When did you feel full?

When did you feel full?  That is a question that Beth and I have discussed for a while now.  In the past, I felt full when I was miserable.  You know the feeling...when you can't put another bite in your mouth.  That's when I was full.  When we had meals that I truly loved, I would gorge myself to the feeling of stuffed,  That feeling when one more bite would put you over the edge.  And we would always ask each other, "Did you get enough to eat?"   Wow how things have changed.  Before surgery I would listen to my body to know that I had enough to eat.   Today I progressed to full liquids.  Now I know what I am going to say will anger or upset some people, but I need to say it.  I made turkey chili for dinner.  When it came time for me to have something to eat, I had chili.  I of course took the immersion blender (I call it the boat motor), and completely liquefied my chili.  I did not take my normal bowl, but a much smaller one.  Instead of listening to my body to tell me that I ate too much, I listened for that feeling that I was OK!  I honestly felt full, but not from pain.  I felt full from a feeling of , "OK, that's enough".  After eating each little spoonful, I asked myself where I was at.  Am I full, an I satisfied?  I think there is a difference in those 2 questions.  I walked away from dinner, not finishing my bowl of chili, but feeling satisfied! Last week there was a time that I was second guessing my decision to have RNY.  It was that "buyers remorse", that you hear so much of.  This week, I welcome the changes that surgery will bring.  the changes for a new life.  For all that to happen, I need to stop and listen to what my body is telling me! When do you feel full? Have a great day!

Wendy's small chili was a staple item for me during the puree period.  If I could finish half of a small Wendy's chili I was stuffed.  Now, 7 months out I can almost finish a full small chili.  It'll be a few months before more than a few bites will needed.  Btw, chili is a great source of protein.

Scott,You should talk to Mike about HIS buyers remorse...  he woke up from surgery and his first thoughts were "Oh my God, what have I done?"  I didn't feel like this...  but from what I hear, many people do.  Since he went to surgery two months before I did, I got to ask him all kinds of questions...  I remember the biggest one:  ARE YOU SURE YOU ARE NOT HUNGRY?  I was scared to death that I would be the one and only person in the world who had surgery, had this tiny pouch, and had an appetite where I felt like I wanted to eat a horse!  And you know you can't get a huge horse into a tiny pouch the size of your thumb.  I was scared...  but he helped alleviate all my fears since he went first...  Now as for feeling full...  I took a drink of something and felt full.  After surgery I just plain felt not hungry...  I know in the very beginning you will eat a few things you shouldn't have... for me it was mashed potatoes.  I had Wendy's chili and baked potato...  well not MUCH of it, lol...  but you kind of have to test it out and eat what your tummy allows you to...  now in a few weeks you will be making better choices...  you will stay away from the mashed potatoes...  at first though they work because it goes down and its bland and your pouch is agreeable...  so no stones to throw here!!  Sounds like you are doing great...  wow you lost 20 lbs in a week! Amazing!  Take care, heal up fast, and see you soon.

Hey Scott! You are doing great!  I, too, lived on chili during the puree stage (aka full liquids.)  As a matter of fact, the day I came home from the hospital I had some delicious turkey chili with jalapenos pureed to a delightful smooth consistency.  I asked my doctor before I did it and he said, "Go for it!"  I never had an upset tummy or anything.  The only thing that has made me sick is sugar.  Any sugar!  Sugar alcohol, white sugar, brown sugar, Whey Low, sugar disguised in various dishes...ALL SUGAR!  Praise Jesus!  I had to say goodbye to my best friend in all forms.  She was a sweet thing but we just don't hang out any more...nothing in common...you know the drill. I read on several of these boards that you really don't feel full with slider foods like chili.  You probably won't "feel" anything for a while except pressure (even when you start eating more dense foods.)  Remember that the nerves were cut when they did your surgery so they will have to heal before they can help out in the process.  For now, measure your servings and/or trust your instincts.  You have such a great support system in Beth...been there...done that! You might try some delicious egg custard or something like that if you are getting bored,  Splenda is your new best friend if you need something sweet.  I didn't really like it at first but now I love me some Splenda!!! I can eat various amounts of foods based on their density.  Chili is my staple but I eat green chili made with pork and jalapenos.  If you ever ate at El Taco on Gallatin Road (later renamed Es Fernandos) you will know the green chili of which I speak.  Not for the meek...only chiliheads can appreciate this delicious bowl of fire!  I opt for flavor over quanitiy these days.  Keep in mind that everyone is different and you have to find what works for you. Big ole holiday smile! Freddie

Why oh why did they have to close down El Taco/Es Fernandos????? I had been going there since high school. No one made quesadilla's like them!   Hey Scott! I had surgery on the 3rd of this month and my way of telling when I have had enough is that I will burp after the bite that should be the last. If I go past that...I get nauseous.  Congrats on the 19 pounds!!!! diane

It took me a while to figure out what "full" was.  At first, I didn't really feel like eating, I wasn't hungry.  A few weeks out, I began trying new foods, and I discovered that the feeling of full is really different.  More than once I figured out too late that I should have stopped earlier, got sick and threw up.  It was just trial and error with me.  I am 3 months out, and now, some days, I can eat more than other days.  I don't know why that is, but I don't worry about it.  What really amazes me is that when I feel really hungry and then eat, it takes so little to fill me up and lasts for a long time.  Guess that's the whole point...lol.  For the first time in my life I didn't gain weight during the holidays, I lost........Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Scott, I feel full after about 3-4 bites and I'll be 2 yrs out in January.  I love White bean Chicken chile.  I cook white soup beans, ground chicken (Krogers carries it and so does Publix) and Chile powder.  It's heavenly and full of protein.  I add a little cheese to it and even then a small bowl is too much for me.  Wendy's chile in a small cup is almost 4 meals for me.  I know when I am full before I swallow that last bite as I start feeling queasy to my stomach.  Having an ulcer in my pouch isn't helping.  I have to have the scope done next week.  The only thing I can handle without my pouch acting up is 2% milk.  Even water burns my pouch right now.  You will know when you are full without your pouch telling you so, as that last bite before swallowed tells you not to swallow it.  It's ok to leave food still in your bowl.   Remember growing up, my parents would always say eat everything on your plate or no dessert.  Children eat slower so they get full quicker.  But if I didn't eat everything on my plate because I was full, I had to sit there until my plate was clean.  I love not having to clean my plate of food.  I can still only handle 3-4 bites that 5th bite signals my brain that I will be sick if I swallow it.   You're doing fine and just knowing that it's ok to leave food still in your bowl or plate is ok.  You can always warm it up for another meal later. Best of wishes coming your way. Kathy

Hey Scott -  This is a question that I STILL ask myself and I was 5 months post-op yesterday.  I remember at the beginning I was too scared to see what full felt like so I just quit eating/drinking when thought it was a enough to where I wouldn't be hungry for awhile.  I kept thinking of how little my pouch was and how I didn't want to overfill it.  I was so SCARED.  For the first 2, maybe even 2 1/2 months people were asking me if the surgery was worth it - I would say not right now, but ask me at Christmas.  Well someone asked me and I said TOTALLY!  Since last year at this time I have lost about 115lbs and 75 of those have been since surgery!   Just keep on truckin'  and think about what you are going to look like and most importantly FEEL like next year at this time!  I'm so excited for you!!  You are doing fantastic! ~Amber~

I believe part of what we have to learn with this surgery is the difference between "full" and "stuffed". As you said, in the past, you felt full when you were miserable...stuffed...that feeling when one more bite would put you over the edge. Now the feeling of full is...satisfied. This is lesson one on learning how to eat like a naturally thin person. The next lesson, which is harder, is learning what hunger feels like. In the past we have all listened to our head. The answer to "Are you hungry?" was always "I could eat." Or, we would see the cookie, doughnut, cupcake, etc. on the plate and think we were hungry because here was something we wanted to eat. Or, we are doing something we have always associated with food, such as watching TV or a movie and we automatically think we are hungry. The key here is we THINK we are hungry.  Since it will be several months before the nerves start sending the hunger signal again, this will give you time to learn how to deal with the head hunger demon. When you do start feeling true hunger you will find that it is not that gnawing feeling that in the past drove us to eat whatever we could get our hands on. It is simply a signal that our body needs fuel. At this stage of my journey, I have days that I feel like I eat way too much. Other days I may have my morning protein coffee and not think about food again until 2 or 3 pm when I have not eaten all day but find that I'm still not hungry.  As we learn to listen to our bodies we learn to easily tell the difference between head hunger and physical hunger, as well as the difference between satisfied and stuffed.

Hi Scott, first of all let me say congrats on havign your surgery, I heard about all your problems, while I was in the mountains, sorry you had to go thru all of that, but you know that the Dr's and God made the right decision for you. As far as when do I feel full, right know I have no idea, like I posted, I have very little restriction since my last adj on 11/28. I don't gorge myself by any means, but I see myself eating more than I use to, not much real bad, just more of the good and kinda good stuff. A month or so ago, I could eat about half a chicken breast and I would be good for about 4 hours as long as I keep drinking my water. Now I can eat the whole chicken breast and be hungry in 3-4 hours even with my water. So I am just going to be really careful and might just do mostly protien drinks until I go back to the Dr. I wish you a speedy recovery and the best. Cheryl