I practiced lap band eating for several months before I actually got mine. Not the amounts, but the actual act of eating. This was a decision I made after watching the pain one of my banded friends went through when she forgot to eat slowly enough.

I consciously thought about how completely chewed my food was...and resisted swallowing and gulping it down before it was thoroughly mushified. Sounds simple, but when you try it, it's surprising how difficult it is.

I paid attention to the rate at which I shoveled it in. It never dawned on me before, but I have always been scooping up the next bite before the last one is swallowed....like it's some kind of emergency to make sure my mouth never is empty. So I worked on setting the fork down, and do my mastication thing, and then waiting at least 20 seconds AFTER it was swallowed before moving on.

Again, it sounds simple, but it took a lot of practice to adjust that one little habit.

If I could offer advice to a future band-it, I would say practice learning how to eat. It might save you some painful slimy bouts later! If you forget while you are practicing, there aren't any consequences....there will be later!

Any other advice for pre-op people from Bandsters out there?

This is very good advice. I have been banded for three months and I still have problems from time to time completely chewing my food. Thanks for posting.

Hope--where were you tonight while I was in PAIN???? Good advice. This is harder than I thought it would be.

But I'll learn. I'd better!