How much can you eat?

I know everyone is different but I am curious how much the other November patients can eat now? I think I am an abnormal patient. Today I ate a whole plate of salad! Before I knew it, it was gone. No dumping, no nausea, no problems. Should I be able to eat that much now? I joke with my sister, who also had surgery but about 8 months ago, that my doctor played a trick on me and really didn't change my stomach size. As soon as I could eat solid food, I really never "feel the food." My sister can eat one bite of something and immediately tell it will not go down right. What is that? At about 2 months out I barfed a couple of times because I think the food was to greasy but other than that, nothing. I was also wondering how much you all could drink at a time???? I don't know if it is normal but I can drink three big gulps every 2 minutes. That is how I get my fluids in. I take a 24 oz bottle of water with me in the car and I can drink 1 1/2 of them before and after work on my drive (50 minutes). Is that too much? Can water stretch out your pouch? Sorry for so many questions in one post but I have very little time to cruise the boards as I also have an 18 month old toddler. Thanks in advance, Valorie

Valorie, I can drink my water like you can... I take big gulps now, but my stomach has to be empty to do it... I can't drink right after I eat or it hurts.... Some foods I can eat a fair amount of, and others I can only take a few bites... so I don't really know what to tell you... I know if I take too big of a bite or eat too fast, I know it right away... I also had a stricture and I don't know if that is part of it for me or not.... Sorry I could not help more... Good Luck to you. Shawn M.

Thanks Shawn, I am glad to know that my fluid consumption is "normal" for this stage. Sorry about the stricture. I know that couldn't be pleasant. The denser the food, the less I can eat. I guess I just shocked myself today by finishing the salad I thought would last 2 meals. Kind of scared me I think. I know I am too adventerous and always expect to pay for it. I am sure I should just count myself lucky. I don't think I have lost as much weight as others either. I have lost 54 lbs since surgery and a total of 72 from my highest. I have exercised religiously since I was 4 weeks out though. Everyone says I am gaining muscle so the weight comes off slower at first. It is just hard to see the numbers others post for the same time frame. Thanks again. Valorie

I have days when I can eat about a half a plate of salad (only recently) and others I am full after 2 ounces of food. I dont know what the difference is. I started too get worried about 2 weeks ago as I was eating more and was actually hungry more often, I was afraid that I was developing a pattern but it only lasted 4-5 days then back to the usual. My surgeon and NUT feel that it is very important to eat many small meals ( 6 daily) to keep the hunger away and the blood sugars regulated to keep the metabolism at it's best. As far as liquid, I can gulp it if it is water but if I am drinking Isopure it is much, much slower. I still struggle with getting my liquids in but I have realized I never was a BIG Drinker anyway. We are all so different in what we can and can not do. At the end of the day, it is all in the calorie intake. Just try to remember it takes 15 minutes for your brain to register the fact you are no longer hungry. Good idea to space your bites of food out to ensure you dont overdo it.

For me, I can drink quite a bit of water now a days but have to be very careful not to swallow air so I stay away from gulping because I inevitably gulp air which hurts. I also can't drink any more that a tiny sip or two after I eat because it hurts. As for food for me it totally depends on what it is. I can't eat very much meat at a time, salad I can eat quite a bit of. Think of the high water content of lettuce and most vegetables though and that if you were to cook that plate of salad down it would not be very much food. II definitely know when I'm full or if I swallow something that isn't chewed enough I feel it with in a few seconds. So I think everyone is different. I haven't thrown up a single time and I know others that have extemely sensitive stomachs now. I don't have a problem with greasy food so much but can't handle sweets really at all and I know others who are the exact opposite. As long as you are still loosing weight and as long as you aren't hungry constantly...in otherwords you feel satified with the food you eat (and if you think about what it used to take to satify hunger you'll see it's vastly less than before) you're probably just fine. As for the water, I don't think it can stretch your pouch out, or at least not enough to make a problem. It's going to go through your stomach very quickly and with two minutes in between swallows I imagine most of it is already gone before you take the next swallows. Keep up the great work!! Corinna Q

I haven't tried salad yet. I thought we had to wait until 6 months out to eat salad. I have noticed that on the days that I go to the gym I am much hungrier and seem to eat a lot more. I worry about eating too much to. I can drink as if I never had surgery. I never get sick, never had the foamies, have no pains, never threw up, nothing...nada! I accuse my husband of stealing my surgery because he has all of those symptoms. I also drink a 20 ounce bottle of water on my 30 minute commute--no problems. Sometimes I wish I had more restriction and more signs that I had my guts re-worked so I know that it is working the way it should. But you are losing. You must feel healthy and strong or you wouldn't be going to the gym and chasing that toddler! I think you are doing fine. We just tend to worry about this because we have all failed numerous times at permanent weight loss and we want this to work so badly. You can't argue with success and you are successful! Good luck on your continued journey.

Sometimes I think the same. I have never thrown up since my surgery. I don't have a problem with hardly any food. I did have some pork chop the other night and it just sat there. I can drink a lot of water at a time, it doesn't bother me at all. Are you happy with your weight loss, I have lost 92 pounds and feel so good so I know something must be working for me. Deb

I have been very lucky, I think. I had a mini-gastric bypass and things are a bit different for me, but for the most part I eat almost anything I want. I have not had much trouble swallowing things, but earlier, I used to get something stuck and I'd know it. It was usually from eating too big of a bite, or eating too fast. Now I take regular size bites like before, and I seem to chew them plenty well, so things don't get stuck anymore. When I eat pizza, I'm done with one slice. Though I can eat a whole dinner size plate of taco meat and cheese salad for dinner sometimes. I try to pay attention to any change in sensation and I take that as a sign I'm getting full, even though I don't feel full. When I eat chicken or fish, I can eat usually around 3 oz. and a couple bites of veggies. I do leave lots of leftovers and I always take a doggie bag. As far as drinking, I can drink water and Propel like before. I can take several swallows at a time. No problem drinking a whole bottle of water within 1/2 hour. The water just seems to go right through me. I also take some small drinks during meals. I have SUCH a hard time NOT drinking during meals. But I really limit it compared to pre-surgery. I don't usually get a full feeling or any pain. I have lost 59 lbs. and had surgery a day after you, so I'm a slow loser too. Well, actually, I had less to lose than some so it doesn't come off in pounds as fast as others that may have had more to lose. I'm happy so far with my weight loss. I am 18 lbs. from goal.

Thanks everyone for your information and encouragement. Sometimes we need reassurance that we are not the only ones who think we are not "normal." I see now that my experiences are not uncommon at all. I, like you Wanda, sometimes wish for more restrictions (I bet some folks think we are crazy, crazy, crazy!) because I know how easy it is for me to push the limits. I am so afraid I will eat my way around the surgery. Yes, I am loosing and yes I am much happier and healthier but I feel like I am loosing too slowly. I am a very small frame, 5' 4" and had surgery at 331 lbs! Just to be considered in a normal weight I have to lose at least 186 lbs total! OMG! That thought blows my mind! I just don't know what else to do. I exercise up to 6 days per week, Curves and walking, most days both and eating probably 600 or 700 calories per day and drink upward of 120 oz per day of water. I journal everything on Fit Day.com and according to that sight my basal and exercise put me at burning over 3000 calories per day. I should be showing at least 5 lbs per week if this were true. How can I get my metabolism to kick in? I think all of the years of yo-yo dieting have left me with absolutely none left. My body holds on to every oz of fat and every calorie it can hoard. I know I am whining but please indulge me and give me some tips to kick it up a notch. What should I do? Thanks to all.

It sounds to me like you are not eating enough. Your body goes into survival mode if it is not fed enough calories. I read somewhere that adults need a minimum of 800 cal/day. Maybe try adding a couple hundred calories for a week and see what happens? Sounds like everything else you are doing is right. How much protein are you getting in?