Another update

I have been throwing up everyday due to eating too much at a time. I have had to cut my portions in half since about a week or so after going to soft foods. For some reason I can't eat as much at a time as I was. I am not eating very much at a time, maybe 10 or so bites of whatever I have. I had 1 small chicken tender and a couple bites each of cottage cheese and applesauce and was finished. I just can't believe the difference from before. I lost 4 pounds last week, but have been sick quite a bit, so I wonder if that has something to do with the weight loss. I have been trying to still get my protein in, but it is hard when I am not keeping stuff down. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to tell what it feels like to be full or a couple of bites before full? I guess I didn't feel that way before the surgery unless I overate, which wasn't very often though. I have been trying to eat a little slower too. Maybe I'm not putting enough time between bites, so I am not giving myself enough time to notice that I am full. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

" Maybe I'm not putting enough time between bites, so I am not giving myself enough time to notice that I am full." Hey Kristina, I think you hit the nail on the head! I too have a few times and that is what I think MY problem was / is also . I am now taking more time between bite sand when I do notice that full feeling ... I know I'm done (no matter what is on my plate)! Try this and listen to that new pouch of yours - see what happens. hugs, Britt

Hi Kristina, so sorry to hear you haven't been feeling well. I am finding that my full sensation is nothing like what I felt before surgery. When I am full I have a slight sensation of tightness or pain below my breastbone, and if I don't pay attention to that signal, the next bite is really painful. I haven't vomited yet, and I am getting better at identifying my "full" sensation. I find that I can only tolerate maybe two bites, and then I need to put my spoon down and wait for 1-2 minutes before taking another bite. Perhaps it would be helpful to stop after 6 bites of something, put your spoon down for several minutes, and see how you feel. This is all a learning process, isn't it? Good luck. Linda

Thank you for the help. I will just have to give it more time between bites and pay more attention to what the pouch is telling me. I was doing so well before my doctor's appointment but when I moved to soft foods, everything went bad, not right away though. I just don't know how much to eat at a time anymore. My husband can tell me that I have too much on my plate, but it doesn't seem like very much to me.

Isn't it amazing how easy it is to fall into old habits. I completely agree with the other posters...I think it's a matter of taking time between bites. Also I use baby utensils for almost everything and it really helps me regulate how quickly I"m eating. And I make a conscience effort to not eat more than two bites at a time before waiting for about a minute sometimes two before taking the next two bites. Also my Dr told me that he'd rather I drink the protien shakes than eat at this point, if I have to choose between the two. We can eat so little at this point that it's the protien we get from these meals is pretty negligable so filling up on the shakes is a much better idea. Speaking of...I should get one in me Corinna Q

I think I am going to stick to the protein drinks and yogurt during the day and just eat dinner. I have a regular breakfast too. It's not that I am putting a lot on my plate, I'm even using a saucer plate to make it look fuller. It's just that I seem to be eating less and less and less at a time. I do ok with breakfast. I am ok with drinking half of each of a Boost and yogurt smoothie for lunch. Then at dinner, I seem to take too much at a time and then don't keep it down. I will just have to keep putting less and less on the plate until I can eyeball how much I can handle.

I read someehere that we should still be taking about 30 mins to eat. THe couple of times I have gotten sick I know I was eating way to fast. I also use baby spoons and forks to eat to limit how much I am putting in my mouth. In addition i use small bowls so that it doesn't look like a tiny amt. in a large bowl. Hope this helps, Kim

Hi Kristina, Did your surgeon or nutritionist tell you how much food you are to have at each meal? My limit is four ounces of food per meal (3x a day). I am to weigh my meals - so I know I have four ounces. I found a really good digital scale at Wal-mart, that allows me to 'zero' out the container I'm using (a bowl or small plate), and then add my food. Also some tips from my nutritionist: 1) Eat slowly to reduce discomfort and take advantage of the 'being full' reflex. Put your eating utensil down on the table between each bite and count to 25 before you pick it back up for the next bite. It should take a person 30-45 minutes for a meal. If you are feeling full, STOP, don't take another bite or drin****il that feeling passes. Avoid trying to "wa**** down with liquid". 2) Don't lie down soon after eating or drinking. Try to remain upright for at least two hours after consuming anything to assist in the passage into the lower stomach or intestine. Concentrate on your meal, be aware of what you have chosen to eat. 3) If you are having problems with pain, vomiting or bloating, try the following: - stop eating for two hours - start slowly with water, camomile or other herbal (decaffienated) tea - increase to other foods as tolerated (like skim mik) - walk, massage your stomach gently - and if vomiting persists call the SURGEON's office. Hopefully these suggestions can help you in your eating habits. Wishing you well in your journey, Tracey B in LV 404/372/150 Lap-RNY 11-21-06 http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/traceyb_lv/

I am supposed to eat 6 high protein meals a day. NUT said to eat slow and put a couple of minutes between bites, which I am getting better about. I think they said 1-2 ounces of food at a time, which isn't much. Last night for dinner (I was out) I had one chicken tender and that was it. I took a drink of lemonade too soon and thought the chicken was going to come back up, but it didn't. It is just getting used to the smaller portions. 4 crackers and a string cheese is a meal, that one I have down. It is everything else that I am having trouble eyeballing. I have a good scale, but even if I measured it out, I think it depends more on density of the food instead of weight. I will just have to keep trying.