Can someone help me understand what we mean when we say throw up? I read again and again that it is something we really want to avoid bc we may damage and/or slip our band. I often have a couple of bites come back up but I do not think of that as really throwing up. Am I wrong? Is that called reflux? Am I damaging my band? Thanks!!

It is the gagging and the retching you want to avoid. The motion of the stomach during retching can cause the band to slip.

Good question - I've wondered the same thing. What you described is what is normally referred to as PBing (productive burping). I do think that if you are too tight or not chewing well enough and are PBing a lot - that can be bad for your band - but I've never been totally clear about this issue.

If anyone can clarify - I'd really appreciate it too!

Thanks,

Susan

With PB'ing you are simply belching and food comes up. It is not retching like when you vomit so the actual act of PB'ing is not as stressful to your stomach/band.

But yes, if you make a habit of eating fast, not chewing well and eating too much etc. (all of which can lead to PB'ing), then you can damage your band as well.

In some ways I would think there is a fine line between PBing and throwing up. Sometimes w PBing I do strain to help the food come back out and relieve discomfort but not full on retching like if I had the flu or ate something bad. I need to just slow down and be careful but I also feel like I am in the beginners period where I am having to learn some stuff in terms of how I should now eat thru trial and error if that makes sense. It seems like it is taking my mind a while to catch up with my body and know that I have to make a 180 degree turn in how I eat now v how I ate bf which is the exact opposite of how I should eat now. Mindfully, consciously, very slowly, very small bites, very small portions. All of us that have weight issues probably never ate this way bf or we would not have weight issues. I am just now integrating what a MAJOR permanent lifestyle switch this is v just a way to lose weight. It is all good and I know I can do it!!! Thanks for everyone's support.