Hello- I am researching and exploring the option to get a gastric bypass. As I am reading posts and looking at people experiences post-op with regard to eating behaviors, I see some mention of slow chewing. When one is on more solid foods and/or complex foods I have read some people might take as much as 10-15 minutes between bites as well as chewing thoroughly during that time. Is that slow, deep chewing of food a habit I will consciously need to change and monitor, or does the surgery, the full feeling and the nausea and pain dictate the slow chewing? In other words, will the slow chewing and long time between bites become a natural thing because of my new stomachs capacity?

7 minutes ago, tonbra32 said:

Hello- I am researching and exploring the option to get a gastric bypass. As I am reading posts and looking at people experiences post-op with regard to eating behaviors, I see some mention of slow chewing. When one is on more solid foods and/or complex foods I have read some people might take as much as 10-15 minutes between bites as well as chewing thoroughly during that time. Is that slow, deep chewing of food a habit I will consciously need to change and monitor, or does the surgery, the full feeling and the nausea and pain dictate the slow chewing? In other words, will the slow chewing and long time between bites become a natural thing because of my new stomachs capacity?

I was told by my nutritionist that slow chewing is necessary, not only to feel full quicker, but, once we have our new tummies, they need to have fully chewed food. The "dumping" everyone speaks of that happens, I believe (correct me if I'm wrong), is when the food we have isn't fully chewed. That is what causes the sick feeling and even the throwing up. I have been practicing, as best as I can, the chewing slowly. It is helping me to fill up quicker.

I was sleeved 21 years ago and I still chew very thoroughly, guess it because a habit over the years. If you don't chew well, food can get stuck in your pouch and make you vomit to relieve the pressure. I was told that after surgery you should take a bit the size of a nickle or smaller. Put your fork/spoon down and more your hand away from the utensil. Chew your food until it is chewed to liquid. Swallow and wait a few minutes to make sure what you swallowed was not to much for your baby pouch. This will change a bit over time.

57 minutes ago, Cherylmilla said:

I was told by my nutritionist that slow chewing is necessary, not only to feel full quicker, but, once we have our new tummies, they need to have fully chewed food. The "dumping" everyone speaks of that happens, I believe (correct me if I'm wrong), is when the food we have isn't fully chewed. That is what causes the sick feeling and even the throwing up. I have been practicing, as best as I can, the chewing slowly. It is helping me to fill up quicker.

Dumping is different and involves your blood sugar going very low which causes nausea, sweating, throwups, shakes, fast heart rate. (It's usually a result for some people who have too many carbs/sugar at one time or who might have too much fat.) It can also result in big D.

You're talking about foamies/throwups from not chewing your food, eating too fast, or eating the wrong thing that your tum doesn't like. It actually gets stuck in your pouch. It may also cause a RH (reactive hypoglycemia) attack which would lead to the dumping phenomenon...but only cuz it's stuck in your tool and your body released insulin on what it "thought" you were about to send down the pipes that didn't end up showing up.

I had a feeling I got it somewhat wrong. But I had the jist, chew slowly so food doesn't get suck and you don't feel sick. For me, right now, it does help with digestion and getting full quicker. I have to work on the size of my bites still. I still shove it in, even if I chew it really well.

you're supposed to chew your food slowly because your stomach won't churn nearly as much as it does now - so you have to "help" it. That said, I don't chew for 10-15 minutes anymore - but I do still chew more slowly and thoroughly than I did pre-surgery.