Ok this is my first post... I've been lurking awhile though... I'm 1 week and 4 days post op, on pureed stage... I am having the hardest time making my food last an hour... It's is so hard to slow down, I've always been a gobbler but so far the only thing that has helped is to get up, do something else, come back eat a bite, do something else, eat a bite... etc... does anyone have any other suggestions?

Were you told that you had to eat your food over an hour. I was told to measure out my food, eat it, and walk away. It is probably very hard to make mushies last for an hour. Maybe you should check with you doc and see if he/she really meant that. Good luck.

I was never told to take an hour to eat. Just to chew it thoroughly and eat slowly. When it is gone, it's gone. I think if you spent an hour eating a small amount, that is an unrealistic approach and whatever it is would be cold or curdled!! Hahaha. Good luck.

I use child-sized silverware when I eat (you know like what you would use to feed a toddler who is just learning to eat). I also do the take-a-bite-and-come-back thing too. That seems to help. I dish up a small portion of one kind of food at the counter and leave the extra food on the counter or put it away in the fridge so I have to make myself get up to get more food. Hope that helps!!

I was told to make meals last 30 minutes.

I was told 15-20 mins to eat. I know we are told not to eat in front of the tv or computer but I find I eat slower if I'm here at the computer. Just seems so boring and lonely when the family is gone and its time to eat, so I come on here and surf and eat slow.

some things don't take an hour...let alone 15-20 min... like Soup or pureed foods.

I think it depends on how retsricted you are. Just take it slow and if it's someting that needs to be chewed, try chewing 20 times before swallowing to make sure you are taking your time and so it won't get stuck.

Also, there is a hormone called gherin that signals your brain that you are eating and to tell your stomach you are full. Some people have issues with the brain signaling in a normal amount of time, that is why they over eat because they do not know they are full...

I over eat because I love food...the band is supposed to help me feel full so I won't - that is why staying away from easy to eat foods is such a challenge!

An hour seems long to me, too. Then again, if you have good company and chat over your meal, that would be the very best way to stretch out the time!

Do what your doc says but I agree; we were told never take longer than 30 minutes to eat (while chewing well, small bites etc) Are you sure that the doc didn't say 3-4 oz an hour and you took that to mean over an hour?

I was told no more than 25 min. If I am not done at 25 min. then I am to leave it alone. After that your food starts going on down and you can eat more,

Wow. I can't imagine having an hour to sit and eat. I was also told 30 minutes, but like someone said - some things don't even take that long to eat - even if you eat them slowly. If you are eating something hot, I don't think it would be very good after an hour. I could eat AND get in a power nap in an hour. Of course you should do what your doctor tells you to do, but you might want to double check on this one. Good luck to you. Becky

The whole point of the band, and the restriction, is to eat small amounts of food and then feel full for a long time. I've NEVER heard of a doctor telling someone to eat for an hour. It just isn't possible for every meal, and it isn't smart. You should eat either a portion size, until you're full, and for no longer than 15 minutes, which ever comes first.

I too was told it should take about 30mins to eat....

I also use baby silverware...put it down between every bite...and try to make sure your mouth is empty before adding any more to it.

I'll admit I've always been a slower eater so this part hasn't been so hard for me....now my problem in the past....I'm a grazer, it's hard to walk away and not have "just one more bite" but I've done really well so far.

I found some Hors d' Oeuvres sized silverware and that's what I use. I couldn't find any toddler utensils that weren't big and chunky and baby looking. My favorite size forks I found at the kitchen store at the outlet mall. I also found some forks and spoons at Target and they are a little smaller

ooooookay... ya'll are awesome...I went back and reread my manual "again" for the hundredth time... its 3-4 ozs per hour not over an hour... ok so I'm not messing my band up... geez I was really worried... the best I could do was 45 mins and that was hard! ok no more bonehead moments...