Being able to eat more!?!

Its so inconsistent for me-- there are times I've been able to eat a six ounce steak, but last week 2 chicken legs (maybe about 3-4oz of actual meat?) nearly "did me in" (aka very full feeling). 

I'll say I rarely get 'full' which is why I've been so adamant about weighing/measuring portions. For me its a very subtle feeling most of the time that I have to carefully pay attention to. I could easy eat past it if i were mindlessly eating. 

Are you nearing goal? Maybe you body is naturally demanding more calories?

I am about 12 lbs from MY goal weight, I am past my surgeon's goal weight (which was 209)

Wow the dr goal was 209. I started this process at 220, I would not do all this is so few pounds. I would that135-145

Well I started at a high weight of 328.  The 209 is, I think, 60% of excess weight loss.

Yes, I have what I call Big Pouch Days and Small Pouch Days. And I can always eat more later in the day than early.

I'm with Grim! I have days that I feel like if I wanted to I could really stretch it (no pun intended) and others where a couple of bites of anything will fill me up! My doctor says that it's a good thing an it means my pouch is maintaining consistency? Not sure but it's very common with me. I'm also fortunate that just before I feel full I begin to sneeze like crazy. My body telling me to stop, which is a great signal!

There's two things going on. Hormonal changes that cause hunger to disappear change by the 9 to 12 month period for most of us, and we start feeling hunger again. It stays away for some, but most of us do get hungry, but not like before.

And, very gradually, we are able to eat more. It peaked for me at a year, maybe a little more. It's still wayyyyyy less than before, and depends on what you eat. I can eat a million crackers or chips, and feel hungry right after. I could graze all day on that stuff, or cheese, or nuts. Or, I can eat a decent size steak, and be happy for 4 or 5 hours, with fewer overall calories. That's why continuing with dense protein is so important for us.

Since I am JUST starting to be able to keep dense protein down, I have been keeping the portion sizes small, just in case.  But I guess I need to try and up the amount a bit each time.  Because I have no idea how much I "should" be getting in at a time.

You are so right though, the CRACKers and cookies etc that can fit in my pouch seems endless! 

It was a shock to me the first time I ate a lot of food.  I would buy my husband a sub sandwich and a half for me without the bread.  That was two meals for me.  One day I finished all of it at one time.  I was a little over a year out.  Your pouch matures and you can eat a lot more. 

It just seems like this has happened SO fast...like BAM...you can eat more.  Its kind of freaking me out!