Question:
Any slow eaters out there?

Iam almost 9 weeks out and I can't eat fast.I buy the smallest can of tuna and it takes me 2 days to eat it. I have read some people can eat tuna in one meal sitting. I eat 2 crackers with tuna and it takes me aleast one hour to eat it and I am stuffed. Sometimes I feel like iam grazing but I will starve to death if I don't eat. I still feel weak but Iam getting stronger.If I try to eat faster my food gets stuck and I am in a alot of pain until I throw it up. I have to re-heat my food atleast 4 times because it takes so long to eat it. These are small portions of food. So now what? I have lost 42lbs. in 8 1/2 weeks.Not a big loss as some. any slow eaters out there?    — Laura G. (posted on February 20, 2002)

February 20, 2002
I have always been a slow eater, even before surgery. My husband always laughs because i fix his plate and then mine. He finishes his first and has seconds before I sit down to eat. He is also finished before me. (And I only eat 6-8 oz of food.) My dr. told us to eat slow. She said it should take us at least 30 minutes to eat a meal. That way you will not eat as much. It takes a while for your brian to know that your full, this gives it time to know your full. Right after surgery when I was still on soft foods, you should have seen me trying to eat 1-2 oz of mashed potatoes and keep it warm enough for 30 minutes. I didn't start getting my energy back until about the 3rd or 4th month. 42 lbs. in 8 1/2 weeks -- great job!!
   — angelgirl1029

February 20, 2002
I don't know if they still make them, but there used to be baby food dishes that were electric. They kept the food warm while you were feeding the baby. That would at least help so you didn't have to keep getting up. I'm not a post-op yet, so can't really offer you much help in the amount you're eating and the time it takes. Sorry.
   — garw

February 20, 2002
first of all laura, i think ur weight loss is great! i lost the same amount at 8 weeks post op & tons of inches. we r all different & lose at different rates. second of all, i am a very slow eater, all my life, even before wls. my coffee needs to be reheated numerous times. my food gets cold but i eat it because as the mother of 3 i kinda got used to eating cold food. lol. as far as the electric baby dishes gar, they no longer exist. :-( they were wonderful werent they? but i did buy myself a baby food dish that u can fill with hot water & it does an ok job of keeping the food warm longer.
   — sheryl titone

February 20, 2002
I am about 10 weeks out(distal RNY) and have lost 43lbs also..with alot of inches. I also worry that it is not a big loss, but I have not been exercising yet ..and I just got my protein up to 80 grams a day within the last few weeks so actually it is a good loss considering all that. As far as eating slow, I did until about 3 weeks ago, then all of a sudden I could eat more, without that FUL, FULL feeling like before, It was only an increase to 1/2 a cup of food, and what happened was the stomach swelling from surgery was gone and the natural increase in pouch size seemed so different,I still get full, just not uncomfortable. As for the energy, I did not get mine back until I started taking my Vitamins...A&D, Centrum Multi, Iron, Zinc, B-12 injections(We will NOT absorb any other kind of B-12) If you have not taken any vitamins yet, you should, If you are and you are still very weak, check with your doctor.
   — Patricia R.