Is 5 oz too much?

Hi All. I'm still losing weight slowly, in fact, I've been stuck at -14 pounds now for a week and a half. Question for all you Marchers. Should I be able to eat 5 oz of cottage cheese, because I was able to at lunch today. I also ate it in about 15 minutes, chewed well. Is that strange? I'm starving, but not to the point of pain. Can anyone else out there eat more than their allotted 2 oz per meal, or am I just one screwed up chick??? Thanks! -Wendy

I eat 4 oz of cottage cheese, but I don't chew it up really really well. I read where you should be able to have it pass through the stoma with no problems on small curd. I chew it a little but not mushy. That might be the problem because the more you pulverize it the easier it is for it to seep out the stoma. Try chewing a little less....not a lot,but a little. See if 4 oz doesn't fill you up then. I also get very hungry, and then I know it's time to eat. I only am supposed to eat 3x a day with no snacks. If I find I am ravenous, I can have a pickle or two or cucumber or lettuce and fill up my pouch for little to no calories. Try using www.fitday.com and track your calories. I did the same thing you did though - stalled for a week and a half with 17 lbs down, wavering from 16.5 yo 17.5 and back again for that time frame (which was from 2-3.5 weeks out). Then just a few days ago I started losing again. Dina

I can eat 5 ozs too....I don't know why....it is easy....for the first time today I felt like I overdid it but on drinking not food. I drank too fast and for 20 minutes I had a very bad uncomfortable pain in my chest and felt like I should either burp or barf but neither happened. After 20 minutes it faded away....so that was my first indication I even have restrictions...I can eat 4-5 ozs of soft foods slowly with no problem at all.

I actually measure by the 1/4 C. rather than ounces. That's all I'm supposed to eat at a sitting according to my nutritionist so I haven't tried to pu****

I ate a little more than I should today at dinner. My doc said that the pouch is the size of a golf ball and to try not to stretch it with extra food. I will try to stick with the 2 oz.per meal he advises. Louise

There are so many theories and answers floating around...I read somewhere where we actually have much bigger than 2 ounces but with the healing process in the beginning, they recommend only 2 ounces...I am definately not stretching anything...don't feel a thing...I do eat very slowly, so maybe my pouch is emptying as I eat....?? Also, maybe it is healing nicely, I will ask....

When I eat yogurt or cottage cheese, I can get in 6 ounces. That's because I'm pulverizing the heck out of it. When it comes to more dense protein sources like chicken and fish, there's no way I can get in more than 2 ounces - no matter how much I chew. Connie

They tell me 2 ounces, I am only eating 2 ounces. I am only 6 days out and still have to make myself eat because I know I need too. But, I am still only eating what they tell me. I AM TAKING NO CHANCES.... Lori K 04/01/04 Dr Cacucci St V Carmel, IN

At lunch yesterday I ate a little over 1 cup of food. I'm worried I'm eating too much. I had mashed potatoes with baby food beef and gravy, some beets and a little yogurt. It takes me about 45 min to eat it all. maybe it's going through my stoma so thats why I can eat more. Are any of you worried your eating to much? I'm so worried at this point that I won't ever do this right. I hope I'm just being a worry wart. I go for my 3 week follow up next Tuesday so I'll talk to them about it. I think it's just a fear because I have failed weight loss for 40 years and I'm worried I will again. I'm getting about 500 to 600 calories per day.... Cindy

HI WENDY- THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ASKING THIS QUESTION!! I HAVE BEEN RACKING MY BRAIN LATELY THINKING I AM NEVER GOING TO LOSE WEIGHT BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN EATING ABOUT 5OZS. ALSO. I HAVE JUST STARTED KEEPING TRACK OF WHAT I AM EATING ON FITDAY.COM AND IT HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT. IT MAKES ME REALIZE WHAT I AM REALLY PUTTING IN MY MOUTH. THANKS AGAIN, KRISTINA