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Pre-Op Practice Eating



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Hi everyone. In my nutrition class, the strongly encouraged us to practice eating very slowly in tiny bites and sipping slowly prior to surgery. Have any of you done this?

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Doing it now. Trying to have one meal a day liquid, and not eating and drinking during the "real" meal. Only eating when I am really hungry and not just for the sake of eating. Watching that I am putting quality food in me, not crap, and watching the Protein in the foods I am having, along with the carbs and fats.

Its working more times than not and is difficult, but its getting better. I didn't want to hit the liquid cold turkey, cause that is usually when I fail something. People are telling me that teaching yourself to eat right is hard, so I am not feeling bad, but I am guessing (from what I have read on these boards) that if I fail in this endeavor with the band, its going to hurt (like in pain).

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About a month ago, I started working on not drinking during my meals. :hungry: Then I added for nothing before hand, and then a week ago I worked on nothing after. It's not as bad as you think it's going to be. It starts to become a normal thing. :) It's the key to making the band work. If you sip during your meals, it will flush all the food right thru, and the band becomes pointless. Also, when you chew the food more and eat slowly, you will eat considerably less and thus lose weight. :whoo:These doctors know what they are talking about. Just stick to their rules and you will succeed!! Good Luck! :)

Charly

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When I went in for my first consultation, one of the other patients (recently banded) in the waiting room told me to practice chewing as much as possible. icon14.gif Very nice of her!

I'm still working up to meals without Water, though.:think

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When I went in for my first consultation, one of the other patients (recently banded) in the waiting room told me to practice chewing as much as possible. icon14.gif Very nice of her!

I'm still working up to meals without Water, though.:think

There is so much to prepare for, it's crazy, isn't it. Just remember that after the surgery, when you start eating semi-solid foods, you will only be able to consume about 6 SMALL bites. So, it's really not all that hard not to drink during your "snack size" meal. It's hard now because we consume so much at one time. Good luck!

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hello i had my first dietian class april,08 she just told me to control my portions an stick to a regular good nutrious plan that she wrote out, anyway i,m already practicing chewing, slowly, taking small sips, doing all kinds of broth, sugarfree Jello, and pudding, crystalight, i have 6 months to do this for insurance purposes, hope i lose weight in the mean time hope to be band around oct,nov 08 wish me luck sil

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My surgery date is 7-22-08 so I am pre pre-op diet, the small bites and chewing so much is hard for me. but practice makes perfect so here I am 15 chews per nibble kinda reminds me of a hampster, didn't wanna say rat :) good luck to all !!!

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Yes I started this way even being approved.. I stopped drinking soda, stopped drinking while eating, as well as putting my fork, or spoon down inbetween bites as well and it does help... because normally i am always full before i even get 1/2 finish and i have- stopped putting anything more than 1/2 cup of food on my plate at one time

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Kimaly,

I'm scheduled for July 22, also! And, I'm working on smaller portions, not drinking with food, chewing well, eating better foods, and eating soft foods - yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. The chewing well is probably the hardest right now. It is a little startling to realize how fast I can put food down! Ouch!

I am also liking the fact that I really do feel better when I drink enough water! And, the craving for my caffiene soda is going away. I still salivate when I hear Hubby open a new bottle, though!

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UMMM Soda !

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Kimaly,

I'm scheduled for July 22, also! And, I'm working on smaller portions, not drinking with food, chewing well, eating better foods, and eating soft foods - yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. The chewing well is probably the hardest right now. It is a little startling to realize how fast I can put food down! Ouch!

I am also liking the fact that I really do feel better when I drink enough water! And, the craving for my caffiene soda is going away. I still salivate when I hear Hubby open a new bottle, though!

UMMM Soda !

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My bad, only ment to put that on once

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My bad, only wanted to say that once. guess I really want one. :smile2:

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I gave up soda 2+ months ago, but am still drinking plain bubbly Water. I figure I may as well enjoy that while I can. Same with drinking while eating; why suffer in advance :smile2: Whenever I try to take little bites and chew really well, I get so bored of that! I think that's going to be very hard...

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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