So here's a novel idea I've been mulling around..... In the beginning we are told to chew chew chew our food. I get this. Our tummies are swollen, our staple line is healing, and we really want to try and slow down our eating and not fill our poor little tummies with big chunks that could cause complications.

But what about 1+ years out? Our tummies are healed, our restriction is probably lessened and yet we chew chew chew. Seems to me all this chewing actually allows the food to be digested and pass into the intestines faster. Kind of like how drinking with meals flushes the food out faster and we feel hungry sooner. So wouldn't NOT chewing be beneficial at this point? Fill our sleeves with bigger chunks of food which will take up more room, take longer to digest, and actually make us feel full longer.

Hmmmm, Just some "food" for thought......(heehee I crack myself up)

I chew to death because I have a stricture. The rest of you? No idea!

I always ate too fast pre-op.

The biggest benefit to chewing I have noticed is that I can actually taste my food. Instead of rushing to the next big bite, if I slow down and chew thoroughly I get a bigger flavor bang for my buck. There also has to be some connection to the brain to help me feel more satisfied with a smaller amount of food.

Rather than wolfing down my food, I can enjoy it longer.

also with the smaller volume of your stomach there simply isn't the room for the food to churn around and mix with your stomach acid as much and thus can't digest and break down in your stomach as much. Pre-op when you eat bigger chunks they don't just sit static in your stomach but there is actually motion that mxes and allows the acid to really do its job in breaking it down.

also with the smaller volume of your stomach there simply isn't the room for the food to churn around and mix with your stomach acid as much and thus can't digest and break down in your stomach as much. Pre-op when you eat bigger chunks they don't just sit static in your stomach but there is actually motion that mxes and allows the acid to really do its job in breaking it down.

Exactly why it would take so long to digest. And your pyloric valve isn't gonna let it through till it reaches a certain size .

I don't chew my food well at all I'm still kind of a piggy that way. I have paid the price for it a few times, but otherwise it hasn't seemed to affect me too much.

I still also eat way too fast.

I don't chew my food well at all I'm still kind of a piggy that way. I have paid the price for it a few times, but otherwise it hasn't seemed to affect me too much.

I still also eat way too fast.

I am the same way.... Eat to fast and don't chew enough. Even your bad habits are an inspiration because you are still successful. I work on mindful eating every day and it my biggest challenge of this whole process. I actually think I get less calories because of this. The slower I eat the more I can eat which at 7 months would be a good thing. Your body needs fuel. I am going to keep working at it.

"Why Chew"

Gesundheit.

So here's a novel idea I've been mulling around..... In the beginning we are told to chew chew chew our food. I get this. Our tummies are swollen, our staple line is healing, and we really want to try and slow down our eating and not fill our poor little tummies with big chunks that could cause complications.

But what about 1+ years out? Our tummies are healed, our restriction is probably lessened and yet we chew chew chew. Seems to me all this chewing actually allows the food to be digested and pass into the intestines faster. Kind of like how drinking with meals flushes the food out faster and we feel hungry sooner. So wouldn't NOT chewing be beneficial at this point? Fill our sleeves with bigger chunks of food which will take up more room, take longer to digest, and actually make us feel full longer.

Hmmmm, Just some "food" for thought......(heehee I crack myself up)

You try it first and let us know how it goes....hahaha.

I don't chew my food well at all I'm still kind of a piggy that way. I have paid the price for it a few times, but otherwise it hasn't seemed to affect me too much.

I still also eat way too fast.

Yeah, that's why I won't let my doctor fix my stricture. It keeps me honest.

You try it first and let us know how it goes....hahaha.

I actually do it all the time. Like @@OCgirl and @@Babbs I eat very fast but I also feel full longer if I swallow whole chunks of something. And like ocgirl, I can eat more of something if it's a mushy food to start with or if I chew denser foods a lot. I try to compromise by taking longer between bites, but not chewing as much. But still, considering the small portions, I usually finish my meals in under 5 minutes.

Eating slowly that first year or so was vital to not overeating. But now I know exactly how much to put on my plate and never overeat no matter how fast I eat. My eyes and my tummy are finally in sync.

Eating slowly that first year or so was vital to not overeating. But now I know exactly how much to put on my plate and never overeat no matter how fast I eat. My eyes and my tummy are finally in sync.

Hey, that's very encouraging. I have had some progress in getting my eyes and tummy in sync - but I'm not quite there yet.

I don't chew my food well at all I'm still kind of a piggy that way. I have paid the price for it a few times, but otherwise it hasn't seemed to affect me too much.

I still also eat way too fast.

Similar issues here, too.

I eat my meals too fast....and fill up very quickly.

It would seem that I am very much living the science experiment that @@Kindle has presented. The only time I seem to take the bariatric recommended eating pace is when I'm eating a meal in a restaurant.

I don't chew anything to death or eat particularly slowly. That ended when I felt healed.

Put me in the don't chew chew chew camp. I eat on the speedier side as well.

I agree that it seems to fill me up faster... I also tend to eat most of my meals outside dinner alone so I just like to be done and move on with my day.

Works for me

Looks like we just threw this rule out with the whole straw thing.....

Except in the case of strictures, of course.

We should start a WLS Mythbusters show.