ryan's to eat broth! especially when my family was having steak!

My point is....... I guess our society is so accustomed to people eating and overeating that it's really strange to see someone who doesn't want to eat.

But, eating like this it's more like each bite has to pass through before the next bite.

Tami

This is exactly true, but don't lose sight of the time, because eating for too long just allows you to eat more at a time, which undoes the whole reason we got the band to begin with. All the literature I received and the Inamed website says eat only 15-20 minutes and move on to something new. If you still feel hungry later on, you can eat something else.

Just so you understand I'm not preaching here, I have been banded 3 years and this eating for longer periods of time can become a habit which will keep you from losing - I know.

This is exactly true, but don't lose sight of the time, because eating for too long just allows you to eat more at a time, which undoes the whole reason we got the band to begin with. All the literature I received and the Inamed website says eat only 15-20 minutes and move on to something new. If you still feel hungry later on, you can eat something else.

Just so you understand I'm not preaching here, I have been banded 3 years and this eating for longer periods of time can become a habit which will keep you from losing - I know.

I can understand how that could happen but so far for me it has worked just the opposite as far as eating to slow, it is such a pain in the butt to sit down and eat that I find myself not doing it. It takes me about a hour or so to eat a well balanced meal and never could I finish it even if I wanted too, I am so burnt out on chewing and sitting I just want to get on with my life. I often think that is how this band works, it burns you out on eating.:faint:

Just eat what you can in about 30-40mins max. The point of the band is that you eat less...it is impossible to finish a restaurant meal...that is something you cannot do with a band. Just ask for half your meal to be put in a to go box and then eat what you can of what is on your plate...within 30 mins or so. Don't worry about what people around you think, or how they look...just think of how wonderful you will look soon! Even if not banded, it is always a good idea to ask for half your meal to be boxed to go anyway... Good Luck!!!

Hi, last Sunday we were out shopping and my husband and son just HAD to go to Ryan's for lunch. Boy!!!!!! My willpower really had to kick in. I had only been banded 12 days.

I thought...OK...I'll just have some broth from the soup on the bar. Well....I asked the waitress if I could get a cup to get broth in (they had to weigh it so I wouldn't have to pay $9.00) she said sure but never brought it. Finally after about 10 minutes I asked again. Her response was that she thought I wanted to take it home with me. Duh!!! Why would I want to take their broth home with me? I guess she didn't know what to think. But then she kept checking back and asking me over and over if I was alright and couldn't she just PLEASE get me a glass of tea or Water. I told her no repeatedly. I'm like.."I'm trying to be nice but you're really getting on my nerves! No is No.

Then there was a guy ( A BIGGGGG GUY) across from us who kept watching me. I guess he was thinking "what kind of fool comes to Ryan's to eat broth! especially when my family was having steak!

My point is....... I guess our society is so accustomed to people eating and overeating that it's really strange to see someone who doesn't want to eat.

I own (and am the server) of a fine dining restaurant. It is true that your server was being intrusive and a nuisance, innocently enough, she probably thought she was giving you good service. If this ever happens again be right up front with him/her......you can say this "I acknowledge your efforts to offer me and the others at this table excellent service, however....I order only what I know I can handle for a meal, it takes me much longer to work my way through my meal than others. In order not to draw unwanted attention I would appreciate it if you would service this table only when necessary, thank you."

This is what I would hope my customers would express to me if I was being a nuisance or drawing unwanted attention to them.

Carol

Hi Carol, You are not alone. I have 2.0cc fill with a 4cc band. Everyone at work knows me as the soup queen because I only eat soup for lunch and then only a few sips of that. Homemade soup of course with lots of nutrients. When I go to restaurants I explain to the wait person up front with the following explanation, "I have a medical condition which prevents me from swallowing like a normal person and it takes a long time for me to eat a meal. Sometimes I am in discomfort and sometimes it makes me ill. If you notice unusual expressions or that I am not eating or that I leave the table, there is nothing to worry about because it is normal for me. I am telling you this so that you won't have to continuously ask me if something is wrong with the meal or if I am okay. If you would kindly bring a to go box when you deliver my my meal, I would really appreciate it." I say this loud enough so that the diners around me can hear my conversation. It has never failed to work. Every waitperson has been not only compassionate but thankful that I informed him/her. The to go box is delivered with my meal and I immediately put most of it in the to go box and play around with the rest of it until I get a few bites down. If I have to leave the table, the waiters and other diners smile and nod their heads. If I hiccup afterwards and excuse myself, they all smile and go back to their activities. America is full of wonderful, compassionate people!! Hope this helps you.

That's the way you are supposed to eat!!! Eating slowly really will help you feel full without overeating, and that's exactly what you want to happen.

Don't worry about what anyone else thinks or says. You are doing the right thing and it will benefit you in the long run!

I am similar. We do eat out; we just sit there for at least an hour. The waitpersons ask me if it's okay all the time.

Just talk a lot between bites and it's not that noticeable.

This IS normal for us.

That is right Carol, on my first weeks with the band everytime my family and I ate out, I usually sat close to the bathroom just in case I need to PB. Sometimes I PB several times and came out the bathroom with my eyes red and watering. I got used to that. Also waiters keep asking me if everything is alright. Also I got used to eating cold food,because of the time it takes to take a bite. I belive that's normal among us bandsters.

What is first bite syndrome?

I might be wrong, I believe it is when you have to take abot 2 bites; then wait abotu10-15 minutes to really start eating your meal. By doing this your band will allow you to eat.:phanvan :phanvan

I believe that is what it is as well....