Do you eat 1 cup of food or 1/2 cup after all phases...?

I have to speak with the nutritionist when I go in for my first fill next week, but I have a question - it appears that the majority of you with time "out" from surgery eat roughly 1 cup of food per meal for protein, on average...in my list of "phases" phase 4 adds back in meets and all allowed food but it says 4 oz maximum...I don't have anything in my band yet, and on phase 3, I can eat like 3/4 cup of refried beans with no prob (I know it's not as heavy as protein in meat) and could probably eat more - for breakfast, I will have a Fiber One Yogurt & 1/2 cup of non-fat cottage cheese...but 1/2 cup overall for each meal seems like a really small amount - so just for consensus, what did your plan tell you to do and/or what do you do most of the time?  Other than "what to do after a fill" and phase 4 - all allowable foods, there isn't much guidance to portion size...thanks!

This is something you need to talk over with your nut. We are all so different. I have always eaten about a cup, perhaps a bit less (I don't measure) but some very successful bandsters who post on here eat much less, perhaps 1/2 a cup.

Kate

My doc dont believe in weight its volume that matters .  Weighing your food and measuring your food never equals the same

I was told 1/2 cup of protein already cut up on how you are going to eat it, 1/4 cup of veggies cut up how u are going to eat it and 1/4 cup of carbs or veggies your choice .

That is how he wants us to do it , he dont go buy oz or anything but by cups . 

Each person is different though but me personally I never weight my food its all about volume for me .

My doc doesn't want us to weigh or measure.  I'm always asked if I feel like I could eat more than a salad plate of food when I go for my follow-ups.  I usually put my meals on a saucer and use that as a guide-eating protein first and vegetables or whatever else next.

For breakfast, I most typically eat a 5 ounce greek yogurt. Which is about 1/2 a cup volume wise. sometimes I'll add in a 1/4 cup of fruit too.

For lunches and dinners I usually eat more depending a lot on what the food is. If it is salad I will eat about 2 cups (with 1/2 a cup being a meat of some sort). If I'm eating something like chicken or steak I eat  3-4 ounces of steak which is about 1/2 a cup if you cut it up finely, with that I eat 1/2 cup of other stuff such as veggies or fruit.

Other examples of my meal portions:

6 triscuit type crackers piled high with 3 ounces of tuna or chicken salad (you really have to load them up good to fit 3 ounces on 6 triscuits)

1 Wendy's small chili with 1 sour cream

McDonald's Southwest grilled chicken salad. All of the chicken, none of the tortilla topping, and about 2/3 or the lettuce

3/4 cup of chicken/brown rice/cheese casserole -- this is a very dense casserole and there is no way I could eat 1 cup

To be really honest, these band sized meals seemed REALLY small at first. Especially during the times when my band was not filled up very much and I didn't stay satisfied for very long in between meals. During those times I would have a small lower carb snack between meals.

Hope that helps!

Trixie

Thanks Trixie - I appreciate sharing your "meal ideas" as that gives me an idea...much appreciated! :)

Yes, it depends on your Dr. My Dr says 4 oz by weight. On this site, to the right they have suggestions, too. (under post-surgery diet, nut and exercise). I thought it sounded like a little bit, too, after awhile you will look at the majority of peoples plates and wonder how the heck they can eat all that, (yes, you really will, LOL) Right now you will be "able" to eat way more than what is suggested, it takes months and fills to be full on your allotted amount of food and yes the dense proteins you will be able to eat fill you up much faster than slider foods. You'll figure it out, good luck!

My doctor says 3oz of protein and 1/2 cup of veggies.. so I weigh and measure.  :)  

If not at home to use my scale & measuring cups I compare the meat to a deck of cards and veggies to a tennis ball.

Yes, ask your bariatric team for guidance as they are all different.   3oz & 1/2 cup sounded impossibly small to me at the beginning.  Now I look at my plate with the allowed portions and think it looks like A LOT of FOOD.. and how will I eat it all!!  LOL

My nut doesn't go by the "one cup" rule. As a general rule, my meals are 2-4 oz lean, dense protein, 1/2 cup veggies and 1/2 carbs. The whole "one cup" rule doesn't appeal to me because I don't like the idea of picturing all my food mashed up in a cup. :-) Most of the time, I actually just eat random foods and not what I just explained, and I just count calories and protein.

Thanks for your input...i am keeping track for now in case the surgeon wants an idea of what im eating but am also just keeping tabs on cal & protein like u said!