how much do you eat?

Good afternoon? So how much do you eat and what do you eat? I still eat 3-3oz meals, but also have 3 snacks a day, about 1 oz each. I am so bored with my choices. Do you find you're hungry now? Just asking around. Thanks Lap RNY 10/10/03 297/185/140

Hi Susan, usually I eat a piece of cheese for breakfast. probably about 4 oz of meat for lunch. a protein drink in the morning & one about 3. for dinner i usually have meat & a veggie. popcorn for snack in the evening. I do feel like I'm starting to get hungrier than before. I am kinda afraid to eat more than I am. I just had an appt w/my surgeon's office. They said at this stage I need to be eating about 1 cup of food at a time. What I'm gonna do is eat a little more when I'm hungrier but stay on my same schedule - definately I'm not going to start snacking - & I'm still going to stay away from bad barbs. At least I'm not alone! Thanks for posting your question! Judy (251/171/till I stop!)

Hi Susan, I definitely can tell my appetite has increased. But it is no where near where I was prior to surgery. For breakfast I usually stick with a protein bar or protein drink. The protein bar holds me over till lunch but if I do the drink I find I need a snack in between. Then I have almonds or trail mix minus any chocolate in it. Lunch is 2 oz of tuna or salmon or 2 slices of lunch meat rolled up with some mayo. I have been having an afternoon snack which is almonds again. Dinner I usually have a Veggie Patty with cheese or Salmon steak or Steak with a veggie. I am not sure how many ounces but it is probably 3 oz. Sometimes in the evening I have a 1/4 cup of Sugar Free/Fat free chocolate pudding. I know this is alot more than when we first started but it is far less than my old ways. I am still loosing about 2lbs a week. I exercise alot too. Blessings to you on your journey

Hi Susan! Thanks for asking the question I was going to ask this week! Like you and a few other folks as well, I've noticed I am certainly "hungrier" of late. I think it's "head-hunger". My body seems to get hungry before meals, as it should, but I find myself thinking about old favorites and sweets a lot more often than I used to. I find I can eat 1 cup to 1 and 1/4 cup food at any given meal. That's solidly packed food. I drink a protein shake mixed with 1/3 banana, 1/2 cup skim milk, and ice for breakfast. Tastes great and gets me on the right track! At noon, I have a meal with protein and veggies-- usually a salad with meat. For supper, I have another meal. Again, I lead with the protein and follow with veggies. I do try to avoid potatoes, pasta, rice and bread. I might have a smidgen of one of these twice a week. I don't snack, unless it's a protein drink mixed with water and ice if I'm feeling I didn't get enough protein during the day. I'm afraid to start snacking... I did try the Atkin's Endulge bars and I liked them, but I'd rather not set myself up for bad habits. I know myself, and one snack leads to an extra meal for me... I started out at 332 lbs. I'm 5'6" tall. I now weigh 214 lbs. I hope to reach 150 lbs. in the next year. I don't feel deprived or anything. I haven't added sugar back into my diet yet. I thought I might try bites of things, only as part of a meal, within the next 4-5 months. I never want to go back to being the woman I was-- a slave to food. This feels so much better! However, I do find myself getting a bit blue some days. Now, I think, comes the tough part. I have to put into practice all of the good habits I've learned over the past 7 months, even though I have the capacity to eat more food, and more food variety. I have to learn a bit of self-discipline, just like most balanced people.

I still have very little appetite but I at least get hungry sometime now. I eat a Wasa whole wheat cracker for breakfast topped with some protein. For lunch, the same. For dinner usually a protein and veggies. What I am trying to do is up my veggies. I still cannot eat fruit well. I get sick on anything dairy so have become lactose intolerant...which I hear is not uncommon. I was lactose insensitive before surgery so am not surprised. I lose weight very slowly...about 4-5 pounds a month now but it comes off so am not unhappy about the slowness. I know other people lose more but many had more to lose to begin with. I had my surgery at 226 pounds and am now 162. Sure, I would like to be in my 130's by now but exercise is still limited due to the hernia and the three other surgeries. I love to exercise and always have so this being "held back" is probably harder on me than anything else but the surgeries. What I do try to do is make sure I get in my protein. I do a calorie count about once or twice a week looking at fat, calories, and carbs. I guess I eat about 800 calories a day on a good eating day. I sometimes will eat nothing but my protein drink if I am not feeling well....I get constipated easily because I take super iron pills due to the anemia from the surgeries. I think my weight loss is slower due to my exercise being limited though. I will get there. I still can't eat fruit, chicken, beef, or dairy. I can't eat carbs except the Wasa crackers which are only 20 calories and low in carbs too. They serve as protein holders really!

Susan, Thanks for the question. I enjoyed reading everyone's responses. Most days I don't eat breakfast. I'm working on it though because that really helps me get protein. For lunch, I like a cup of cherries or a cup of watermelon with 2 oz of low fat cheddar cheese. For dinner, I usually eat 2 oz of meat with veggies (green beans, cauliflower, broccoli or salad)... if I don't have veggies, I eat 3 oz of meat. I usually have a mini bag of popcorn during the day and a sugar free jello before I go to bed. I find that on Saturday and Sundays I want to snack, but try not to. Jackie