Survey: How Much Can You Eat?

80 degrees and sunny here right now...I'm taking off early to hit the beach.

I am good for about 2 slices of pizza and a few hours later a couple more.  Perhaps one at midnight and one more for breakfast.  I will finish the last two for lunch.  I wish I was kidding or writing this to get a reaction.  Sadly, I'm not.

Excellent topic John! The amount of food I can eat depends on the time of day, and how many times a day I eat. For example, if I don't eat for about 5+ hours, then I could probably eat more than 8 ounces. If I eat every 3 hours or so, then I can only eat 5-7 ounces, just like you. I try to make good choices, if I have a choice. I suppose we always have a choice, but if the choice is not to eat, then I will go ahead and eat. Alternately, if I have a choice, then I will go for the lower fat, lower carb choice, mostly. I'm not perfect, like many others. I'm maintaining at about 220 at 6 ft 3 in tall, BMI is 27. I'll take that any day of the week compared to the morbidly obese person I started out at. After having the surgery I told my wife that my hopes were to get down to size 38 pants, and XL shirts. Right now, I can squeeze into size 32, 34 comfortably. My shirt size is Medium or Large, depends on the brand of shirt. All I can say is HELL YEA, BABY!!!!! Here's to never lookin' back fellas!!!! Ron from freezing cold Colorado!

It varies so much that it's ridiculous.  I can go to a restaurant and eat my meal one day but only be able to eat 1/2 that much the next time I go.  I normally plan on taking 1/2 of any meal I order in a restaurant home with me. At home, we normally eat 3 main meals a day with protein in between.  But, I'm a grazer and I start grazing on junk when I wake up and never stop except for meals and sleep.  The thing I don't understand is that I can eat a nice balance meal and feel full yet be snacking within 30 min following the meal.  I know I'm a junk food junkie and a carb addict. Addiction is a tricky thing.  I've known that I have this junk food/ sugar & white flour addiction for over 25 years and I have tried many programs to get over it.  I personally know people who were addicted to drugs and booze and even they say that the sugar/white flour is the hardest one to get over.  I suppose part of that problem is that there is sugar hidden in so much of what we eat.  I haven't given up on trying to get past this but it's damn hard.

Last night, I got dragged to a buffet.  I decided to eat correctly and I would say that I ate perhaps, 8oz of some good lean protein. 

Scott, I've had a problem with buffets since the beginning.  The cheap ones (you know, the ones that begin with "Kingdom") usually are WLS unfriendly.  The more expensive ones are unfeasible since we dont eat enough to warrant the cost. Another problem I run into, my wife and I are trying to find a place to have a nice, intimate, romantic dinner on New Years Eve.  We've got a ton of upscale waterfront restaurants here in the Palm Beach area, and are used to the high prices for regular meals.  However, on New Years Eve, it seems that every place has one special meal with champane, open bar, the works and a set price per person, anywhere from $100 to $175 per person.  Again, not feasible for us WLS'ers, especially us that follow the rules and dont drink.  Oh well, theres always Outback. Happy New Year gents. John

At 4 1/2 + years out, I typically fill up after one to two cups. (I know it's a wide target amont, but varies depending on density and juiciness of the food.) Nearly no protein shakes...maybe one every 3 weeks. Sometimes I sip beverage with my meal Sometimes not.... Probably a 50/50 toss up on that one. 'What' I choose to eat is probably more responsible for my holding at goal Than "How' I eat. Low Glycemic Carbs, no 'junk,' no sugar, lots of meat and A lot of Mono-unsaturated fats.  Plenty of fresh veggies. Good question! Best Wishes- Dx

I continue to think that it's not WHAT I eat, but the volume of same. That's how I look at it anyways and I eat everything now I used to eat....only like 5 to 7 oz of same. Red meat tho is not nearly as much fun...nor, is pork either really.  Sigh...I do miss those 32 oz steaks tho....but only in my head -- my waist dont miss em at all, eh! Jim

You really want to know? lol...a small normal sized meal.  I can't say Oz...because it varies depending on texture, cooking methods, and type of food...and even day.  For instance...... I can eat almost the entire Jack daniels sampler platter from fridays.   It's pretty big...and I'd say on average I can eat 95 percent of it....It's well over 10 oz of fried  and dipped meats.  I went out to a BBQ place with friends, and had a rack of ribs, a serving of potato salad, collard greens, and a piece of corn bread...and a bit of dessert...i finished everything except 1 rib, because the dry rub wasn't as good as the wet kind of rib....and I didn't want anymore of it.  I regularly eat 4 egg omletes and a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast..... but things like Mcdonalds.......I'm not sure why...but I can't eat a ton of it.   A dboule cheese burger and a few fries...or a small cheese burger and a small fry and a medium coke is about all i can eat.  Again there are so many variables that it's hard to say "i can eat this much at a time" ...because the other day I had pizza for lunch...and 1 slice anda few garlic  knots and a coke was all I could eat. Scott PS i had the DS, so YMMV.