How much to eat...

Hi!! My surgeon's instructions are unclear on how much I should be eating (per meal) at what stage...I am able to start soft foods today and don't know if I should increase the amount I'm eating or keep it where it is.  I have been eating only about 1 to 2 ounces at a time.  Does this sound about right, or does anyone have other guidelines they follow for this?

The amount you are eating sounds about right.  I use my stomach to guide me.  Eat slowly and chew well and you will feel full sooner than you think.  Good luck.

Thanks!! I have not experienced fullness yet...I want to "undereat" my sleeve as has been suggested on this site, but I need a guideline.  I don't want to be malnourished due to eating too little...if that is possible.

Do you use an online tracker to track calories and nutrients? That's what I do and it makes it easy for me to see exactly how many calories and grams of protein, carbs, sugars, cholesterol and sodium I take in each day. I use Livestrong.com. A lot of people use myfitnesspal.com.

My instruction was 2ozs.  I remember thinking after full liquids that i would never be able to eat 2ozs of tuna salad.  I WAS ABLE TOO.  i now know that purees and soft food are easier.  My restriction really fell in with dense protein but 2oz is a good place to start.  if you are an egg person, 1 egg was a lot for me but 2oz of tuna, go figure.  Eat what you can and don't feel bad if you can eat it all.  My hunger ababtement  thing also didn't click in until week 4.

My plan calls for strictly measured portions. When I started softs I was supposed to have:

1 egg scrambled, eaten slowly with a note that I should not expect to be able to fini****
1/4 cup cottage cheese, gradually advancing to 1/2 cup. (I can eat about a 1/3 cup now for a meal).
1 oz soft cheese
1-2 oz well mixed tuna or chicken salad
1-2 oz moist deli sandwich meat (turkey or chicken only)

My plan clearly directs not to trust the new sleeve to guide you on fullness - especially for the first 4-6 weeks-, so I don't. I think other plans do allow for this, though.

Honestly, I still prefer semi solids like Greek Yogurt and thick soup. I had my lunch of 1/3 cup cottage cheese at noon and an hour and a half later it still feels like I just finished eating. I don't feel full, but I know there is no room for ANYTHING down there.

Also, check out theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com for some more ideas.

At three weeks out I could not fit all of that food in one day along with my liquids and protein shake.  I have trusted my sleeve since the begining and it has kept me honest.  I learned what over eating was and what full felt like.  When I started the soft food stage I was able to eat two table spoons of refried beans or 1/2 scrambled egg.  I wasn't allowed meat at all until I got farther out.  Yes, each of our plans is different.  My recommendation would be to stick with your plan as much as possible.  As long as you are keeping track of your protein and liquid intake malnutrtion shouldn't be an issue.  Best of luck.

Sorry, didn't make that clear I guess. I listed the choices I was given for a meal. So, I can chose one item for breakfast, one for lunch and then one for dinner. I am lucky to get more than an ounce and a half  in per meal at this point. Hope that makes more sense now.

Thanks!! That's exactly my point, I don't want my sleeve to guide me or to get sick before I realize how much I need to be eating. Sounds like I'm pretty much on track.  I need to get a food scale TODAY...will be much easier to measure solids.

Have you contacted your surgeon's office for clarification? I was on strictly measured 1 1/2oz portion sizes at 4 weeks post-op.