"UPDATE" COTTAGE CHEESE TEST.

I FINALLY TOOK THE COTTAGE CHEESE TEST THIS MORNING. NOW MIND YOU I LIKE COTTAGE CHEESE OK BUT TO WOLF IT DOWN FIRST THING THIS MORNING WAS NOT FUN. ANYWAY I AM ALMOST 4 YEARS OUT AND WAS AFRAID I HAD STRETCHED THE POUCH OUT PRETTY BIG. WELL, LOW AND BEHOLD I WAS ONLY ABLE TO EAT 4 OUNCES AND I WAS FULL. THAT REALLY SURPRISED ME BECAUSE LIKE I HAVE SAID BEFORE I CAN EAT A FULL 6 INCH SUB WITH TURKEY, LETTUCE,TOMATO AND ONIONS AND BE VERY FULL. GO FIGURE. ANY EXPLANATONS GUYS? HUGS TO ALL TERRI

Consistency of the food for one, the bread (evil carb) is gonna slide right through, compared to the weight and consistency of the cottage cheese. Amount of time you take to eat your meal for another. I've read it should take between 10-20 minutes to eat a meal, depending on what it is. If you give your tummy time it will make room, thats why grazing is so easy to do. It could also have something to do with when you ate it, how long between meals, how well you chew your food, whether you drink with your meals or not etc. Pouch Rules for Dummies is always a good refresher, although not all surgeons prescribe to the same concepts, use what you can and discard what doesn't apply. My surgeon says 3 meals a day, I do better with 5-6 smaller ones. http://www.gastricbypassfamily.com/PouchRules.html The "Ideal Meal Process" talks about eatting times, and the "water loading" concept really does help. M

ok...4 years postop - if I choose 2 eggs, fried over medium (solid white, runny yolk) and 3 potatoes (medium, red) shredded into hash browns and fried - and then chop the soft egg up into the potatoes after they are cooked. Packed down - that's about 2 and 1/2 cups of solid food. Now here's the ticket - I can eat it ALL - it chews down to nothing and the potato helps slide the dense eggs on through. Now if I take 3 eggs and add a 1/3 cup of cheese (make an omelet) - I usually can't fini**** all - most, but not the last couple bites. If it is steak or chicken and steamed veggies I can eat about 3 or 4 ounces of meat and about 3/4 cup veggies. If I eat just cheese? 4 ounces usually leaves me comfortable - not stuffed, but comfy. And if I eat 3 times a day - I make worse choices AND eat more over-all than if I eat 6 smaller meals. Also the faster I eat, the faster I get comfortably full. I don't dally over my meals. I chew well, but I finish - I don't have dinner 'conversation' or put my fork down and wait 5 minutes between bites. I don't shovel the food in, but I eat until I'm done. The ticket for ME is: (1) density of the food (2) how it's prepared (3) how often I eat (4) how slowly/fast I eat. Have no idea if this is helpful......hugs, Toots

Hi Terri! I have not tried this test for fear of what I might find out, LOL. I'm glad to know that it went well for you! Tracy B 328/152 5'9

Terri-That is amazing. Cottage cheese is pretty darn soft. Bread, on the other hand, tends to swell and leave me not feeling so well. When you eat the sub are you drinking with it? I am sorry if you have already mentioned this.

The cottage cheese is soft but for the test you are suppose to eat it fast and with as litle chewing as possible. I think all of that is what determins the actual size of the pouch. to answer some of the other things yes i do eat with my meals. but I try to drink most before I eat so i fill up faster. I will admit It does take me quite a while to fini**** and at times i have to stop and finsh later. so I guess my pouch is still in fine working order. dont be afraid to try it I think you will be surprised I know I was. hugs to all Terri