Small Salad

Ok, I am willing to believe that I am crazy but how much food am I supposed to eat at almost 9 months out? I just had a whole Wendy's side salad without even noticing. I was actually hungry for once but I have been noticing that I can eat more than I could before. Help! I am afraid that I am out eating the surgery. I had been doing alot of snacking and grazing last week, maybe I expanded my stomach somehow doing that? I have lost 136 lbs and I still need to lose 30 or so more lbs. Help!!!

Christine, Can't give you any advice, because I feel like I AM RIGHT THERE BESIDE YA, so it will be interesting to see what the veterens say!! Phyllis

Great new picture Phyllis!! You are looking so good!! Keep up the good work - Christine - still pre-op can't help you, sorry!! Hugs, Nancy K

Hi Christine, Right from week four when I was cleared to solids, I could eat a lot more salad than other foods. It must rapidly wither up, lose it's fluid and shrink in our pouches, or, just slide right on down and out of it! Don't worry...I don't think you out ate your surgery...it's normal for it to stretch at this time. Try not to graise...it's what will pack the pounds back on..and the good old holidays are one big sit around and graze fest! Try to get back on track. In time, our pouces do stretch and we can fill it with more..are we supposed to intentionally do so? I don't think so, but it will slow our weight loss down a bit...It's proven that it stretches out some between 10 and 12 months... paula

Calm down Christine! Our stomachs have grown a bit since surgery and by now we should know what we are suppose to eat and what we are not. Salad doesn't really take up that much space because when it gets heated up by our body heat it wilts. I have a small salad just about every night with my 3 ounces of protien. Self control is part of this process as well as our tummys complaining quite aggressivly when we push them too far. So don't fret, I also grazed a bit over the past week, just made sure I grazed on good food like shrimp or chicken and stayed away from too much of the bad stuff. So kee up the good work, your looking terrific! Take Care, Julio

Ok... wake up call here. What is in a salad? Greens, right? Try taking a salad and putting it in a blender. What do you end up with? Mostly water, and a small amount of bulk (fiber). Certainly you could eat a small salad and not feel full. Don't sweat it. Now, if you ate a 14 oz steak and didn't feel full (or even completely ate it) then I would be worried. Snacking and grazing is a sign of emotional eating. It is normal, but you need to find a way to get it under control. Peter

Thanks everyone! I freak out some times b/c I am so afraid that somehow I am doing this "wrong". Thanks for bringing me back to reality. p.s. Phyllis that really is a great pic!! I am big believer in updating pics so that everyone can be encouraged by the progress.

Lettuce is mostly water - so don't sweat it. Just be careful with the dressings and you'll be fine. I practically live off of Wendy's side salads (hey for a buck, how can you go wrong??). Don't worry about abusing your tummy with salad - I think it's the carbs that actually do more harm. And you can GRAZE with carbs, for sure (I speak from experience....) Love, Tammy