The importance of measuring

Just wanted to throw in some food (lol) for thought. Did you measure yourself before surgery? How about since?  If you didn't, it's not too late to start!  When the scale slows or stalls, get out the trusty tape measurer and look to see if your body might be adjusting by losing inches. Sure helps the frustration factor when those numbers on the scale start staring back at you. How about your food???   I'm sure all of us are so careful(aren't we???) about measuring every little thing we eat and drink right after surgery. Through the soft food stage and onto the regular diet we weigh and measure, making sure we don't mess anything up, or eat too much. What about now?  Six months later?  A year later??  Here's a great example I discovered myself just a little while ago. Everyone knows how I love my lattes.....I make them at home and know just how much milk to pour into the pitcher to steam. I know how much is in the lattes that I buy at Starbuck's, so I was just guessing it was about the same at home...around 12 oz..1 1/2 cup. I track it on fitday.com to make sure I account for it, too. Ok, I'm bored, so when I made my latte today I decided to measure the how much I put into the pitcher, and guess what? I only used ONE CUP of milk. The moral to this story? All this time I've been over calculating my intake.  Of course, counting more is better than less, but what about my food? Have I been cheating myself thinking that something is " about 1/2 cup" when it's more like 1/4?  Could I have had a little more of something and still been within my plan?  Yikes! Guess I'd better keep those measuring cups out on the counter again. Hope everyone is keeping warm hugs to all

I can easily measure liquids, because it is not hard to remember how many 16.9oz bottles of water I drank, or that when I drink from a cup it is usually 10oz or so.  But when it comes to food, I rarely every measure.  I just put  a little on my plate or bowl and eat slowly until I feel it is time to stop.  So I was curious as to how much was I really eating, and when I made a bowl of something yesterday, after I put my part in, I got a measuring cup and measured it, and it was 3/4 cup, but when I was done eating, I measured what was left, and saw it was about 1/4 cup, I almost always have food leftover on my plate.  So I ate 1/2 cup with my meal.  I got out my Gastric Bypass notebook (which is overfilled with all the papers from Dr. Baker, Baptist Hosp, Nutritionist and anything I printed from online) and decided to read where I should be at right now.  I don't want to be eating more than I should be.  According to the "Your Guide To Eating After Gastric Bypass Surgery" put out by Baptist Health, I should not eat more than 8 Tablespoons total for a meal (which is 1/2 cup).  This is the rules for after the first 8 weeks have passed.  But I am 5 months out, so should I still be eating no more than 1/2 cup per meal?  If it is a soupy meal (like soups, chilis) then I could probably eat more than that, but not by much.  If it is a meal in which I cooked a meat and sides, then I definitly eat less than that, as meat fills me up quickly, not matter how much I chew, chew, chew and then I only take a few bites of the side and veggie.  I haven't ever measured my meat, I don't have a scale, and I am almost sure a measuring cup wouldn't measure the meat right, unless I pureed it or something, LOL.  (EDITED: because I accidently said I was 6 months out, and then realized I am only 5 months post-op LOL )

According to JoBeth, my Nut, 1/2 cup food is right for you until you're about a year out. By 18 months you'll be able to eat about 1 1/2 cup from then on. So, you're doing fine there. As far as measuring meat, the rule of thumb is a single serving of meat is about the size (width and height) of a deck of playing cards. It's about 4 oz. So, picture that deck of playing cards in your mind when you look at a piece of chicken or whatever. You can mentally cut it into half or quarter and guesstimate how much you're eating. You can probably find a food scale at walmart of under 10$, or at a thrift store for sure. If you eat soup, please make sure you're eating mostly the solid parts, not the broth with it.....it's the same as drinking with your meal!  Don't want to push out the good stuff before you have a chance to get the nutrients out of it. Hope I'm helping

I try to stay away from soups that are more liquidy than solid.  I like to buy the Chunky's soups, or other brands similiar to that.  They usually have a lot of food in them.  I also like to make my own in the crockpot.  I made a Chicken Taco Soup last week, it was really good and I mixed a little refried beans and some cheese in it.  Yummy!!  It was like a chicken burrito without the tortilla.  I really love using the crockpot, it really makes the meats much more tender and easier for me to eat.  Plus I don't have to spend all day cooking over a stove, Hahaha I am glad to know I am eating the right amount.  So I am on track with what I should be doing, yeah for me!!  I read a lot over on the RNY board and they usually have posts about people wanting to know how much they should be eating, or if their eating to much, to little, and it really surprises me how different everyone's meal progression is.  I guess each surgeon or bariatric center sets their own rules.  You would think that everyone (who had RNY) would be on the same diet progression, regardless of who performed the surgery. 

Susan is so right about taking your measurements.  I started taking mine about 3 weeks after surgery and have been taking them about once a month since then.  If you'll do it you'll see that even when the scales are not moving, the inches are.  You may think nothing is happening, but the proof is in the measuring tape.  I wouldn't say it if I hadn't experienced it myself. And I do still measure and weigh my food.  If you don't have any food scales, buy them...they are inexpensive but invaluable when keeping track of your food.  I didn't think I would still be doing this at a year post op, but I think its just habit with me.  I don't eat anything that I haven't measured out or weighed...except maybe fruit and single serving items.  I want to know exactly how much protein, fat, carbs, etc. I'm getting in my food, plus I don't want to go over 1 cup of food.  I follow JoBeth's (nut) guidlelines fairly strictly and so far it has worked for me...this is the way I should have been eating my whole life.  Now I have the knowledge to teach my children how to lead a healthy lifestyle...one of my main goals when deciding to have this surgery.  They see me exercising and portioning out my food and we all know children learn by example. As for staying warm...wasn't it supposed to warm up today??!!  We never got above freezing down here and we're usually the warmest spot in the state.  I'm ready for spring...

You are very right.  Measuring is important. I slack on it sometimes.  Gotta do better!