Streaching your new pouch???

I have a question, I am two months out and saw my surgeon yesterday and he asked me what I was eating and how much. I started to explain to him what I eat and he asked me how do I know I am full, do I feel it in my pouch in the middle of my chest. I said not really but sometimes I feel it creeping up my throat. He then said I was eating too much and stretching out my new pouch. I don't eat like that all the time to where I feel it in my throat it has happened a few time, I have only threw up twice since my surgery, once because of greasy hash brown and once because I waited too long to eat between meals and ate to fast and threw up froth. But otherwise I am eating small meals and stopping when I feel full and getting in my protein first then what ever else. Now after what my surgeon said I am scared I am going to ruin my new stomach and I did all this for nothing. The surgeon said to make sure I only eat a ½ cup of protein at one time. Is that a ½ cup of food period at one time or can I get veggies and potatoes etc. in too? Does anyone have any suggestions; I would greatly appreciate you in put. Thanks Darlene RNY 11/10/04 309/269

Wow, Darlene! Your surgeon is TOUGH! I think for me,the best teacher of how much I should eat was to listen to my head and NOT my pouch. If you THINK you've had enough, then chances are, you have. Wait 5 min and see how you feel. I eat about 3 ounces total at one sitting and that's it. I would worry more if you said you were grazing or drinking soda to stretch your pouch! If you had your surgery 11/10 and you've already lost 40pounds, your doing great!! hugz Cheryl

We didn't go through thi surgery to starve ourselves. I say eat until your full and stop. The good thing is, we get full a lot quicker than before.

Darlene, I've been asking that question ever since I could be on solid foods a month ago and haven't gotten a satisfactory answer yet, so you may not, either. I have been eating for breakfast: 1 Morningstar Farms soy sausage patty, about a 1/2 cup of fat free cottage cheese and a small cup (about 1/4 c) of sugarfree applesauce. For lunch: 1 chicken sausage (Trader Joe makes GREAT ones), about a 1/2 c of veggies and another applesauce. Dinner, about 3 or 4 ounces of protein (usually fish or seafood) and about a cup of veggies (usually steamed with a fat-free sauce.) I've been trying to stay away from carbs because they usually make me feel bloated, and when I have them, I crave more. To me, it sounded like a lot of food, but it usually didn't make me feel full. I've got the gastric band, and had my first fill last week, but still don't usually feel full. My surgeon's answer was this: as long as the number of calories I INPUT is less than the number I output, I'm eating the right amount. Sounds a little reassuring, but I'm still concerned about screwing something up. This may be one of those mysteries of life that we never solve . . .

Hi Darlene, I am going to start this by saying I am very strict with myself. Yes I do enjoy food and eat basically what I want but I still follow some golden rules. The next thing I am going to say is I had my surgery 1 year ago on January 22, 2003 I have lost 170 pounds to date and still am losing. This is what I did and do for the first year I ate no carbs no potatoes, no bread, no pasta. I would have 2 oz of protein and 1/2 tablespoon of veg. Drink 64 oz or plus of water a day. And 2 snacks spread out. Now 1 year later I do the following 2 oz of protein 1 tbls of veg and 1/2 tsp of potatoe. I just introduced breads and pasta into my diet as a treat maybe 1 time a week. I really hope this helps. I do not feel I am missing anything. The only things I will never do again is eat sweets or drink soda. The following is what I will have today. breakfast 8oz carnation instant breakfast w/ skim milk sugar free 1 slice light bread w/ 1 tbls jam 1 tbls peanut butter for snack 2oz taco pie, 1 tbls mashed cauliflower 1 tbls tomatoe salad for lunch 2 oz turkey meatloat 1tbls mashed cauliflower 1 tbls tomatoe salad 1 8oz glass skimm milk I do not eat past 7:00 pm. I really hope this helps

Darlene- it's tough adjusting to your new anatomy and learning the new definition of full. This is something that is different for all of us. I think that what would be good is for you to portion out 1/2 cup of food for yourself (total- including any veggie or starch that you plan to eat) Put only that on your plate. Use a nice small plate, so psychologically, it seems like more food. Eat that food slowly, chew well and pay attention to how your abdomen feels while eating. Pay attention to any signals your body might give. (a cramp, a pain, a tightness, etc) Once you're done with the 1/2 cup, try to remember the feeling you have. This should halp you to listen to your body's new signals and keep you from over eating at all. You may find that 1/2 cup is too much some times, and that's OK too. Just stop eating if you get any signals that indicate you might be full. I learned that my nose runs when I've eaten enough. No matter how my abdomen feels, I know, that's it. I'm full. If I eat any more, I feel it in my esophogas (sp?). Some people say they sneeze or hiccup. Others say they feel a tight feeling in their abdomen. What will you feel? I have no idea, but you must find out, otherwise you may unintentionally overeat. You doctor is strict, but right. If you feel the food in your throat, you've eaten too much. Doing this consistently (whis it does NOT seem like you are doing) will cause a problem. It's a trial to listen to our new anatomy and behave accordingly. If you master it, you'll have a much easier time in the long run. I wish you good luck! I know you'll do well!

THANKS SO MUCH TO EVERYONE FOR RESPONDING, I HAVE ALREADY STARTED AND BOUGHT A SCALE TO WEIGH MY FOOD TOO, NO MORE THAN 2-3 OZ AND I CAN FEEL THE DIFFERENCE. WHEN I WEIGHED MY FOOD LAST NIGHT I NOTICED IT WAS MUCH LESS THAN I HAVE BEEN EATING AND HOPEFULLY DOING IT THIS WAY WILL HELP ME LEARN BETTER HABITS. ALSO LIKE YOU SAID I DON'T EAT SO THAT I FEEL IT IN MY THROAT, IT'S HAPPENED A FEW TIMES THO. BUT I AM STARTING TO FEEL A CERTAIN FEELING IN THE MIDDLE OF MY CHEST WHERE MY NEW STOMACH IS AND KIND OF KNOW WHEN I AM FULL. THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR ADVICE AND HELP. DARLENE