So I started pureed foods today, 15 days post op..

Dr said to allow 30 minutes for meal time & of course chew thoroughly and eat slow.

I found that if I do something along with eating a meal it makes me slow down & take breaks..things like doing the dishes, laundry, tending to my 9 month old, etc.

Anyone else do this?

Or is sitting down for a half hour, eating slow better? I am going to have a hard time doing it that way..I need something to distract me to slow down.

Thoughts? Ideas?

This was so hard for me! I did some practicing on the clock -- one bite per minute. I did not want to put down my implement so it was good for me to notice that. And notice everything. I think it was important for me to remain very present so that I was able to receive the signal for satiety. To this day, I still say, "Oh!" and feel surprised. Like really, I can feel this way after so little food? Yup. Also as I have tendencies to be a grazer it was important for me to sit with the meal and have that be my meal. Have not completely conquered this but at least I am aware. The awareness is really where it's at. Are you aware how well you're doing? Because you are! Way to go! And have fun with that nine month year old. What fun.

My nut told me to take one bite per minutes. She told me to help with this to take a bite, put the fork down and set a watch for a minute.

Wow..that seems so slow, when I am used to shoveling food down so fast :-/

This is gonna be tough!

Does this apply to the pureed stage too?

Nothing to really chew.. but I guess the bite per minute is still good to practice now.

Yes, doing things while eating helps me pace myself. I eat breakfast while doing makeup. Even watching tv is helpful. I make sure my serving size is what it should be so I can't mindlessly eat.

There is an app called eat slower, it tells you when to take a bite.... It is difficult but it really helps in the slowing down process

As you progress through the months ahead, and your band gets tightened, it's very easy to get distracted and eat too fast or take too big of a bite or forget to chew properly. I wouldn't make it a habit of eating distracted. Later on it could result in some serious stuck episodes. They're not terribly painful, mostly terribly uncomfortable till it passes.

All it takes is one knee jerk reaction to a situation like a baby/child falling or playing with sharp objects for you to swallow whatever is in your mouth. It's just natural but we don't have natural stomachs any longer. jmo

This is just a suggestion look up bariatric timer & then you can set it over & over it helped me to know when I could drink after eating, It also told me when I should eat but I pretty much know that by now LOL , like I said it's just a suggestion , I had it on my phone for a good while , I'm not sure if you can get it on a computer of some sort .

Thanks! I downloaded the app..it's great to get me used to eating this way.

Edited June 5, 201511 yr by Butterfly512

Which app there are a few so let people know it might help them also .

Bariatric Timer & Mindful Meal Timer are the ones I downloaded.. very good apps

I am still finding that doing other things while eating helps alot.

Sitting here playing on my phone is helping me eat this cottage cheese slow..and is helping me take breaks between bites

Eating while sitting and staring at a timer or clock is going to drive me crazy lol.. I think distraction is the key for me as long as I remember to chew each bite thoroughly.