Hello, I am a veteran in the sense I had my GB 6 years ago. However it feels like I am new, as I never followed the rules, and have abused my body long enough. 

So I am scheduled to see a dietitian who specializes in behavioral aspects of eating etc. i have never paid attention to portions to be honest and have eaten just as I did preop. So measuring and learning portioning is all new.I will go over this with the dietician but just wanted to learn what others do. 

I know how to read labels of course but post bypass patients don't follow those sizes. So I heard I should get a food scale and such. So how do you measure all your meals? What do you do if you go to a restaurant? Do you order a kids meal? I mean the portions are huge! And I like to make my own smoothies with protein powder. How to measure the facts on this? 

Thanks all!

Not knowing if you have any restriction makes it a little difficult to give advice.  

Eat protein first.  weigh or measure four ounces for a serving.  You might also want vegetables, but make sure you eat protein first.  I often order appetizers or a cup of soup when I go out.

You can use most any protein powders for smoothies.  Use your imagination. 

I'm sure your nute can give you some good hints.

I like to use Greek 0% fat yoghurt with frozen mango or peaches and then add Truvia sweetner.  It makes for a good evening snack where I used to eat ice cream, now I eat Greek yoghurt. 

This upset me. It's like that show 600 pound life. If they lose 20pounds he will do the surgery. If you have no dietician , no counseling pre op, no behavioral therapy pre op perhaps now is the time to get it. I see so many crying to get this surgery. You had it and now it's time to step up to the plate and use your tool. I wish you well. FYI protein shakes aren't a  'diet '

Do you have a general plan -- generally, it's:  At least 65 grams of protein per day, Under 800 calories and Under 40 grams of carbohydrates; At Least 64 oz. of water/liquids.

Pre-plan your day's menu, log in myfitnesspal or other program, weigh and measure portion sizes.  Protein first, then veggies, then fruits.  A meal-time portion of protein is generally 3 - 4 oz.  If you eat fresh veggies and fruits, you can use myfitnesspal to look up their values, along with the information on meats and fish.

This is assuming you want to lose weight, not yet at maintenance stage -- you did not indicate where you are in regard to your goal.

At restaurants, I usually order an appetizer -- even so I always take left-overs home.

Good Luck.

If you have been overweight or obese for any significant amount of time chances are you know how you "should" eat to lose weight.  Knowing what to eat and how to eat are the easy parts.  Being willing to do that is the hard part.

I commend you for going to a dietitian to learn about eating better.  Hopefully they have experience with WLS patients because our needs are different, just as our amounts may be different then they usually suggest.

The only other advice I can give you is to not drink with meals.  That is probably my number helpful thing I do.  I drink 16 to 32oz of fluid before I eat each meal and wait at least 30 minutes after eating to drink again.  If it does nothing else it makes me mindful of what and when I am eating.  I no longer just spontaneously pick up something to eat and pop it it my mouth.  I think about what it is I am eating and if it would be worth waiting another 30 minutes for.  I realize it is just easier to stick with what I have already planned.

Whatever you do, don't neglect your eating issues.  Get support and help either in real life or online.  Counseling, support groups, self help books or whatever it takes to help you learn how to deal with things that you have chosen in the past to eat over.

My plan 1 year out is 1 cup of food (nonliquid. non-soft/non-mushy)>

The first 1/2 cup is dense protien. The second 1/2 cup is nonstarchy veg.

NOte-there is NO junk food carbs in there (I..e no potatoes, corn, rice/cheap food/chips). 

May a piece of fruit (no more than 1 cup on its own) for a treat.

"I never followed the rules, and have abused my body long enough"

If you have regained, it is going to be harder to lose than it was immediately post-op.  I hope you are really ready to work. The surgery was a tool. Not a miracle.

Everyone here on this site wants to you to do well. I hope you can follow the rules, that your behavioral counseling is fruitful, and that you have success.

PS-I have struggled in the past with food addictions and still struggle with having a normal relationship with food. So no condemnation here, just reality. For example, I did really well in a new found hobby of mine. My first response while driving home was WANTING to treat myself with Dairy Queen. I didnt. Today (24 hours later), I STILL want to treat myself with Dairy Queen. Why? Because in the past I was rewarded with Dairy Queen for passing tests, happiness/good job!/meeting expectations. Dairy Queen =s "good job!" in my heart.  My head, of course, knows that is NOT the right answer.

Thank you to all who took the time to reply and advise me! 

I plan to buy a cheap food scale to keep in my kitchen so I can weigh portions out. Hard to eyeball. I will see the dietician soon though now it was rescheduled for July. She will go over my habits and diet etc but do you think she will tell me ok measure out 4 oz of this then a few of this etc. in other words no guess work. Guessing gets me in trouble. 

I am going to try to drink alot before a meal as was advised. I am so used to drinking with meals ut will be hard to change. 

I don't have any allergies but my body doesn't do well with an abundamce of dairy at one time and raw veggies as in a sald cause issues. 

Thank you all again! 

I am 6 weeks out from RNY and using My Fitness Pal to track my food and water has been so helpful.  I always resented food logs, but it really works for me now.  If I have not logged it, I do not get to eat it.  It will be soooo much easier on you to cook at home before you go to restaurants much - so many hidden calories and ingredients there.  Last, once you start using the digital food scale, in time, you will start to recognize the portion sizes on sight a bit better.  Good Luck to you!

For myself, I focus more on food choices than portion sizes.  If I stick with foods that are low in calorie density and high in nutrient density then  portions, calories, and fullness work themselves out automatically.

For example, you simply can't overeat a tomato, cucumber, and onion salad dressed with balsamic vinegar.

I credit my success to changing my tastes.