Question:
Some Questions On Eating Post-Op...
This may sound silly, but I can't figure out which is better--to eat faster (get full quick) or eat slower? It seems like some say your 'meal' should only be a few minutes, some say you should take longer to eat. Also, why are we made to feel so bad about eating fruit? I never craved it before, but now I could live on fruit alone, but when I see all these posts about evil carbs, it makes me feel bad. It's frippin' FRUIT! Thanks for your answers, please don't tell me how bad I am. — Kimberley E. (posted on August 23, 2003)
August 23, 2003
i have never heard of any doc telling you to eat fast after you have this
surgery. In fact, it is nearly impossible unless you want to make yourself
sick which I have done a few times. Usually they want you to take 20-30
minutes for a meal. Some even tell you to take a bite and lay your fork
down for three minutes. i can't do that. A real long meal is considered
"grazing" and is bad for you. I hope I am not coming across as
brash or smart but didn't your surgeon tell you to take small bites and
chew, chew, chew? If you do this you can't eat fast. I ate so fast
pre-op, I felt like I was in a race. All those thirty minute lunch breaks
and so much to eat. Well, by the time your brain catches up to your belly,
you have eaten enough for three people. I don't know what you call
"fast" and slow. But I always get sick when I eat fast. I can't
even sit at the table and eat with my hubby. I go into the living room and
watch the clock. He eats like he is going to a fire and I find myself
trying to do the same thing. About fruit, most of the carbs are
'good" carbs.
— Delores S.
August 23, 2003
ROTFL!! "Frippin' Fruit" -- I love it!! I know what you mean,
though. I feel guilty about eating certain fruits, like a "carby"
banana... but I don't feel bad about eating watermellon or cantaloupe once
in a while... I am still in the learning stages, though. As far as the time
spent eating a meal...I just chew it up until I can practically swish it
and I am done when I am done. *LOL* Gosh, we eat such small meals, I can't
imagine it taking any of us along time to eat a meal..I think I finish
eating in about 15 - 20 minutes -- Take Care!! >^,,^<
— Kim W.
August 23, 2003
I find for me if I take 30-45 minutes to eat, like some people, I could eat
half the house as the food starts working it's way through making room for
more. Most meals are 5-15 minutes for me, with the norm being 10 minutes
or less. I told the surgeon this lately that I would end up eating more if
I ate as slow as he wanted me to. I usually put an appropriate amount of
food on my plate and however fast or slow I eat it, so be it. I don't eat
it so fast that I get sick but I eat fast enough that it stays in my pouch
and I get that full/satisfied feeling. He said as long as this as working
for me and was helping me with protion control he was fine with it.
However, I am almost 7 months PO so that does factor in too. Although I
have never been able to take longer than 15-20 minutes to eat unless it was
something that just wasn't sitting too well.
<p>I ate very little carbs, fruits and veggies included, for 4-1/2
months in order to stay in max ketosis and burn fat. I now eat some fruits
and veggies with fruits being the dominant thing right now because of all
the summer fruits. I mostly go for watermelon, grapes, blueberries,
cantelope, strawberries. Haven't tried any citrus. However, I don't eat
fruit for every meal and not even every day. Have some, enjoy it, but keep
it a small portion of your meal.
— zoedogcbr
August 23, 2003
Its important to eat slowly. If not you WILL get full fast yes. But it
likely won't stay down. I am almost 11 weeks out and I eat fruit,
especially grapes. Its like eating candy to me. I can't handle apple
peeling or plum skins. I have to peel them first. Watermelon is another
favorite. But lately for me, its salads that I want.
— lesleeloo
August 23, 2003
I don't think it's really a question of eating fast or slow. It's about
how much you eat at a sitting. I still measure my food, so I know exactly
how much I'm going to eat. It doesn't matter if it takes me 10 minutes to
eat or 25 minutes--I'm going to eat the same amount. I personally think
that eating too fast is not a good habit to get into. You quite likely
will spend a lot of time being uncomfortable, and to the extent that you
can stretch your pouch, I think stuffing it all in at once is more likely
to create that problem. Also, if you're eating with other people, you will
feel conspicuous being done so much ahead of everyone else. If they take
long enough to eat, you may end up eating a second time, and therefore more
than you should have. In the long run, you will be better off to learn
what a correct portion size looks like (not easy, I know), and then take as
long as you need to to eat that amount. Regarding fruits: we absolutely
need carbs in our diet (your brain, lungs and heart prefer carbs as an
energy source--having too few of them will affect their function, and make
you tired). Fruits and veggies also provide necessary nutrients and fiber.
It's the refined carbs (bread, pasta, rice, sugar, desserts, chips, etc.)
that you should avoid. Eat fruits and veggies.
— Vespa R.
August 23, 2003
I say there isno reason to feel ba abou teating fruit, or any other ffod
for that matter. It is just food not a horrible sin. I think it is good to
develope a healthy attitude towards food. You need it to live. fruit is
full of yummy tasting vitamins. I have found if I eat too slow I eat a lot
more. 15-20 minutes works best for me. And chew chew chew.
— **willow**
August 24, 2003
Interesting, reading the amount of time it takes some people to eat a meal.
I'm one of those that agrees eating faster is better than slow. However,
not for early post-ops! Early post-op you must eat slow, and measured
amounts or you will get sick. Further out, you can eat more normally (like
you did pre-op except not as much)and much faster. 10 minutes is a normal
meal for me and when I feel full, even if not finished with the food, I
leave it behind. As for fruit, I have never felt guilty for eating fruit
and try to have some every day-cantalope, watermelon, cherries, strawberry
and peaches. Some who are on restricted carb diets will try to minimize
fruit and others say the natural sugars in fruit trigger sugar cravings for
them.
— Cindy R.
August 24, 2003
Kimberly- I can only share with you what has seemed to work for me. I eat
very slowly-- about a tablespoon of food every few minutes. I stop all of
my meals after 30 minutes. By using this method, I feel that I am able to
control the flow of food into me (something which was a problem when I
inhaled my food) and maintain fullness for a long time.
— SteveColarossi
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