How much is everyone able to eat?

I really think I can eat more than I should be able too. For dinner tonight I had made 5 oz of salmon, a small amount of pork and beans and some carrots. I ate 1/2 of the salmon, all the beans and the carrots. Is this normal? I wasnt even stuffed....just satisfied. I would like to compare myself with others and there situations. Im worried my doctor didnt make my pouch small enough. Im two weeks post-op tomorrow. How much is everyone else eating?

Tiffany, I am not sure if this will help you or not. As you can see, I had my surgery same day. We are 26 buddies! I, too, find I am hungry all the time. I have not eaten much, though, cuz I am afraid. My doc says I am still supposed to be on yogurt/full liquids/v-8 juice. I do, however, eat a poached egg every now and then. And the other day, I did a REAL no no. I mixed some mayo with tuna, and ate like 4 bites of it. I chewed really good. But my tummy did not do well. I did not dump. But I was constipated for 3 days. TMI I know. I am also worried that my pouch is too big, b/c after eating my egg a little while ago, I am still hungry as ever. Can anyone else lend us some advice?

Christi (my fellow 26er ! )~ I'm not having problems with digestion too much, nor am I really that hungry...its just that I can eat more than I think I should be able too. I just read on another message board that sometime people take 3-4 weeks before they get a full feeling. Lets hope that happens for both of us! I think because you are on full liquids, thats why you feel hungry (the liquid slides right through the stoma like a funnel). Once you start eating some soft foods, it should take that away. Ive been eating two eggs with a 1/2 slice of american cheese for breakfast lately. What I did notice is that after I eat and a wait a while....the food sort of sets in and I feel a little more full. Did you get that way with your egg? ~Tiffany Lap RNY 7/26/05 ......350/331/150

I'm glad you brought this up. This has been my concern for a few days now. I hear people say they just eat a couple of bites and they are full and a couple of bites is just getting me started! I don't seem to get a full feeling, I DO get hungry - a lot, and it just seems like eating the amount I'm supposed to doesn't do the trick. Can it really all be head hunger? I don't think that is what I'm experiencing. I want to research some on the pouch and how and if it can really be stretched and what that would take to really happen. I know there are more people than us who are experiencing the same thing as we are. Hopefully we'll get some answers to reassure ourselves.

Thank you Sandy and Tiffani! I finally feel somewhat normal! Oh, Tiffani, you will not believe. I just went and ate like 1/4 cup of spagetti noodles with a dab of spagetti sauce...Big no no! But I am fine. It did not make me sick at all. But I think I will hold off on the carbs nonetheless. That egg idea sounds good. Sandy, I know what you mean. A couple of bites does not do much for me, except make me want more! Sometimes, it does the trick though. It's really strange. I do not want to stretch my pouch. I do not want to fail this wonderful tool! Cristi 246/231/140(goal)

Hello, I am just 2 days behind you... my surgery was on 7/28. I am still on liquids and pureed foods. At first I was worried because I could only eat about 1/4 cup of anything at a time and seemed to only be able to get in 3 meals a day. I was taught that we need to eat 6 small times a day. Now, for about the last 3-4 days, I am starting to get hungry. What I wouldn't give for a big, juicy cheeseburger!!! I find that when I stick to thinner things, such as jello and protein drinks I get hungry faster. But tonight I ate some chedder and brocolli soup that was pretty thick and it was a little much for me. I think we all worry about our pouches but think about it ... how much did you stuff in there before surgery??? I know that I put WAY more than 1/2 cup!!! I am trying now to keep each "meal" to 1/2 cup and eat every 3 hours or so. I am curious to see what others have to say too. I have been getting worried about this myself! Shellie

I had surgery the same day as you. A half a cup is twice the amount we should be eating a meal. We should have 2oz, or 1/4 a cup. Eat protien, eat slow...and see what happens. Hope it helps Kelsey

Hi Kelsey, It is so strange how different doctors and nutritionists have different opinions of how much we should have. I was required to take a month long nutritional class on how to eat post-op. I was worried and called my nutritionist just to be sure and they say 1/2 cup at this point. I do notice that if I have something heavier - such as cream soup or mashed potatoes - that I can't do as much as if I have broth or pure liquids. Good luck! Shellie

I too am a 26er. My surgeon requires one week of clear liquids for the first week after surgery. If you are handling that you can go to a week of protein shakes in addition to the clear liquids. I am now onto the 3rd week where we can have soft foods. Today I had my first "real food" in two weeks. I had 2 oz of LF cottage cheese as an afternoon snack. For supper I had 2 oz of LF cottage chees and 3 oz of cream of tomato soup. I did not feel overfull, but I was comfortable. I have felt hungry a few times in the last two weeks, but drinking water of Crystal Light took care of that. I am being very careful, because I don't want to be sick. I hate that worse than anything. So far, this is working for me. On my surgeon's plan I have to wait 2 more weeks for tuna, salmon, etc. Oh well. The tomato soup tasted so good, that I can't imagine how good other things are going to taste. Linda

I am two weeks out (7/25) and I still only eat 2oz. per meal, 3X per day. I have not had any "real" hunger yet. I crave things, but I am not truly hungry. I am on soft foods for 4 weeks, cant have anything else till 8/28. Haven't been sick yet, but I do not push the envelope at all. I lost 13 lbs last week, not sure what my total is yet.