What are some of the things you found most difficult to change since banding?

Chewing gum - I use to chew gum all day to help me keep from eating.

Drinking water with my meals

Eating small bites and chewing, chewing, chewing, very slowly

I still chew gum on occasion.

The drinking is definitely a hard habit to break. Like dangerous foods, I have to consciously just NOT have anything close by, because my hand involuntarily just heads for the glass. It's getting better, but I still catch myself doing it.

Ordering food - sometimes your 'old' brain takes over and you order things you absolutely know you cannot eat anymore, or get way too much.

Swallowing - I sometimes swallow (again involuntarily) long before I'm really ready. I haven't figured this one out, but I'm becoming more aware, so that I don't wind up in trouble any more often than I have to.

Portion control. It's easier at home, than when eating out. Because I'll tend to "graze", when I am with someone else and just sitting there "visiting" after the meal.

Water. Getting enough in throughout the day (without meals). I always come up short. Water with meals makes me feel like I'll pb, so I'm doing o.k. nixing that one.

Taking small enough bites and chewing well enough. Why is it so hard to break that "hurry, hurry" habit?

Gum. I still chew it some, especially when I'm in the car for a long time. I keep a handful of paper napkins handy, so I don't swallow it.

I have the biggest problem with the Water. Told not to drink one hour before, during, or one hour after eating. Now they have me on six smaller meals a day so right there that 12 of the 24 hours I cannot drink. Then I take 20 minutes to eat each meal so that I chew well and allow the food to go in and trigger my brain (what little I have left) to remind me I'm full. Another 2 hours to do this.

And I sleep min of 6 hours a day. That leaves me with 4 hours to dump in 64 ounces of water. Phew and I swear some where in my system the water multiplies. I put in 6 oz and I let out 8oz. In with 4 more and out with 6. Geez will it ever end. Sometime I think of eliminating the middle man and just got into bathroom and pour the water straignt into the toilet.

I have not yet had a PBing experiance. I do chew my food very well but have had a few of those early swallows and had some severe discomfort. But fortunatley for me the discomfort has always passed quickly. I cut my meat into such small pieces I don't have to chew them LOL. Not taking any chances.

I also have had trouble following some of the suggestions. Like browm rice and paste instead of white. This morning I went to the store and I did pick up Whole Wheat Pasta Rigitonis and I just made some for lunch. They are as good if not better then the white. So I will venture into the Dark side of the food world and try more of the healthier choices.

I chew gum all the time. Keeps me from wanting to put things in my mouth, other then my foot occassionally. But not carbs or calories in the foot.

I already know that Thanksgiving dinner will be a hard time. It has always been my favorite day. So I am making six identical little meals of turkey, potatoes and stuffing and just enjoying it. Ate enough pumpkin pie last weekend to satisfy me this year.

I used to have a problem with the water, but I drink it in the car on the way to work. I can usually get 24 in by then. Remembering not to drink with meals.

Taking smaller bites and chewing well. Have had a few PB issues.

Sue

Getting in my water is probably the biggest thing for me. I thought that I would have a difficult time not drinking with my meals because my mom has been doing this for years (it's good for your digestion) and she often tried to get me to do it... I just couldn't do it... but with my band, sometimes I feel like I can do lots of things I couldn't do without it. So, back to your question. I guess it would be my water and also eating slowly... sometimes things feel stuck when I eat too fast.

Without question, the hardest thing for me has been giving up bread and Pasta. I can't eat them with the band and I shouldn't eat with them anyway. But I still miss them.

Nancy

The 3 biggeest things for me have been portion control, actually eating and getting my Water in.

Portion control is very hard fir me. my brain is still telling me "yea you can eat it go ahead fix that plate" and my stomach is saying '"nope not tonight!!!" I know that when I fix my plate I can only eat a small portion and I don't even know what I am thinking when I am doing it but instictively my plate always looks the same.......and then I eat maybe a 1/8 of what is on my plate. I have been trying to get smaller plates to adjust to that like grabbing a saucer or a small bowl.

As far as water until I had the restriction that I have now I used to be able to get it all in. However since this restriction has kicked in I have a hard time getting it all in. I do try though.

The last thing may seem kind of weird......but I forget to eat....This restriction is just something that I generally don't get hungry even in the mornings. I don't realize that I need to eat until I actually get a terrible headache and stomach ache. I'm trying to get better though.

The biggest thing for me is the EXERCISE..I just cann ot get motivated but I have made a promise to myself once I get to ONE-DERLAND that I will walk everyday!

I eat too fast, especially chicken. If it is roasted it gets stuck everytime I have big trouble getting my water in as do most of you, and I have trouble saying no to some of the easy treats sometimes (choccies,lollies, icecream)but this is not even a once a week issue so I am not too worried about it for now.

Cheers