Question:
Have any pre-ops tried eating smaller bites of food?

I am still pre-op and have tried eating the smaller bites of food - just to see if I thought I could do it. I was just curious as to if anyone else who is pre-op found that they got bored and "full" before they were done AND I wanted to know if any post-ops tried it and how it compared to the actual "real deal" afterwards =D I still think I am really gonna miss that full mouth feeling! But I also really believe the long term will be worth it :)    — Kirsten P. (posted on November 21, 2002)

November 21, 2002
Hey there! I'm 6 days over the line and have lost 13 pounds so far!!yeehawww. The doc. turned me loose to eat whatever I wanted. I hate to tell you, you didn't say whether you are a pre or a post-op, but the little bites are a way of life now. It's called behavior modification. The surgery forces you to change the bad eating habits that you had prior to the surgery. I have been eating mass quantities for 33 years so this is VERY important to re-learn this NEW eating behavior. I want to succeed and I will because I'm willing to do so. You have to eat smaller bites and chew it until it falls all to peices because my new pouch is only 1 ounce and the exit way is extremely narrow. If you don't chew your small bites to pieces, it may become logged in there tight and guess what, endoscopy time!!! I'm sure that isn't fun and have no intention of trying that one. Sounds like from what info you gave in your question that you think this is a quick fix, and then you can't do whatever you want. NO WAY! This is a new life, My new birthday is November 15th, 02. If you haven't had the surgery, you may need some more counciling because it could mean the difference of you doing well or dying. It's that serious. Life altering. This was done because I had to do it. Nothing else worked and believe me, I am a pro at dieting, know exactly what to do to lose the weight. But my stomach was still overly stretched. Enough ranting, check out my profile for e-mail info if you'd like to hook up. Leigh
   — Leigh G.

November 21, 2002
I don't mean to be pessimistic but taking small bites preop is liking losing weight preop. Don't waste your time. Like if we could lose wt. and keep it off we wouldn't need the surgery. If we took small bites and filled up on less food, same result. It doesn't happen! Believe me, when you have to do it, you will do it. No question about it. This is not an option. Big bite, suffer the consequence. Good Luck, enjoy your preop meals but don't worry about never being able to eat any certain thing again. You will eat it, just smaller portions, and you will enjoy it like you never enjoyed something in your life.
   — Dana S.

November 21, 2002
I agree with the previous poster. Everything changed for me post-op. My food preferences.....how much I WANTED to eat....how much I could eat.....what felt good going down....what size bites felt natural..... The only thing I started pre-op was taking vitamins and trying to get a little exercise. Worked for me.... and I'm very happy with my post-WLS life !
   — Kathy J.

November 21, 2002
Hi again. I am the original poster of the question. I just wanted to let the first poster know that I no way consider this a quick fix! I am taking this very seriously. Please read my profile. I was just curious if anyone else had even tried it for curiosity's sake. I am enjoying my meals now. I have just a few more tests to do before sending all my information in for approval. I hate that I phrased the question so awkwardly that it gave the wrong impression! :) Next time I have a question, I will do a better job - lol. Congrats to all of you who have done so well so far. I look forward to being on the other side soon.
   — Kirsten P.

November 22, 2002
I occasionally ate slow, small bites when I was pre-op, just to see what it would be like and for practice. It worked, but since I didn't have the physical reinforcement I didn't end up doing it too long or often. I wasn't that worried, I've never been a fast eater anyway. After surgery you're *so* nervous that you're extremely careful. Now that I'm several months out I find I really have to think about it more. I *can* eat bigger bites and faster, but know that will defeat the surgery, so I try--not always successfully--to be vigilant on that score. Putting down my fork between bites is probably one of the best ways to do it, that somehow cues me to really chew slowly and deliberately. As far as feeling full before you're done, that's another thing that's been hard to learn. In other words, you have to be prepared to stop eating or throw out food, even food you're enjoying and feel you could eat more of, when you feel full. That is totally contrary to a lifetime of habit, and it's *very* hard! But I'm sure it's necessary if weight loss is going to continue. It all comes down to behavior modification. Some people's changed anatomy helps reinforce the new habits, some of us less so.
   — Celia A.