How big is YOUR pouch?

I had surgery on January 11th. I am satisfied with my weight loss, but I wonder if I can eat more than a lot of you who had surgery at the same time. It's a little scary to be able to eat relatively normal portions. Have any of you done the "cottage cheese test", where you see how much cottage cheese it takes to make you feel full? I'd love to know how big your pouches are. I did the cottage cheese test this morning. I found that I could easily eat one cup of cottage cheese, without discomfort. I could have eaten more, but at that point I was full. How much cottage cheese can you January people comfortably eat? At 5"8", I'm at 150 pounds ("normal" according to the charts), with lots of loose skin (maybe 10 pounds worth, according to my doctor). I am bony-skinny in some places (face, arms, legs), but my stomach still looks dumpy and fat. If I say I want to lose another 10-15 pounds, people (including my husband), tell me I am being ridiculous. I have such a screwy body-image, I'm not sure if I'm being ridiculous or not. My daughter is 5'9" and weighs 135, so it doesn't seem so silly to want to weigh less than 150! The last time I saw my surgeon, I asked him what my goal weight should be. He said I would be considered a "success" if I weighed 170! That is way too heavy. I said I wanted to weigh 145, and he said I would look too skinny at that weight. At any rate, he didn't really give me a "goal weight." Is there anyone else out there who is 5'8", and if so, what is your goal weight? I am not really losing any more weight. I am not "dieting" and I eat pretty normally, just smaller portions. I know that I could easily lose more (cut out all carbs and the occasional alcoholic beverage, and exercise more), but I'm not sure if I want to start the diet-mentality thing again- I like not obsessing about everything that goes into my mouth for once! However, I sure don't want to gain any back, and I wonder if I should still be losing, when I've only lost a few pounds in the last couple of months. I weighed 257 before my pre-surgery diet, and 239 on the day of my surgery. So I have lost 89 pounds since surgery, and 107 pounds since my highest weight. I have only thrown up once (a dry peice of chicken got stuck and popped right back out!). I have never thrown up from overeating, although some things make me feel uncomfortable (rice!). I don't think that I have overeaten and stretched my pouch...but you never know. Sorry- this is rambling. That's the problem with being able to type faster than you can talk!

Hi Melanie. I've never heard of the cottage cheese test, but I think it may be a little misleading. You can usually pack in soft foods pretty well. I can easily eat a cup of cottage cheese, and still have room for something else. Now other dense foods I may have a problem with. I'm not sure if that's just me or if it may be true with lots of people. I think most days I can eat like a "normal" person. Some days though, I can really eat alot and other days I can barely eat enough. It's weird! I'm 5'6 and weigh 166 (no one ever believes me!!!) I'm happy with the way I look, but I'd like to lose maybe 5-10 lbs. more. If I don't....then screw it, but if I do then that's good too. I've noticed that many of us gastric bypass patients have a more screwed body image now than before. The need to lose more and more weight becomes almost excessive. I can see why too! Everyone loves good results. I never wanted to be skinny...just a lot smaller than what I was before. I'm finally there, so I'm happy with it. I always wanna have some kind of shape, and be slightly meaty. I'm rambling too now, but this was a good issue! Have a good night! April

April, Your attitude sounds a lot like mine- I never went into this surgery to be "skinny." I was never skinny before, and most of my life I was pretty happy with my "slightly meaty" figure! I started off thinking I would be happy at 170. Thanks for reminding me. And you are right- I can't eat as much meat as cottage cheese. But I have to wonder if I can eat too much, especially reading the "what did you eat today" posts...I eat way more than most of those posts say!

Hi Melanie, I wouldn't do the cottage cheese test..I can't stand cottage cheese..lol but I'm sure I can eat a cup of anything and eat plenty more if I wanted to. I had 4 cheese sticks with marinara (sp) sauce for lunch today.. I think that's a lot. I'm making baked chicken with rice for dinner...you mix the rice, water,pepper, onion powder and cream of chicken soup all together and put it in the bottom of a cassarole dish then put 4 chicken breast on top let it cook for 45 min and top it with cheese.... OK..after all that.. . I'll eat one of the chicken breast and a little rice..for dinner... sorry didn't mean to type out the recipe, but felt I needed to explain..LOL I'm 5'6 surgery weight 245 and now am at 151... I would like to get to 130...but I'd be happy if I didn't lose another pound. I'm losing very slowly now but still losing. Anna

Thank you for responding. I am feeling better about it. I can will a whole chicken breast if it's soft. I can't eat much rice- it doesn't appeal to me any more for some reason. You look beautiful and very thin! I guess I need to adjust my body image...

My pouch is too big!

You know I was just wondering what hapened to your pretty little face!!! I was about to post the question and here you are!! Nice to see you again! Steph Sorry about the hijack

Look at you skinny! Looks like you are doing good huh? I'm still around but I lurk more than anything. I feel like I've grown apart from you guys. and now I'm not even sure about January Money is really tight now since I've been out of work since the end of August. I will try not to be such a stranger anymore. thanks for thinking about me! Dana