Questions

I was wondering how much everyone is able to eat now? I feel like I am able to eat a lot more than I was and I suppose I just need some reassurance that this is "normal". I eat 2 meals a day and then have a 40 gram protein shake as a meal replacement. Every morning, I eat 4 slices of center cut bacon (which my surgeon said was ok) and the other meal consists of a meat, green beans (I love 'em!), and sometimes a few bites of carbs. My surgeon has told me to eat 5 bites of protein, 3 bites of green veggies, and a bite of carbs for meals. I know I am eating a few more bites than that. Also, I can take pretty normal sized bites, which kind of freaks me out, because other people seem to have difficulty even keeping things down. Is anyone else able to take "normal" sized bites? I NEVER have a problem eating anything. I have never dumped and have tasted sugar here and there. Sometimes it feels like I have never had the surgery because I am able to take normal size bites and drinks and I never get sick on anything. Also, my surgeon has us to wait 3 minutes in between each bite and even gave us a sand timer to use. I used to follow that rule religiously, until I lost the sand timer. Now, I wait between bites, although I know sometimes it's not 3 minutes. Do any of you also follow the 3 minute rule? Stacy 6/10/05 Before pre-op diet=339 Day of surgery=326 Today=223 Goal=170 5'9"

HI STACY! Well its hard....our surgeons all tell us differently but that bite rule seems odd. I know most surgeons prefer us to get the protein from our food then shakes but there okay to use. I know for sure i eat more now at a meal then just out of surgery. I can eat a half of lo carb subway wrap now. but i find it fluctates....i mean one meal i might eat a tad more next i eat a little. I just stop when im full. I can chew bigger pieces now and stuff like that and rarely have troubles. ONCe in a while i get sick on something but im still learning ...never a rhyme or reason to why .... I wouldnt worry and just do the best you can to follow your doctors eating. I know for a fact i eat far more then you in a day. GOOD LUCK! congratulations on your losses!

Thanks for responding. The thing with me is, that I never feel full, not matter how much I eat, so I just stop when I think I've had enough. One thing that kind of freaks me out is that sometimes I eat microwaveable popcorn (which my surgeon would have a fit about if he knew) and I am able to eat the whole snack pack sized bag. It seems like a lot of food to place in a small stomach, but like I said, I don't feel full and don't get sick. I know that once the popcorn is chewed, the size decreases considerably, so maybe this is why I can eat all of that. I think I am just worry too much about things sometimes. I mean, I have lost 103 pounds in 5 1/2 months, so I must not be going too crazy with things. I dunno...

Hi Stacy!! Oh my goodness I have the same worries!!! I ate almost a whole turkey sandwich after Thanksgiving and I freaked out. I just kept eating till I was full, but yesterday for lunch I couldn't finish all of the 1/2 ham sand. I had made. It is weird. I too take "normal" size bites, and I eat pretty quick now. I can finish a meal in about 10 to 15 min. My surgeon says to take 10 min. per ounce, which would mean 40-50 min. If I eat that long I eat a lot more food, so I finish in a few min. instead. I do dump though, but only on things that are over 14 grams of sugar or so. I am thinking that my honeymoon is close to over because I can eat 1/2 to 2/3 cup of food already, and I can do it quickly. My doc recommends eating 3 meals and 2 protein drinks or high-protien snacks so I eat 5-6 times per day. I find myself hungry a lot of the time. I am dissapointed in that b/c my friend who had surgery about 2 years ago still takes forever to eat, she is never hungry, and barely eats anything, so it makes me wonder if I will be a success. I do exercise though and she never has but I am still worried about it. Good luck Stacy!!! Tiffany 247/167/125 Whoohoo I hit -80 today!

Yeah, I think my honeymoon period is close to being over, too, and it's freaking me out! Like I said, I know I am eating more at meals, but then again, I am only eating food twice a day and a protein shake, so it seems like I may not be eating as much as other people who's surgeons recommend eating more meals a day. So, in reality I am probably not eating that many calories in a day. I wouldn't know, though, because my surgeon does not have us to keep track of calories. We are supposed to just eat the 5-3-1 (9 bites) of low carb/low fat/high protein foods.

This is tricky. Sometimes I feel like I can eat way too much. Others not hardly anything. I find if I drink more, I eat less. And I am really trying to up my liquids. I still drink atleast one protein shake a day also. All I've had today is beef jerky and 32 oz of liquid. However, sometimes when I do that, I am hungry at night. I actually like the idea your doctor gave you for the bites, as this would limit your carbs, which needs to be done anyway. I know mine does. Good luck!

I actually think the timer thing isnt such a bad idea. I tend to eat too much now and don't realize how full I am until later. I never throw up from overeating. I am just really uncomfortable for awhile. I can eat WAY MORE this last month. I'm also hungry a lot now which is new. I can take normal size bites and don't chew like I used too. Basically I just need to watch it. I'm eating up to a cup sometimes. Too much! Unfortunatley I had my first really bad breakdown over Thanksgiving break from school. I bought a bag of miniature Twix. ( I know. DUMB, DUMB,DUMB!!!!) I ate the entire bag in two days. I'm one of those that doesn't dump from sugar - not a good thing for me to find out. All the sugar did play with my mood and made me feel a little naseated, but I ate a ton of it.

Hi Stacy, I have the same questions and concerns that you and everyone else that has responded does. I am scared too, especially over these past few days. I have been "craving" different foods. It's not like a pre-op craving, it's different somehow but I can't put my finger on it. Anyway, I have been alternating between salt and sugar almost daily. I too can eat more than I have been able to previously and it freaks me out. I'm not ready to be able to eat more. And oh how I wish I was not able to eat sugar and other types of snacks with no consequences. This will be the "death" of me for sure. Right now I am in panic mode and don't know what to do to stop this pattern that has developed. I am trying, but I just can't stop it. I am going to call the nutritionist tomorrow. Hopefully, she can give me some helpful advice. Christine