measuring and weighing food, please help

I need to know what we should be eating as far size goes, like how much chicken or meat per serving also sides, how much and if you want to share what kind. Do I weigh the meat raw or after its cooked? 

I know this sounds simple but I just need to get back to basics and this is my next step to making sure I am doing it right, still struggling with head hunger and small re-gain, but now seeing a therapist and getting a handle on some things, Thanks all for the great advice AGAIN :) 

I have no idea where you are at after surgery, but I am two years out and I am happy to share what I do.

I measure all dense protein on a food scale.  Grams are most accurate, but I usually use ounces.  I define "dense protein" as anything that is solid enough that it doesn't need contained in a cup/bowl.  At two years out, I eat 3 to 4 oz of dense protein per meal.

I consider anything that needs measured in a cup to be a slider food.  That would include things like greek yogurt, chili, stews, etc ... and I try to limit my consumption of them.  They are usually less filling and I can unknowingly eat more than I want to of those things.  I use measuring cups for them and stay under 1/2 c. per serving.  

I try to limit my sides, but will occasionally have a weighed ounce of carrots, spinach, cauliflower, etc -- if I still have room after my dense protein.  If I wouldn't weigh it, I consider it a slider and wouldn't eat it with dense protein because that is defeating the no drinking requirement of our surgery.  

As for the measuring raw/cooked when it comes to meat, there's much debate.  Simply choose which you will do and stay consistent.  I measure after cooking because it is much easier to remain consistent that way since when you eat out, etc, it's pretty difficult to get them to let you measure raw meat.  (Yes, I even measure out in restaurants!)  LOL.

Hope this helps.

Hi Susan,

I can't really add anything more than the awesome advice/guidance that Kat W. gave you but wanted to add, that its really about dense protein, that's the name of the game!!   I always weigh AFTER cooked.  I measure and weigh religiously as well.  You had your surgery in 2011, I had mine in 2013, I can for sure eat a lot of food, if I let myself, but I refuse to go back to being MO so I weigh and measure. Dense protein will keep you full and satisfied for hours and hours (really!!) I don't needs sides, like veggies if I am eating 5-6oz of dense protein.  

Head hunger is hard, we can all speak to that and really glad you are now seeing a therapist and getting a handle on things, you are doing all the right things, coming here for support, seeing a therapist and getting back to basics.  Do check out the "What's on the Menu today RNYers" for menu ideas and you can see what people are eating that are close to around the time you had surgery.

Hope you stick around, we are here to help support and give advice.  Best of luck!

Thank you both for the great support and advice, I will continue to keep checking in and check the daily food menus I just started following that.

Again thank you.