Speed of eating - does it really matter when you know your limit??

[Spinoza 1,525]

Hi guys,

I'm just over 2 months out from VSG surgery and things are going pretty well. There are certain things that I know I can easily fit into my new pouch - like one egg. I tend to eat these things very quickly now, kind of waiting for my full feeling to catch up afterwards. Also when I start a (tiny) meal I eat the first half really quickly, Protein first, and *then* slow my eating right down tiil I find my full point. Is there anything wrong with that?

[SummerTimeGirl 582]

Whether we should or not, I know I personally eat quick too, just like I used to before surgery. In the beginning I didn't really but now, 8 months out, I pretty much know my limits and what foods fill me up quicker and whatnot. But, when I try something new or something I haven't had since before surgery, I do try to take it slow.

[GradyCat 3,697]

I say, whatever works for you.

[catwoman7 11,284]

at almost seven years out, I think I eat almost as quickly as I did pre-surgery - but just remember that it takes 15 or 20 minutes for your brain to get the signal that you've had enough. So if you scarf everything down in five minutes, there's the temptation to overdo it since your brain doesn't know yet that you've had enough. At this point I pretty much know how much my stomach can handle, but the temptation to eat more is there. Eating slowly allows the signal to get to your brain by the time you're finishing up. Actually, I should probably try to get back to this....

anyway, back to your question. I don't think there's any harm in doing that - it's just that you're more likely to overeat if you eat quickly.

[GreenTealael 25,610]

Fast eating probably started for me from always being pressed for time. I still finish eating in 30 mins or much less TBH. I haven’t seen any negative outcomes from it.
If I eat for longer I’m for certain eating more than I need to. Since my fullness also “catches up” later, I eat either portioned amounts or until I think I should stop.

[ShoppGirl 5,073]

I am able to eat fast too without any pin or issues. I Just make sure it’s the same portion of foods that I have had before and I have been okay. I always eat slowly when having something new. I do try to slow down because I know that a meal will be more satisfying if it lasts longer but it is just a challenge I don’t seem to win.

[Splenda 257]

I'm with most everyone else on this: if you know you can handle eating a food quickly with few issues and you know your general limits with that food, eating quickly is not a sin.

[Spinoza 1,525]

Thanks all - general lack of time here too but I am very careful not to eat anything new quickly. An egg is an egg and half a bowl of Soup is the same every time. So far anyway!

[Arabesque 7,605]

If I eat too quickly I get discomfort, my restriction kicks in or worst case scenario the foamies & that’s the end of eating anything more even if I’m nowhere near eating my meal. So I still eat slowly 2 3/4 yrs out. Happily take 30-60 minutes to eat a meal. Helps to reduce that temptation to eat more & increase my attention on why I’m having that next bite. But that’s me.

[Guest]

I think I eat fairly quickly, too, but I'm pretty unrestricted. I just make sure it's the portions / calories I want to eat on the days I'm logging my intake (Mon-Thur, it's my way into maintenance, which sure is a new experience).

[Summermoose 195]

My surgeon and nutritionist advised me not to take too long while eating (ideally less than 20 minutes).
TBH I feel like that is a really long time already because it’s not like I can eat a whole bowl of food 😆
I think it’s best to listen to your body and do what feels best for you!

[Pete-TheTimeIsNow 48]

A new study came out a couple of days ago that found that chewing slowly makes you lose more weight, burn more calories. No idea how much.

I am close to 3 months out and have this same problem. I am eating at the same speed as pre-op. I (try to) make sure I chew to small bites, otherwise, I can get discomfort, but otherwise, 90% of the time I am not paying attention and scarf the food down..

[Guest]

5 hours ago, Pete-TheTimeIsNow said:

A new study came out a couple of days ago that found that chewing slowly makes you lose more weight, burn more calories. No idea how much.

The idea probably is that you'll eat less (fullness kicks in earlier) - the burn more part sounds ... hmmm

Anyway, for us MGB'ers, we actually do want to get some food down there as our main mechanism is feeling satiety from the fast impact to the lower intestine. Unlike other surgeries, we do better with a larger anastomosis (up to a point) because it means we'll get the effect faster and more 1:1 with what we're eating.

If you think you get drunk fast with a RNY, try an MGB lol ...

[Summermoose 195]

01/25/2022 11:58 PM, MiniGastricBypassDude said:

If you think you get drunk fast with a RNY, try an MGB lol ...

Okay now I’m even more nervous about ever trying alcohol again! 😆 Good to know though!

[vikingbeast 987]

I eat more slowly than I did pre-op, but I'm not taking 30 minutes to eat a meal either (which makes my surgeon crazy, he says I'm going to stretch my stomach doing that). I pre-plan my meals ("the food scale eats first") so I know I'm not going to overeat, and some days the restriction kicks in early and that's that.