Question:
Eating question

I'm two month post-op as of yesterday (12/03/01). Does anyone know how long it should take us to eat? Immediately post-op (when I was on CIB for two weeks) my surgeon said to drink a CIB over the course of 45 mins. to an hour. How about now that I'm eating solid foods? All he said was to put down my fork between bites and evaluate how I feel...is the food sitting well with me, does it taste good, have I had enough, etc. I usually eat my meals over the course of 20 minutes. Does this sound average to you guys?    — [Anonymous] (posted on December 4, 2001)

December 4, 2001
20 min max. Our instructions were 1 oz, six times/day until goal wt. (our goal). If you eat over 30 min, that's grazing and yes, it stretches your pouch. The object is to reach goal wt with your pouch intact. The sooner you stretch, the sooner you plateau.
   — vitalady

December 4, 2001
Every doctor has different rules. My doctor is adamant that we eat no more than 4 times a day - preferably 3 times and eating slowly is a definite must. I think long term the results are very similar regardless of whether you eat 3 or 6 times a day. Twenty minutes sounds like a reasonable amount of time to me, but like I said earlier, every doctor has different ideas. If you're comfortable with 20 minutes, go for it.
   — [Anonymous]

December 5, 2001
My Dr. told me to take 30 minutes to eat my meal. He said I should eat a balanced meal consisting of no more than about 4-6oz. Finish all liqiuds before the meal and no liquids for 2 hours after (that has been REALLY hard for me). As mentined in a previous response, every Dr is different.
   — Melissa S.

December 6, 2001
If you eat over a 30 - 45 minute period it does not stretch your pouch. You are supposed to try to make your meal last as long as you can. I usually eat mine in 15 minutes or so. I eat 3 meals a day that weigh 4 oz. I don't drink 45 minutes before I start or 45 minutes after I finish. If you are eating 12 oz. a day of food, and eat it however slow, you are not going to stretch your pouch. How does that make any sense? It would make more sense if you ate your 4 ounces fast that it would stretch your pouch.
   — Jennifer H.