Chewing question - might be gross
So in the paperwork I got from the dietician yesterday (started pureed stage) it says chew your food 25 times at least before swallowing. Kind of difficult but with cottage cheese I have been.
So . . . anyone else notice that this is very difficult? To let the food be in your mouth that long and then pulverize the heck out of it? I had no idea I was basically letting food just slide right down my throat if it was small enough. Like the reflex is gone to keep it in my mouth to be chewed if that makes sense. Just another thing I did over time to my body I am sure but was just wondering if anyone else had the same experience?
Also, I find it less satisfying to sit and chew the food. I want to feel a large quanitity in my throat or it doesn't feel the same. What the heck is wrong with me?
I am working on breaking this habit.
So . . . anyone else notice that this is very difficult? To let the food be in your mouth that long and then pulverize the heck out of it? I had no idea I was basically letting food just slide right down my throat if it was small enough. Like the reflex is gone to keep it in my mouth to be chewed if that makes sense. Just another thing I did over time to my body I am sure but was just wondering if anyone else had the same experience?
Also, I find it less satisfying to sit and chew the food. I want to feel a large quanitity in my throat or it doesn't feel the same. What the heck is wrong with me?
I am working on breaking this habit.
I think it is totally normal. I completely agree with you. Sometimes food that i loved in the past just doesn't taste as good or good at all once you have to keep chewing and chewing it. I have tried swallowing too large a piece and that is when i have had the most trouble with the pressure and feeling like i am going to vomit.
just find things that you can tolerate chewing. Promise you, it does get better!
just find things that you can tolerate chewing. Promise you, it does get better!
It's habit. You're use to taking big bites, chewing a few times and swallowing. I have the same issue. I still take big bites, then chew a bit, swallow a *****ew a bit more, swallow a bit more. It sounds and is weird, but after a lifetime of having my mouth full of food, I can't get into the tiny bites thing. So I focus on tiny amounts going down at a time.
It becomes more natural over time. It also helps when you are eating such small portions and you are out with others. You finish at the same time they do.
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160 lbs lost. Surgeons Goal Reached in 33 weeks. My Goal in 37 Weeks.
VSG: 11/2/2011; LBL+Thigh Lift+BL: 10/3/2012; Brach+Mastopexy: 7/22/2013
VSG on 08/29/12
I am having this same issue right along with yahoo! The other day I forgot to chew and just swallowed. It was pureed food, but still supposed to chew. I sat back and waited for some negative reaction, I was lucky, nothing except full.
It is very hard and I have to be very conscientious about it. I can't have a conversation or I forget to chew, OR eat too fast- then I get cramps. I guess well have to work on this for a while! You are not alone.
It is very hard and I have to be very conscientious about it. I can't have a conversation or I forget to chew, OR eat too fast- then I get cramps. I guess well have to work on this for a while! You are not alone.
it's funny right? eat 4tbsp of pureed food... it looks like two 'old' forkfuls to me, but whatever... and meals should last 15 mins. I literally eat with a little seafood fork or chopsticks and only pick up a tiny little bit of food. I also have to eat right in front of the clock and I sit there and section out the food into like 16 sections and then work on each one for a minute. It really makes me feel like an imbecile.
As far as Rob's comment about eating out with other people and finishing at the same time... i dunno about all that. Maybe next year. It's like a sitcom just eating with myself, let alone going out and trying to get something pureed.
As far as Rob's comment about eating out with other people and finishing at the same time... i dunno about all that. Maybe next year. It's like a sitcom just eating with myself, let alone going out and trying to get something pureed.
OH MY - I hear ya! That was a hard habit for me to get into as well. I am almost six months out now, and it is habit. But last week - I bit my tongue quite badly. Now I find myself hating the new habit of repeatedly chewing everything because it touches that painful spot on the side of my tongue, so it's bad again. I finally get to a point where I don't have to count or think so much, and do this. lol
It does get easier, and Rob is right - once you get in the habit, it does help when out with others. You finish close to the same time as other people.
It does get easier, and Rob is right - once you get in the habit, it does help when out with others. You finish close to the same time as other people.
I didn't ever do this with foods that were already... a pre-chewed consistency? for lack of a better word.. Mushies, cottage cheese.. nope, I chewed a little and swallowed.
I did eat slowly with itty-bitty tiny bites for the first few months.. and did chew solids to near mush back then, so it is a good habit to get into as it may save you some discomfort early out. It also allows you to fit more in your sleeve (later on, this can be a good or bad thing.. you CAN fit a little more in if you chew to downright mush.. especially if you are taking your own sweet time eating.)
I still take much smaller bites than I used to pre-op, but more normal size now, and I still chew well, but not to complete pulp.. we do still have a working stomach.. I eat my portion in about the time it takes my normie husband to eat his (5x-6x larger) portion, so I'm def slower and chewing more for sure than I used to, but nothing like just new-op.
At home, I use little ****tail forks & spoons I got from World Market, along with an assortment of tiny bowls and plates. I use them because a. they look cool with my plates, and b. it keeps me mindful of not loading up too fast and c. I hate negative space on plates.. nothing weirder to me than going to a friends house and having a 9" dinner plate in front of me with a 2oz serving off in a lonely corner.. ugh.
I did eat slowly with itty-bitty tiny bites for the first few months.. and did chew solids to near mush back then, so it is a good habit to get into as it may save you some discomfort early out. It also allows you to fit more in your sleeve (later on, this can be a good or bad thing.. you CAN fit a little more in if you chew to downright mush.. especially if you are taking your own sweet time eating.)
I still take much smaller bites than I used to pre-op, but more normal size now, and I still chew well, but not to complete pulp.. we do still have a working stomach.. I eat my portion in about the time it takes my normie husband to eat his (5x-6x larger) portion, so I'm def slower and chewing more for sure than I used to, but nothing like just new-op.
At home, I use little ****tail forks & spoons I got from World Market, along with an assortment of tiny bowls and plates. I use them because a. they look cool with my plates, and b. it keeps me mindful of not loading up too fast and c. I hate negative space on plates.. nothing weirder to me than going to a friends house and having a 9" dinner plate in front of me with a 2oz serving off in a lonely corner.. ugh.