I'm worried about needing to eat slowly- can I do it?

I'm hoping to have a RNY in December.  I'm okay with not drinking with meals, eating protein first, no sugars etc .  I've been practicing doing that and it's okay.  I can't seem to slow down how long it takes me to eat a meal I'm usuallydone in 10 minutes. I just can't seem to keep my concentration going to do that.  Is this something I need to be worried about or will my body give me "strong signals" after the surgery and sort of force me to do it? Thanks for your help!

um, the short answer yes.  Dont worry, you will learn, it will come naturally.  Trust me.

I disagree with the previous response. It doesnt come naturally but can be done with practice. For the first several weeks after surgery, I ate alone in my room so I could focus on what I was doing. I used a baby spoon to make sure I didn't take the big bites I was used to. I put the spoon down between bites and waited at least a minute before I picked up the spoon again. You CAN teach yourself to do this. When you first start out, focus on what you are doing. Don****ch TV or talk to others while you are eating. Distraction can make you forget. When you get to chewable food, you will also need to focus on chewing well. It is NOT fun to get something stuck because it wasnt chewed well or was to large a bite. If you work at this for a few weeks, then it will become second nature and you wont have to think about it so much. You can even practice this now before surgery.

Good luck.
Karen

If you don't eat slowly and chew thoroughly - you will experience discomfort.....so while it does take time to figure that out - and I agree with the previous poster - eating alone so you can be mindful of the pace etc. - if you don't - you will feel it.   The biggest challenge of WLS is being mindful of your eating - and the farther out you get - and the more normal your pouch - the more you have to stay focused.  I'm almost 3 years out and I have a very tricky pouch - it always lets me know if I've not concentrated......and taken it slow.    Susan

I guess your responses will vary. I had the same concerns. Let me tell ya what...it has come naturally for me. I am 2 weeks out today and it took me 45 mins to eat 4 oz cream of chicken soup for dinner last night. I simply cannot do it any faster.

This morning I had to work to finish my 8 oz protien drink in 1 hour. Seriously. My body just can't take anything other than a small sip or a tiny mouthful and then I just have to wait a few minutes.

Water and tea go down smooth and easy. But anything of substance makes me put the brakes on.

We are all different. Try not to worry.

yoiu will learn very quickly that if you dont eat slowly...you will either throw up or experience severe stomach pain..you really wont have a choice once you realize the after effects.

It was not difficult at all for me and I really thought it would be.  Like you I was always the first one to finish my meal, 10 minutes tops.  Just remember that the opening from your esophagus to your stomach is about the size of a dime.  That is how I was able to remember to chew it up.  I was and still am extremely paranoid that something will get stuck..  Sometimes it takes me 30 minutes to eat.  You'll be able to do it, but it does take some time to get used to it.  Good Luck!

It came naturally for me too just out of pure fear of becoming sick. My doc suggested taking bites the size of a pencil eraser and thats what I did. It takes a lot of time to eat if you do that. Good luck!

It certainly did NOT come naturally to me, although maybe it did for the poster here said that it does come naturally.  And maybe it will for you, but I wouldn't count on it.  I had to make a conscious effort to slow down.  Still do, really, and I'm a year out.  If I eat too quickly, I feel sick, but that's not until after the fact.  So that does force me to slow down.  Try putting your fork down between each bite.  And try using a smaller fork or spoon.  Some people use baby spoons.

Kelly