Question:
How do you chew so much??

Hey everyone, okay I'm still pre-op, but I've been trying to practice chewing my food alot, to get it mushy like you're supposed to, but I'm finding it REALLY hard, because I keep swallowing, without even trying to. Ya know what I mean?! I've tried tilting my head forward like one woman said, but that hasn't helped much either, it just makes me look like a fool :) Please!! Any suggestions?!?! Thanks :)    — Jennifer M. (posted on December 15, 2001)

December 15, 2001
When I was pre-op, I had the exact same concern. It's no use "practicing" because you need to have the surgery to understand. Suddenly, it will become second nature to you to chew your food well, because if you don't, it will be VERY unpleasant.
   — Terissa R.

December 15, 2001
I know exactly what you are saying. I am 5 weeks post-op and find it difficult. It seems like when I chew, the food naturally makes its way back and then feels natural to swallow. I think that it is the way our chewing mechanism is meant to work. I have to work against what comes natural. I try to keep the food toward the front end of the mouth, then if some makes it to the back before it is 'swallowing material', I kinda quietly do a cough thing to get it back out to chew more. But it does get easier as it becomes more of a habit of chewing, chewing, chewing. Sometimes when I watch my family 'woof' their food, I wonder how I did the same thing. I want to carry on a conversation when everyone else has their face in the food. At least it seems that way because I spend more time looking around.:-)
   — Cheri M.

December 15, 2001
The size of the bite of food makes a big difference here. If you have a large mouthful of food, it's very hard to chew it thoroughly before the swallow reflex takes over. The key, in my opinion, is TINY bites. Initially, your bites of things like meat should be no bigger than the eraser on the end of a pencil. Bites of other types of food should be no bigger than what would fit on an infant spoon (the little tiny spoon for babies..not the chunky toddler table service).
   — BethVBG

December 15, 2001
I agree with Beth! It is the size of the bite that will dictate how well you can chew your food. I bought infant spoons to help me restrict the amount of food I can scoop up in one bite and I hardly ever take a full spoon to my mouth. About 1/2 of an infant spoonful at a time seems to be just about right.
   — Susan M.

December 15, 2001
I totally understand! I am six weeks post op and had the same problem until I went on vacation with my best friend. She reminded me that I was suppose to be taking little bites and even though I thought I was, I was taking the same size bites as I did pre-op. To solve this problem I went out and bought "seafood forks". You know, the kind that come with shrimp cocktails. They are about the same size as a baby's fork but look like normal flatware so I can tote them with me anywhere. I also cut up EVERYTHING on my plate before I take the first bite and I take my time eating. It takes a lot of patience to chew so much and take my time but the feeling of fullness WITHOUT the feeling of "I'm going to be sick!" is well worth it. Good luck!
   — vbenedict0208

December 15, 2001
Thanks for all of your answers guys!! I'm not so worried about it anymore! :)
   — Jennifer M.

December 16, 2001
I'll try to answer this again.. I was rushed yesterday headed to a church Christmas party. So I may have either not got it posted or something got lost in cyber space.. :) I know this issue is a hard thing for newly post-ops.. There is all sorts of adjustments, relearning all sorts of things or retraining bad habits that got us to be obese in the first place.. Like to practice eating slow, chewing well, setting the fork down between bites etc.. It is something that everyone has to get their own groove or technique.. Early post-op I had a hard time with not wolfing my food down.. After a few painful experiences I learned quite quick to slow down, and not wait to eat a meal when I was starving, not watch TV and eat, or talk to friends and eat at same time.. all those things early post-ops makes you forget what you're doing and you may not chew well enough or eat too big of bites and swallow without thinking.... But trust me we all learn and it does get better.. I'm two years post-op and chewing and swallowing is not something I even thing about now.. It's as normal walking and talking, something we do without giving it a second thought.. So my point is your not doomed to a life of chewing every morsel of food that goes in your mouth for an eternity until it's mush... life will get to be very normal just SO MUCH better, when you're at goal weight so hang in there make your own technique or groove and you will be fine.
   — Victoria B.