I've been struggling with whether or not to get an unfill. I go for a few days when I'm fine...then have a couple of days where I seem to PB way too much!! I'm trying all kinds of 'experiements' to figure out of it's me (bad behaviors) or my band is just plain ol' too tight. So I've been watching closely and have come to the conclusion that I most definitely have the least amount of trouble when I eat meals alone. I guess mostly because I'm not trying to keep up with everyone at my table or to look 'suspicious' in any way. I take my time...not caring if it takes me an hour to eat and I do fine!!

But this isn't just an occassional thing....it's like almost every time I eat out with my family! Well at least I've nailed it and I can now be on my guard.

What about you? Is there some pattern or behavior that youve recognized that you know gives your trouble?

I get in trouble when I take bites that are too big. I know that sounds like a no brainer. I've learned to nibble at sandwiches which were the first things to send me to PB. I suppose because they weren't on the end of a fork.

But recently I made some cooked red cabbage. I've not had it for years, but I used to eat big BIG mouthfuls of the stuff. YIKES! One of those and 5 minutes later I'm standing over the toilet bowl.

Sometimes I still pack my mouth. Most times I realize it before I swallow and I either spit it out or chew swallow some, chew swallow some.

I'm amazed it's not automatic not to do that anymore.

Sometimes I go for a very long time without any trouble. Then I get careless and not chew enough and take too big of bites. Getting stuck

once every few weeks reminds me to be careful. As long as I take very tiny bites and chew it up until it's liquid in my mouth, I am fine. I am better at remembering to do this after a pb episode.

Well, some foods DO just taste better when you have a mouthful...like salad for instance. It's just not as satisfying to me to take little nibbles! And, of course, when you're really hungry you want to EAT and it seems to take forever for that food to hit your stomach!

It's a constant learning process it seems.

I miss salad. I can't eat it whether I take nibbles and chew, chew and chew, or a big ol' bite.

Like the rest of you I find my troubles when I eat too fast, take too large of bite, try to "keep up". I was PBing so much, I did finally go have a little fill taken out. Now I don't think I have enough restriction. I can't wait until I go get the fill back in, 3 weeks to go!!

I miss salad. I can't eat it whether I take nibbles and chew, chew and chew, or a big ol' bite.

Like the rest of you I find my troubles when I eat too fast, take too large of bite, try to "keep up". I was PBing so much, I did finally go have a little fill taken out. Now I don't think I have enough restriction. I can't wait until I go get the fill back in, 3 weeks to go!!

With salad i seem to do OK with 'spring mix' lettuce...but iceburg or romaine?...forget it! It's good though 'cause spring mix is more nutritious anyway.

Ha! yeah, you'll get your fill back then wish you hadn't !! Been there!! Ah, the elusive sweet spot!

salad got to be such a chore. I would chew it until it tasted and felt like poo. Makes a girl a little sad.

I'll have to see if spring mix does any better.

I do good with spring mix as well. The greens are tender baby greens and they are much easier to deal with. Because they are baby greens, the pieces are smaller as well. I LOVE salad. If I ever get to tight to eat it, I think I would have to have an unfill. It also helps keep me regular....and with a band I need all the help I can get!!

I LOVE salad. If I ever get to tight to eat it, I think I would have to have an unfill. It also helps keep me regular....and with a band I need all the help I can get!!

EXACTLY!! If I'm too tight to eat salad, then I'm too tight!!

I will give the spring mix a try. I do love salad so it will be worth the try.

As for the fill being back in, I'm torn. I want to be able to eat something, but I did like the restriction as I didn't have to "work" so hard staying on course. When I do go for the fill, I won't have as much put back in as the doc took out. Gonna go slow and steady!