I'm curious... I was told by my surgical team (surgeon, nurses, and nutritionist) to wait a minute between bites of food, and I've always felt a bit like I'm cheating by only waiting 30 seconds. After I chew my bite to mush and finish swallowing, I set my spoon or fork down and count down from 30 before I go for another bite. Part of me feels like I'm cheating, but eating 1/2 - 3/4 cup of food this way takes me at least 20-30 minutes. I feel like if I wait a full minute, I'd take an hour at each meal, not to mention how cold hot food would get before I finished it. So I'm curious about what everyone else does. Do you time yourself a full minute? More? Less? Not time at all? How does it work for you?

I'm curious... I was told by my surgical team (surgeon' date=' nurses, and nutritionist) to wait a minute between bites of food, and I've always felt a bit like I'm cheating by only waiting 30 seconds. After I chew my bite to mush and finish swallowing, I set my spoon or fork down and count down from 30 before I go for another bite. Part of me feels like I'm cheating, but eating 1/2 - 3/4 cup of food this way takes me at least 20-30 minutes. I feel like if I wait a full minute, I'd take an hour at each meal, not to mention how cold hot food would get before I finished it. So I'm curious about what everyone else does. Do you time yourself a full minute? More? Less? Not time at all? How does it work for you?[/quote']

I time myself a minute.. it takes me about 20-30 minutes to eat a meal.. I use the "eat slower app". I was told to do this to avoid stretching my pouch and also to avoid slipping. I listen 100% because I have very bad luck when it comes to health. lol

In the beginning I would take a bite and look at the clock on either the cable box, computer or car radio and wait for a minute to pass. But 2 years out, I don't really even think about it any more to be honest with you. It just kind of becomes second nature, unless I am raving hungry, eat too fast and end up getting stuck!! Luckily that doesn't happen to often!

At true results they not only tell you a minute but give you a minute sand timer at your post op appt

I time myself a minute.. it takes me about 20-30 minutes to eat a meal.. I use the "eat slower app". I was told to do this to avoid stretching my pouch and also to avoid slipping. I listen 100% because I have very bad luck when it comes to health. lol

I'm on to be banded on the 20th.

My dietitian told me about the "eat slower app" too and I believe it will be a great tool. I plan on using the smaller plates, and oyster forks.

My wife religiously uses the egg timer.

Thanks, everyone. Looks like I'll be upping my count and making a trip to the microwave halfway through meal time! And lingering at the table by myself. :-P

I have gotten so used to cold food too now that it doesn't bother me. For the most part, I eat breakfast and lunch alone so I can take how ever long I want. Before surgery I would polish off my dinner plate in less than 10 minutes and my hubby would still bet there for another half hour. Even now sometimes he is still eating after I finish and it may take me 30-45 minutes. I guess that is why I had the weight problem and he is skinny!

lol I guess Im not the only one who eats cold food

Many of these rules they have you follow are not hard and fast....they are more exercises to get you into new habits....one day you will realize why they had you do these little things, and one day you will realize you cannot survive without following these rules......

I'm not sure this will make much sense if you are new to this....but trust me...it's coming....

B-52, actually, it makes a lot of sense. I ate dinner tonight with the 1 minute rule, and it took me 1 hr 20 minutes to finish my 2.5 oz of fish and 1/2 c of cottage cheese. I felt ridiculous, and frankly, I was bored with eating long before I was done or satisfied. I've never been a rapid eater, but I do understand that making a new bandster count down a minute after each bite really emphasizes the idea that slow eating, lots of chewing, and small bites it fundamental to success.

dont over think it to begin with when i read your post

what i do is take a bite (usually scrabble tile size) chew til nearly gone, swallow

sometimes i put fork down and sometimes i dont ........i can feel it go down, i wait a moment or two and start again...like holly, my food is normally cooled off by the time i stop at 20 min but that is okay as i am pretty full/done with anyway.