How long does it take to eat a meal?

[missemily516]

My surgeon's office says that it should take 20-30 minutes to eat a meal. I have been trying to go so slow, I eat one bite and chew, chew, chew. But I am on pureed/soft diet and after a minute or two the food is gone or too mushy to chew. Then I wait a few minutes and have another bite. But it still only takes me a maximum of 15 minutes to eat before I am full. Am I doing this wrong? How can I make my few bites that I eat last longer? It's getting ridiculous to try to put myself through this. Anyone else going through this?

[barrbdoll]

at this stage you are doing just fine.... listen to your body......

[alice1]

I use a small teaspoon and eat half a teaspoon at a time. I have to adjust a new way of eating and took me awhile, you'll get use to this soon. Enjoy every mouthful since we can only consume such small quantity....
We have come a long way and don't get frustrated, look how much you have loss, it's totally worth it.
Wishing you a healthy and slim 2014.

[Ckruts]

My surgeon's office and the support group say it should take me 30 minutes and I should be chewing at least 30 times before I swallow. I am finding this next to impossible and I am paying for it. I eat much too fast and my body tells me because I'm either extremely nauseous or I'm vomiting if I overeat. My nutritionist has recommended that I set my egg timer and then do something else to distract myself while I eat so that I slow down. This has been working most of the time, although as I'm typing I am paying for eating too fast during lunch. It takes a lot of practice and it works differently for every person. Good luck!

[Julesmirage70]

I am the same way just those couple of small bites and I am full which took only a few minutes to eat. When you get to a better food stage (like fish) if you go to fast your stomach will let you know real fast it doesn't want anymore. Last night for me was the first time I have went out to dinner and the tiny slowr bites made a huge difference. I am still having hard time to remember not to drink after last bite of meal to wash it all down, out of habbit I am used to picking up ice tea after a meal or while I am having dinner. Now I can wait about 10 minutes before I drink, it's just the process our new tummy has to let us adjust to. So your right on track!

[kacie77]

Your doing great!!! In my opinion starting that practice straight out the gate helps us when we can real foods. I thought the same thing but now it's like riding a bike and it takes almost the whole 30 minutes to eat. Keep up the great work...your doing awesome!

[Marvinator]

the reason for going slow is that your stomach doesnt signal its full until about 20 minutes after its actually full. thus you dont get the signal until after its full and at that point food may be backed up in your espophagus which may result in it coming back up. by going slow you give it time to signal you before you reach that point. not as critical in the liquid stage because it moves through so much quicker but when you start eating solids it definitely becomes a good idea. Not all of us follow it, myself included though I do try. I find I have less discomfort when I go slower, even now that my capacity has increased significantly. Maybe even more so since my capacity has increased. I get a little overconfident now. And sometimes I get some discomfort at the end to pay for it.

[missemily516]

Ok, thank you for the support and encouragement. I feel better. I just don't want to call my surgeon 's office every day for these little questions, but I also don't want to do something wrong. I will give myself a break and not worry about it, and then just keep going slowly as i move to different foods.

[Heatherrenee21]

I use baby spoons and forks. I have found them to be very helpful

[jduford]

I picked up some baby silverware to limit the size of my bites.

[chobbs77562]

This is a great group to get answers and support. Everyone is so nice on here.

[Terry521]

I purchased disposable baby spoons and forks. Six months out and I am still using them. My body tells me when I am eating too fast [it hurts] and I usually can't eat anymore. My biggest problem seems to be at dinner because I am hungry then and tend to eat too fast. I also purchased a "Hapifork" which lights up and vibrates if you eat too fast. It does help but it is pricey. I bring it to restaurants with me and no one knows its not a real fork. When I am paying attention, I count to 10 before I bring the spoon or fork back up to my mouth. It takes practice and, quite frankly, when you are on soft or liquids, I've had to reheat food several times early on. You'll get the hang of it as your body will remind you. Good luck.

[Little Verbena]

15 to 20 minutes is about all I can do. I put my fork down, I chew chew chrew I do everything I can think of but I just can't seem to stretch it out much beyond that.

[justwannabnormal]

Same here.

[JustWantToBeHealthyAgain]

I eat my meals in about 10-15 min. I feel that "restriction" right away. I usually eat all that's on my saucer (because it's pre-measured) but if I feel that restriction before I am done, then I just don't finish it and it's okay. It's not painful or anything.

Food doesn't do it much for me anymore. I don't want a 30 min meal. I just want to chew, swallow, and be done with it.