how long does it usually take a banded person to eat 1 cup of food?

Well it would totally depend on how restricted one is.

Before a fill, most can eat fairly quickly if they choose.

And even if restricted, it depends on what the food is. Some things slide on through, others must be chewed to death!

My doc says we should finish our meal (regardless of portion) in 30 minutes. Chew well, small bites, but if we're still at it 30 minutes in, STOP (because you can graze and overeat)

I noticed you were recently banded- I was banded about six weeks before you. I am not restricted at this point so I can consume 1 C of food rather quickly- but that doesn't mean I should!!! My dr. is really encouraging me to "practice" many things that I will HAVE to do once I reach restriction- eating slowly, chewing thoroughly, eating 3/4 - 1 C of food, and not drinking with meals.

Is the OP asking not how much time during eating to get to a cup but how long until you can eat the volume of a cup?

how much should a meal be? in my post-op instructions it kept saying 1/4 cup ---- but then I read about 1 cup. I've been keeping it at 1/2 cup so far.

I can eat the size of a salad plate right now- and the doctor told me this is fine. I eat at the same pace as before and can eat anything I want- and I have 9 ccs' in a 14 cc band- I'm so ready for more restriction- but I too am curious if I'll ever be able to eat that 1cup and be good for several hours. How long does it take?

I can eat the size of a salad plate right now- and the doctor told me this is fine. I eat at the same pace as before and can eat anything I want- and I have 9 ccs' in a 14 cc band- I'm so ready for more restriction- but I too am curious if I'll ever be able to eat that 1cup and be good for several hours. How long does it take?

I don't know if it's true for everyone, but for me...the secret is WHAT I choose to eat. I have great restriction, I think. I can still eat anything. If I choose something fairly dense, like a steak...or part of a chick fil a (for example) then a very small amount, well chewed, fills me up very quickly and KEEPS me full for about 5-6 hours.

If I choose foods less dense...green Beans, chicken thighs, baked fish (for example!) or things like bean burritos, cheese enchiladas, etc (sliders) then I can eat more and stay full for much less time.

So for me it isn't JUST restriction. I guess I could get so tight that even things like baked fish lasted 6 hours but I don't WANT to be that tight. I want to occasionally have 1/3 of a chick fil a (About all i can eat now, if I chew it REALLY REALLY well!). It's easier for me to choose the more dense foods because I've found out something great. I don't ever eat thinking "I want to be hungry again in 2 hours" LOL

So I seek out the more filling, long lasting foods, just without thinking about it. I'll think: Yeah, I could have some Soup and reduced fat cheezits for lunch, but then I'll just get HUNGRY before supper. Shocking but true. I was amazed to catch myself doing that.

So experiment with WHAT you eat...see if that doesn't make a difference for you. Like I said I don't know if this is just me (we're all different) or if it will work for you too.

Interesting! Thank you! I think I'm going to try to write things down. I don't really pay much attention to the time frames of when I ate last- which I should!

I eat and drink at the same time- that has been a HUGE battle for me, but I hear that it causes you to feel full for a LESS amount of time? Is that true? Or does it depend?

Did your doc give you the green light to eat and drink at the same time? They are all different but that one is almost a constant. Honestly at my current restriction, when I eat steak, if I drink it HURTS. Really really hurts. If I eat slider food it doesn't matter.

I've heard that drinking with meals is very bad for many reasons...easy to stretch your pouch, will wash food through more quickly and therefore negate the "prolonged full" feeling the band provides, etc. Bottom line on this is follow your doc's orders. As I say, if I'm making good choices I personally can not drink and eat. (and again remember I'm lucky...I haven't found anything, including white bread and fiberous veggies, that I can't eat).

Sounds like you need to quiz your doc on some of this...get his take on things!

my doctor says not to drink with your food, because it washes your food down to quickly- he compared it to "flushing a toilet"

so, try to separate your eating and drinking gradually. My doc had me start with 30 minutes between eating and drinking, then 1 hour, and now 1 1/2 to 2 hours. It's a little strange at first to get used to, but I just make sure i don't have a drink nearby when I eat so I don't drink it out of habit without realizing it.

Lisa

Restless Monkey- I agree with you about finding foods that last longer. I'm still trying to get used to my band, and I've only had 1 fill so far, so sometimes I find myself hungry sooner than I should be-- can you give a few more examples of foods that work well/last long for you? I'm trying to expand my menu a bit!

Thanks,

Lisa

I can have white bread and pretty much anything else I want too. What are "slider foods?" I've never heard of that? Maybe that'll make a difference if I understand the different types...

It is trial and error... I ate fast today and BOY did I feel it! Woo... It was so uncomfortable. I have been lucky to have nothing "stuck" longer then 45 seconds, and I don't want to!

Slider foods are things that aren't really slowed down by the band (unless you are SUPER tight)...things like yogurt, ice cream, cookies, candy, chips (although some have trouble with chips, for most they crunch up and go down VERY easy) Cheese enchiladas...things that rarely get stuck and go on through. Notice many of them are not necessarily good IF you are trying to lose weight! Mushies, soups, soft foods (from your post op diet) are all slider.