Food vs. Water

This has been a constant struggle for me since my surgery. I am never sure whether I should try to get in more water or more food. I have been choosing water so that I don't dehydrate, and in a typical day I only get in 2 meals with all my water. So today I went to see my Doc for my 6 week check up and amazingly he says that I am eating too much in a sitting. His suggestion was to take a bite and wait 3 minutes before I take another. He said that I should fill up after about 6-10 bites this way and still be able to get in my water afterward. I had NO IDEA. He asked how much I typically eat in a sitting and I said about a hand full and put my palm out (my husband agreed) but now eating only 6-10 bites seems so small. My Dr.'s diet does not give any specfic protein or carb restrictions like many of yours does, but does 6-10 bites make sense to you guys, and how many of you have tried the 3 minutes between bites trick? Lori

Hey Lori: I have not heard of the 3 minutes rule and I dont do it I have always heard that we should try to eat all our food in 15 minutes and then stop. And I can do more than 10 bites in 15 minutes I am pretty sure. That does not seem like a lot of food to me either. Are you going to try it? Waiting 3 minutes between bites seems like a long time too. I may try it tomorrow and see if I can do it that way. I try to get my water in between meals and do teh 3 meals a day. My surgeon also tells us that we should be eating about 4-6 ozs at at a time which is way more than 10 bites...I dont know there is so many conflicting instructions out there.

Lori - Hey - Ok I've never heard this, even on the main board. I would suggest posting this question there. I'm real interested to see what others have to say about that. I honestly think it would be WAY hard to eat a bite and then wait 3 minutes. I'll have to try it tomorrow. I do need to get more water in and sip more through the day.

You'll have to eat standing by the microwave reheating your food in between bites!!! Never heard of that- but I'm sure most of us could work on eating slower- but 3 minutes sounds extreme... Holly

I am constantly amazed at how different our post programs are. My dr. says to take small bites, chew into a mush, and wait 5 min. between bites for pureed foods and 10 min. for more solid foods, no more than 2 oz. meat at a meal. Thirty minutes later a 1/2 cup of veg. --it's a day long plan. It does take forever, but then I haven't had any problems either. I think slow is best--especially for the first 6 months. I wish you all the best! Faith

my dr. has me wait three minutes between each bite. I do have to eat standing by the microwave. I did it at first, but now at 7 weeks out, I don't wait that long.