Wow!! I'm able to start pureed and soft today, so my first choice was cottage cheese. I love cottage cheese. I learned that my idea of small, slow bites and my band's idea of small, slow bites are 2 different things. I've never had quite that feeling before! Now I have a better grasp of how eating has to be. What a learning experience!

I use a smaller than normal spoon, kinda like an infants one and it was easier to manage the spoonful sizes. The band has a mind of its own.

PRE-Banded (scheduled Nov 30,2007)but, I am having the Worst trouble eating small bites! I think that I could keep up with soldiers that are in war and MUST eat very fast. I find myself gulping food. (I think that I have been doing this a long time and just not noticed it). I try taking small bites and end up stuffing in more food before I've swallowed the last bite. Also, I think that I only chew for about 20 seconds tops. Has anyone else had this problem? How do I stop this? PLEASE HELP!!!!!!

Nancy:

I always "wolfed" food down too. I still have issues with it even though I've been banded for almost 4 months. I have two tools that help me. First, I bought a bunch of baby spoons - ridiculous, but it helps. Second, I bought some one-minute, hourglass type timers. I bought them at unclesgames.com. They only cost $1.50 each. I got five of them so that I can always have one whether at home, at work, or at a friend's house. As I take a bite I tip the timer over and I cannot have another bite until the sand is all the way through. Seems silly, but it helps prevent sliming, and actually allows me to eat a bit more than if I didn't use it. If I eat too fast I can only get about four bites in before I start to suffer and have to stop eating.

Good luck.

Sue

Thanks sooooo much Sue. I will certainly try the baby spoon (I have some in my kitchen drawer) and the hourglass...Great Idea!!! Thanks again.

hrmm I wonder if you can still get the little forks. not baby ones but if i remember right they were made for extracting seafood from shells.