Question about chewing

[browns37214]

This is my first post and I am still waiting insurance approval for the band. I feel like I have read just about everything out there, but one question still remains. If you're supposed to chew up your food so that it's basically liquid before you swallow, what keeps it from passing through the lower stomach and allowing you to eat as much as you did before?

One book I've read says that once you get to solids, you should avoid mushies and liquids in order to lose weight. Doesn't chewing so much just turn a solid into a mushie? Am I missing something? :confused: Thanks!

Can't wait to join you in Bandland!!!:)

Deanna

[NikkiPants]

Hi!
I actually like to go on liquids and mushies sometimes so I have a nice little boost on my weight loss!
I'm not sure how the science of it works, but I think that because the food was once solid that it will stay in the little pouch longer.
Anyway, good luck!!

[Firefly]

Well it depends on who you ask. Some band folks do like to do liquids now and then. It goes down easy and you get full. However it's not something that you can or should do all the time. Liquids will not give you all the nutrients you need, unless you're preparing your food a'la'puree of course, and a pure liquid diet is not working your system either. Yes you sure do have to chew your food to mush, technically. I think it's great you're proactively reading books to get more information :) When you're all stitched up and ready to really start the banded life, I think you'll find a happy medium that will work just right for you.

[browns37214]

Thanks so much for the responses. I want to be as educated as possible. This group is great!

[MoOrLess]

Your question about - doesn't the food just go on down to the bigger part of the stomach you aren't basically using? that is banded off from the upper part of the stomach? YES is my response - it CAN and DOES go there - that is what makes being banded different from gastric bypass - NOTHING is re-routed -- that is why after you chew chew chew to mush and swallow -- you are to eat for a maximum of 15-20 minutes (everyone is different regarding when their stomach empties out) because the stomach DOES start to empty out and if you continue eating past that 15-20 minutes then you are re-filling your banded part of your stomach and will NOT lose weight as successfully -- does that make sense? that is how it was explained to me by my surgeon - so the point is you don't want to keep eating even if you don't feel full - he said to put a timer at the table to practice stopping eating at 20 minutes at the most! Hope this helps

[browns37214]

Thanks MOorLess---

That makes sense to me! I have never read or heard it explained that way before. I will absolutely use the timer suggestion.

Deanna

[willybe]

4 weeks out and all i know is i am not hungry. what a good felling

[Teal]

Willy I am sooooo jealous, I am always hungry so I have to be extra careful about what and how much I eat. I felt full for about the first 3 days after I was banded and then the hunger came on. I won't get my first fill until the end of this month or the at the beginning of October. I have been drinking a LOT of herbal teas lately :-)

[MoOrLess]

Glad my explanation made sense for you Deanna ---

Teal - like I shared with Willy a while back-are you using protein powder? it makes all the difference to me - not only doe sit give you excellent results as far as your protein intake -- it also fills you up! it really does -- I just use Beneprotein (I even put it in my protein shakes - but not in other liquids - and it is great in tuna, ckn, etc salads and really good in soups!) You'll feel fuller, I can guarantee it!
Let me know how that goes if you give it a try

[Teal]

Thanks Mo, my mom bought me a can of the Beneprotein I guess I should start using it. I had gotten some sample packs and I don't really like the taste of it but if it will help to 'tame' my hunger then I will use it. Actually when I added the protein powder to the Atkins shake it was not so bad.

[MoOrLess]

exactly -- it isn't bad at all in the shakes - heck just more protein lol and I put it in my soup and other stuff - it takes some adjusting but it isn't "bad" per se...good luck!

[WildAlaskaG'ma]

Deanna:

Welcome to B2G. We're happy that you found us and that you made your first post. It's always soooooo nice to have "newbies." You have gotten some great responses to your questions. I know that they recommend leaving mushies and liquids behind once you are on solid food. I'm not sure that anyone really does that religiously. Liquids and muhies are going to make your solids move out of your pouch quicker, so in addition to being able to possibly eat more than you should, you also run the risk of becoming hungry quicker. I LOVE homemade soups sooooooo much, and I still eat them several times a week. I just make sure I have lots of protein in my soup, measure out my portions well, and then deal with the hunger when/if it comes along as being the price I had to pay for that "treat." So far, it works well for me. But, I feel confident that you will find your own right way for you.

Judy :b2gwelcome2: