Eating Question

[Happyme2]

I read that at first you could only eat 1 oz and so fix 1 of protein and some vegtables.

So do the vegtables just not fit after the 1 oz of protein. Some of this is really confusing.

Also in just reading a post about food, some of you seem to eat a lot. Thats Wonderful, if you love food like me. But is it the type of food and not the amount of food. I'm scared I will get fat again after all this work.

Thanks

[Dutchie]

First of all: breathe in... breathe out...
Just relax...
You will do great!
Really.

First you just follow the guidelines your medical team gave you.
By the time you are going to eat the soft proteins, you will notice that you cannot eat much, only maybe a couple of bites of some cottage cheese or scrambled eggs, that is all that fits.
Then you will gradually move on to more dense and solid proteins.
You will eat them first, before eating anything else.
You are working up to your protein target, which will take you a couple of weeks.
After those weeks you might (or not) be able to hit your goal, with some room to spare for some pureed or soft veggies.
So, protein first, then your veggies.

You will notice, all will go as it should go, just because you still don't have a lot of room in your stomach.
That will get better over time.
But by that time you will have learned a lot about your little tummy.
This whole time you practice that.
Learn to feel when you are full.
Learn to recognize your own personal signs like yawning, burping, a runny nose, watering eyes, all of those are signals your tummy is sending you that you have to stop eating.

Really, don't worry.
You will get the hang of it.
You too will learn, like we all have.
We are here to support you, if you want.
Just ask and we will help you in every way we can.

You can and will do this!

[mellowjoy]

I agree it is all a little confusing when starting out. I think it's because diffent centers provide the information differently although they mean the same thing. Initially when I was first sleeved I was only eating 2 oz of food after I got past the pureed, soft, and mechanically altered (well chopped) stages. My 2 ounces consisted of 1 ounce protein and 1 ounce vegetable. I would cut my food the size of a pencil erraser and eat a 2:1 ratio, 2 bites protein to 1 bite of vegetable. I used food scales to weigh and never had a problem with over filling my stomach. As I increased my serving sizes I still continued the 2:1 ratio.

I can try to answer your question about eating more but only regarding how I eat now at 3.5 years post op. I can eat a 4-5 ounce salad with 3 ounces of protein. Why, because lettuce and tomato is basically water after chewing so it doesn't fill my stomach the way a cooked veggie will. When eating cooked veggies I have 3 ounces along with 3 ounces of protein. I still use food scales because prior to surgery portion control was one of my issues. I trust the scales and don't know if I will ever give them up. It's the way I control my portion size.

As you progress out from post op and your food types change try to build good habits that will help you maintain your weight loss.

[sraebaer]

You're overthinking this. First of all, are you eating real food already? When you are you eat until you are full, which won't take long in the beginning. Maybe a few bites of meat/fish and some veggies. I was never told to measure anything.

You're right, after a while you can eat more, but by then you've learned how to eat and it's really no big deal. It just becomes a habit. And while I can eat more now after so many years, I still get full WAY before I used to (actually I don't remember ever being full pre-sleeve) so that's when I quit eating. It would physically hurt to overeat, so I don't.

Not to mention it is so much fun to lose weight, you don't want to go back!

[AnnieG]

I have not really measured anything, other than tracking my protein intake for hair/health/healing. And at 9 months out, I can closely gauge what that looks like and I sort of try to plan my day.

That said, if the first bite of something (maybe something I've had before and it was fine) feels "off", I put it away and fix something different. Yes, I am a lot of trouble, but good health is totally worth the effort.
And sraebaer is right -- losing weight feels good. And I don't have much interest in "over full" -- first, full happens quickly and going beyond it brings its own surprises (toad froth )

[Happyme2]

Thank you very much. This all sometimes seems like a dream to me, like it has not really happened.

[Happyme2]

Thank you so much.
Since you use the food scale. Does it measure out the same amount using the scale as stuffing it in the little 1 oz medicine cup?

[Happyme2]

Thanks lots.
Yes, I do overthink everything. That is me. No I'm on protein shakes, I was supposed to go back to the doc next week to move on to pureed but he is out of town so I have to wait another week. I don't think I can drink shakes that long. Yuck.
I can't wait to start to lose, I feel the same size. Can't exercise for a month per doc.

[Christie13]

I never measured. I focus on protein first. Then veggies. In the beginning I ate mostly protein and no room for veggies.

[sraebaer]

Here was my diet progression if it helps.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...it?usp=sharing