How long do you wait between bites? Do you wait the 5 minutes like after surgery or just until you feel the food go through.

I just wait until I feel the food go through. Maybe 30 seconds? I make it a habit of ALWAYS putting my fork/spoon/chopsticks down in between bites. I used to have a bad habit of getting my next bite ready before I had even swallowed my first bite. I try not to do that now.

I think not putting my fork down and waiting has lead to all my stuck episodes. I have heard you can set a timer for 1 min. That is what a I need to start doing. I keep getting stuck and I am going in for my second fill today. It is only going to get worse for me if I don't start pausing between bites.

~~~Stephanie

I found an app for my iphone 'eat slower' it has a timer you can set and it rings when it's time to take another bite. I'm not banded yet but I am going to try it out, it was free what can it hurt.

I found an app for my iphone 'eat slower' it has a timer you can set and it rings when it's time to take another bite. I'm not banded yet but I am going to try it out' date=' it was free what can it hurt. [/quote']

So cool! Just found it and started downloading!!

One minute is the rule, True Results even gave me a neat little sand timer to be sure I stayed on track.

I'm not banded yet, but my surgeon says 1 minute between bites. This is something I have difficulty envisioning because I'm a very rapid eater, especially when I eat alone. The social worker suggested I read while eating - take a bite, read one page, take a bite, read one page, etc. I love this idea.

I finish chewing a bite, swallow then get my next bite ready n set the utensil down for just another few seconds. Works fine for me. Prob not a minute but I haven't had any trouble.

I just wait until I feel the food go through. Maybe 30 seconds? I make it a habit of ALWAYS putting my fork/spoon/chopsticks down in between bites. I used to have a bad habit of getting my next bite ready before I had even swallowed my first bite. I try not to do that now.

I do the exact same thing.

I found an app for my iphone 'eat slower' it has a timer you can set and it rings when it's time to take another bite. I'm not banded yet but I am going to try it out' date=' it was free what can it hurt. <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

I've used this too!

I agree with Missy and Guy and wait around 30 seconds making sure I put the fork down and take small bites. Doctors probably say a minute hoping that you will wait 30 seconds. For me I need to make sure I take small bites and chew chew chew. Having been a member of the rapid eaters club for some many years it was the hardest thing to learn to slow down.

How long do you wait between bites? Do you wait the 5 minutes like after surgery or just until you feel the food go through.

If I waited 5 minutes between bites, it would take me two hours to eat. One minute is usually plenty of time...even less if the food is small bites and well chewed.

Thanks, I normally wait about a minute and put my fork down. I was just rereading the info. from my surgeon and was double checking. It sounded like I had to do that forever. I know what you mean about taking an hour to eat that way. My husband is a fast eater and he would be done by the time I take my third bite. I've only got stuck while eating out and talking and not paying attention to my pace between bites.

This is the hardest thing for me even a year after surgery. I will easily get stuck if I take too big a bite or don't eat slowly.