Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Confession: chewing food



Recommended Posts

Hey all. I have a confession- I am 8 days post op and on the liquid diet. Yesterday and today my family had pepperoni pizza and I took a pepperoni off, chewed it up, then spit it in the trash. It’s like I just wanted the taste. Today I chewed up half a chicken nugget to get the taste or chicken then I spit it out.

has anyone done this? I need to stop, I know. I am looking forward to the puree stage so I can have variety of tastes

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My Doc warned specifically not to do this. Once it's in your mouth, it's easy to accidentally swallow then you've created a problem which is no fun to get resolved, unless of course you enjoy a getting a scope down your throat after a ton of pain and wretching a fresh surgery.

I'm also not sure that you should be chewing such greasy foods at all. When you hit the puree stage, eating will be tough enough without adding grease.

OK, I'm not big on telling early post ops how to not follow their plan, but as you seem intent on doing it:

Puree the damn things. That way, if you screw up you won't kill yourself. You can still taste and spit, or whatever.

But, really, focus on following your plan.

Good luck,

Tek

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey all. I have a confession- I am 8 days post op and on the liquid diet. Yesterday and today my family had pepperoni pizza and I took a pepperoni off, chewed it up, then spit it in the trash. It’s like I just wanted the taste. Today I chewed up half a chicken nugget to get the taste or chicken then I spit it out.

has anyone done this? I need to stop, I know. I am looking forward to the puree stage so I can have variety of tastes

I did that and it helped me through the liquid and pureed stage. I did it very infrequently though because I wanted to embrace early post op and not get used to the flavorful unhealthy foods again.Those liquid and pureed stages were rough for me, as I still cooked meals for my family, so I get it. I say as long as you're careful about it not slipping into the back of your throat and u don't do it very often, do what u need to do to get through. The stages feel like forever when you're in em but time passes and ull be just fine!

Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Oh gee. My doctor did not warn against it. I will try not best to refrain from it because things have went so well thus far and I don’t want to ruin anything!!! Purée food is only 6 days away so I will try to hold on.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I did it at the beginning with beef Jerky. I was so tired of sweet stuff and just wanted something different. I chewed it really well, made sure not to swallow any, and spit it out when I ran out of flavor.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Watching others eat in the first weeks out can be challenging & very tempting.

You may be craving salt - from habit or need. Try dipping a finger in a little salt & having a taste & see if that helps. If you haven’t yet, try chicken or beef broth as alternatives to Protein Shakes for a ‘meaty’ taste. Or sip on some warm/hot chicken or beef stock.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm 14 days post-op and last night I opened a can of Beans to puree them. I feel normal now so without thinking I popped a bean in my mouth, chewed it, and swallowed, without thinking. I almost freaked out but calmed down. I have to start paying attention to what I'm doing.

Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

On 10/21/2020 at 4:12 AM, NetNet254 said:

I'm 14 days post-op and last night I opened a can of Beans to puree them. I feel normal now so without thinking I popped a bean in my mouth, chewed it, and swallowed, without thinking. I almost freaked out but calmed down. I have to start paying attention to what I'm doing.

Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

I did that too shortly after surgery!! I don't remember how far out I was or what it even was that I ate, but I was doing my "chew and spit" thing and by habit I swallowed it. I was scared for just a second and then I was like " well...I seem to be okay. It isn't hurting or anything...let's just not do that again". Lol.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

On 10/17/2020 at 12:10 AM, Lovely2020 said:

Hey all. I have a confession- I am 8 days post op and on the liquid diet. Yesterday and today my family had pepperoni pizza and I took a pepperoni off, chewed it up, then spit it in the trash. It’s like I just wanted the taste. Today I chewed up half a chicken nugget to get the taste or chicken then I spit it out.

has anyone done this? I need to stop, I know. I am looking forward to the puree stage so I can have variety of tastes

I have done this more than 4 times now...i am 11 days post op

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am sure this is not good practice in the immediate days post op when the stomach is healing most. However, I am almost three weeks post op now. I still do it and find it helpful. I will lick a Taki or chew a pepperoni and spit it out. It actually helps with the in the moment cravings and I don’t even consume it

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My mom had her gastric sleeve in 2015; the recovery process for her was different than mine at the moment. She was on liquids for a whole month before starting purée foods. She was doing the same as you - chewing the food for the taste and spitting it out. I’m only three days post-op and I want nothing more than to eat a piece of chicken. I nearly considered chewing on a piece for the flavor and spitting it out. Since I start purée food next week, I’ll wait til then to do it. Best of luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

One thing to bear in mind about chewing food and spitting out is the the stomach starts to prepare for digesting foods, stomach acid is stimulated. The stomach acid doesn't have anything to digest and the excess stomach acid may cause acid reflux or an ulcer.

Obviously once or twice isn't going to do do much, if any, damage, but ongoing chewing and spitting may.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×