20-30 min. for a meal?

my surgeon suggests that i make my meals last at least 20 minutes but no longer than 30 minutes. i was wondering if any of you have the same guidelines, and do you follow them? thanks in advance. ~liz

I was told to make my meals last 30-45 min. I can't seem to make them last that long. I feel like I can eat too much if I do. Leeanne

Hi Liz, My meals do not last 20 minutes. I eat 2oz meat, 1 oz cheese in about 10 min. My guideline calls for meals lasting 30 minutes. It also tells you to eat with baby silverware and to cut into pieces the size of a pencil eraser and to chew 30 times. PPPPPLLLLLLEEEEEEAAAAASSSSSSEEEEEEEEE .... I do take smaller bites and chew thoroughly but not that small and not that many times! But I have always hated being told what to do and how to do it! God Bless, Jen

I take 30 minutes to eat a meal. I time it by keeping an eye on the clock. Then I wait 30 mins before I start drinking fluids again. This is my doctor's recommendation. It can be done, if you eat slowly and chew your food to a paste-like consistency (it says to do that in my WLS info binder). Eating in 30 mins isn't a difficult thing for me because usually it's... **Take a bite and chew chew chew.** Pick up a baby and pick cracker out of her hair. Answer phone and put baby down. **Take a bite and chew chew chew.** Get laundry out of drier/put another one of the many loads I do a day in washer. Chase twins out of laundry room. Pick up smooshed crackers on floor. **Take a bite and chew chew chew.** Chase a baby running down the hall. Get babies involved in their toys/dolls by getting down on the floor with them...playing for a few mins). **Take a bite and chew chew chew.** Wish for the 100th time in an hour that I could drink while I eat. Attempt to go to the bathroom without anyone following me. Put dishes away in kitchen. **Take a bite and chew chew chew.** Check email with bowl of seafood salad (eating that now as I type this) telling myself I will sit here for 30 mins and eat. Twin B is playing with vac****o gotta go! I'm off again! (It used to be business meetings and now it's this...I must say, I do have a lot of flexibility! ) Chele (who is wishing she could drink with her meals) I'm sooo thirsty all the time!

Chele, That is too funny. I do not have twins ..... but I have a 14 month old 18 month old 22 month old all day every day so I can relate to your schedule above. I eat after "lunch" when it is nap time. If I tried to eat while they are awake ... ha ha... they are eating afternoon snack - all strapped in nice and tight into those seats. I love my laptop and wireless internet God Bless, Jen

thanks everyone for responding!! haha chele, i feel the exact same way. i wish i could drink with meals too! but isn't it funny how i'm dying for a drink with a meal, but at the same time, when i'm supposed to be drinking, i let my glass sit there for quite a while sometimes, expecially if it's water and i am at home on the couch! i do try and make my meals last 20 min. at least. sometimes it works, sometimes i'm done in 10 minutes if i'm eating something really tasty. i've tried a bite of filet mignon, and it went down fine. i'm doing great with ground beef, horrible with tuna. i've twice eating chicken. i can only tolerate it well if it's more than moist. but ground beef is versatile, so i'm happy. it's one of the foods on my surgeons "may not tolerate well after surgery" list too. oh well, just have to remember to go slow and chew chew chew chew chew. my jaw is going to be my strongest muscle! ~liz

I am a terribly fast eater. I know that's what gives me problems If I work at taking longer to eat I end up feeling better. I guess the guidelines are there for a reason

I do not take that long either - I feel like I am eating so little that I would have to run laps to make it last that long. I just take small bites, chew it up really well and it ends up lasting about 10 - 15 minutes. Next time I see my nut I am going to ask about it...btw - I tried steak last Friday and it did not go well, ended up throwing it up...oh well... Have a great day! Rhonda

Hi Elizabeth, I take about 30 minutes to eat a meal, if I eat faster I feel sick. Carly

I eat relatively fast, I always have. I'm guessing 10 mins a meal, if that. I am more careful to make sure I eat the right portion then the time it takes me to eat it. Dawn