Moved up to my next phase

Well I have moved up to my next food phase. I am up to 3 oz. 3x a day. Have added some meats, veggies, fruits, eggs, dry cereal, etc.  It is a lot better now.  That post op liquid diet was getting old really fast. I dont think I will eat instant mashed potatoes for a long time.  I can tell a big different in adding that extra oz.  The first day, I felt like I had sat down at a buffet.  Question? Should I eat the whole 3 oz. or or I feel really full before I get it all in, should I stop and not eat anymore?  I think I know the answer, just wanted to check.  So far no problems at all (knock on wood).  I have lost almost 30 lbs in the month since my surgery, so I am happy with that.  My next obstacle is getting thru Thanksgiving day.  I am just going to have to eat what I am allowed and go in the other room away from the others eating.  What do you 1 month post op's plan on eating for Thanksgiving.  I was planning on some turkey.  I guess I really dont have much of an option, as I can only do 2 oz of protein & 1 oz of fruit at lunch and then 2 oz protein and 1 oz of veggie at supper. Have a good day all  Jenny

Learning to stop eating when you are full is one of the best habits you can form now.  As long as you are getting your protein in, stop when you are full.  Don't push yourself to eat more than you can comfortably hold. Last Thanksgiving I was just over a month out.  I sat at the table with everyone else and ate a couple of bites of turkey with a tsp of gravy, about 3-4 green beans, one tsp of sweet potato, a nibble off my DH's yeast roll and 1/2 tsp of pumpkin pie.  I didn't focus on the food, I focused on the conversation.  The holidays are not about the food - they are about the people.  Enjoy being in the company of those you love.  Take only the portion you are going to eat.  Overloading your plate just invites overeating.  Eat slowly, put your fork down betwen bites, and carry on a conversation while you eat.  You'll be surprised at how well you will do.  You will feel just as full on a few bites as everyone else does after their second plate-ful.  

I agree with Annette.  If you are eating stop when full and eat slowly....  It should take you as long to eat your 2-4 ounces as everyone else large meal.  We had Pastor appreciation/holiday meal last Sunday at church.  I filled my smaller plate with 6 ounces of food that I could/should eat, sat at the table and ate slowly and took longer to get my food in then the ones who filled thier plate.  I stop when full and cover my plate with my napkin so I don't have to see it and think "clean plate club".    This is a long term behaviour modification time.  Learn now and keep the habits forever.  As you now know 6 ounces of food a day will sill allow you to live.  You will not die if you eat less and take your vitamins and supplements.

Hi. It feels like I haven't been here for a lifetime. My stupid computer sometimes lets me on here and sometimes not. This computer must be as moody as I am at times!

I guess I pushed something I shouldn't have but now I will continue with my thoughts. I am looking forward to Thanksgiving this year. We are going to my best friends for dinner and she has been by my side since day one. Together we figured I will have some turkey and sweet potatoes and some veggie. I know that I will be full by then. I can take just as long to eat my meal as someone who eats a plate full of food.  My doctors nurse told me not to take that last bite and one time I took one swallow of liquid to much and boy that isn't going to happen again! I felt terrible. My DH tells me that I should know but I tried to explain to him that this is all new to me and I have to learn all of this and that isn't easy all the time. As of last Thursday I have lost 40 pounds and I am just so pleased. I know that I am not always going to be doing this but for now I am excited. I know that at some time there is going to be a end to the big losing and I will accept that. I may not like it but I don't have to like everything but I do have to accept it.

Jenny,

I was very fortunate that first Thanksgiving (~1 month post-op) in that I had went to my sister's and she was ~a year post-op. She had fixed sweet potatoes with no marshmallows and splenda brown sugar, and sf banana pudding just for the two of us. So I had a little bit of turkey, veggies, her special sweet potatoes, and a few hours later, a few bites of the sf pudding. We ate slow and enjoyed visiting with all the relatives (who were all done woofing down their food long before we were able to eat all of ours).

Congrats on the weight loss and moving on to the next phase...and yes, when you feel full, STOP eating! That 3 oz isn't a goal to obtain, it's a maximum that you don't want to cross right now. As the oz increase with each phase, always keep that in mind. 'Normal' for one out as far as I am may be 8-12 oz, but there are times I am lucky to get in 6 oz....and that is ok! Sherri

Thanks!  I thought I probably should stop if I were full and not worry about eating the whole 3 oz.  It only done that on the first day, just must have been the transition.  So the 3 oz isnt bothering me now.  Thanks for the ideas for thanksgiving.  I think I will make SF pudding for me and the all the kiddos and my cousin that is 7 mos. post op.

Jenny