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How long do you take to eat



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I started regular food about a week ago and I find it takes me about half an hour to eat, sometimes a little longer. I find now my eyes really are bigger than my stomach, I'm getting better but I still make to big a portion, even measuring it out. I stop drinking half an hour before eating, and don't drink for half an hour after eating. Is this about what you all are doing? Also how often do you eat? I find about 2 hours after I eat I get a little hungry again, especially if I worked out that day, and I've been doing some kind of exercise at least 5 day a week.

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I was told take no longer than 20 mins to eat. That's the amount of time it takes the food to digest and start to reach your small intestines. If you keep eating, it keeps digesting allowing you to fit more food. It usually takes me about 10 mins to eat, slowing down for me has been hard to adjust to. Keep measuring, that is very important so you dont overeat and hurt yourself. Also, I eat about every 2-3 hours. Make sure you're drinking your Water too, that will help with your hunger! :)

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I have been on a soft foods diet for one week and my nutritionist told me that I should take at least 20 minutes to eat, taking small bites and chewing thoroughly. She also said to take no longer than 30 minutes to eat. She said if I get to 30 minutes and I have not finished my portion, I should stop. I measure everything and my meals are supposed to be 2 - 4 oz right now. The heavier foods (like meatballs) I find that I eat less of, but lighter stuff (like tuna salad) I can eat 4 oz. I rarely feel hungry, but if I do and it's not time to eat, I drink some Water. I was told to aim for 5 - 6 meals a day eating every 3 to 4 hours and I was also told to stop drinking 30 minutes before and after eating. Following these rules has worked for me, but as this site shows...every one is different! I hope you find the balance that works for you!

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    • LeighaTR

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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