Consider it done!  Buh bye!

I've experienced little restriction more often than not so I get it!  Here's my lemonade thoughts for what they are worth....

WLS reminds me of a kid learning how to ride a bike.  The parent holds on to the back of bike, then eventually lets go hoping the kid can pedal alone without falling.  WLS is like that parent doing much of the work to start but long enough til ya get the hang of it.  When the restriction lessens and eating like before is possible, we say and think things like, "what the he!!," "what's the deal," and "I do not like this."  (it isn't called the honeymoon period for nothing) You are lucky to discover early on you can eat like before giving you time to rethink/adjust accordingly without regain frustrations.  

Honestly, Atkins meals are not a great choice for anyone pre or post op, but you're not even two months out-too soon for such heavily processed food-like substances. Even if it's nut/doc approved doesn't mean it's a good choice. ( Just because we can doesn't mean we should... ) You need to stick to fresh, minimally processed foods; focusing on protein first. 

Make sure you are weighing or measuring your food even if it is an Atkins frozen dinner. At two months out I was eating no more than 1/2 cup of lean, dense protein. Once you finish that 1/2 cup portion...you're done eating even if you don't feel full. Eat slowly, cut your protein choice as you go putting your utensil(s) down between bites, and chew your food thoroughly. These are the hallmarks of making sure our portions stay where they should. 

What guidelines did your surgeon give regarding portion size? 

Edited for typo...

I second this advice!

As the others have already said, being able to drink as much is NOT a problem.  It goes right through you and you cannot damage anything by drinking too much or too fast. The worst things that can happen (other than possibly feeling some discomfort) is that if you truly drink too much too fast, you will feel it start to back up into your esophagus.  It doesn't hurt, but it feels (to me, at least) VERY disconcerting. It only takes a minute or two, though, for it to pass as the liquid passes into the intestine.

As far as restriction, it is common to experience "large pouch days" and "small pouch days". I honestly have no idea what is behind it physiologically (since obviously your pouch doesn't change size for just a day or two and then change back) -- maybe something with the nerves?? -- but even at 7.5 years out, I sometimes have both.  One day last week, for example, I had three bites of a chicken breast and felt stuffed.  Normally, I could eat twice that before feeling full.

Because it is natural for your pouch to expand as time passes over the first year (you will be able to eat MUCH more by the time you are a year out), it is really important that you control your portions rather than just relying on your pouch doing it based on feeling full.  That will prevent you from overeating (you will see people here repeatedly say "just because you CAN eat that much doesn't mean you SHOULD eat that much").  

My surgeon also gave us instructions to always eat the bulk of the protein first because small pouch days will surprise you and eating the protein first it will make sure you get the protein in if you suddenly feel very full very quickly.

Lora

Also..if you are drinking with or TOO CLOSELY before your meal...stop!

liquids in the pouch wash the food away before the nerves have had a chance to register that somethign was actually in the pouch!

Thank you all. It's comforting to know others have "big and small pouch days". I have been relying on my pouch for portion control, but will definitely be more conscientious about measuring my food!