RNYers - do you eat until full or pre-measured amounts?

Hi everyone. Just wanted to pose this question here because we RNYers know that the further we get out the more our restriction lessens.... I am curious to see how people are eating the further they get out. Do you eat until you are full or do you pre-measure your food and not eat past that even if you're not satiated? OR do you eat a certain caloric level per meal and if you're still hungry you just wait until you next meal/snack to eat regardless of satiety? I find myself most times not eating until I'm satiated because I think it helps justify a snack between meals if I need one. So mostly my meals consist of no more than 250 calories (TOPS 300) and then maybe a snack - sometimes two - between lunch and dinner (my WORST hunger time every single day  - which is always a protein based snack). But I wonder if I pre-planned my meals better so that were closer to 400 cals per meal and had no snacks I would feel fuller longer because there is more in there to make me feel satisfied. I am still in the weight loss phase (and will be for some time yet) so I know it's going to come down to my caloric need, what makes up what I eat, and what energy I put out. Any thoughts? I am a hardcore rule follower so I always follow the protein first rule, no drinking with my meals, get adequate hydration all day long, etc. I guess I get confused because I hear 6 small meals makes your metabolism boost versus 3 but then with 6 I am hungrier feeling so I'm just trying to get a gage for what works for people. I know we're all so different but a little insight would be helpful. Thank you in advance for any feedback. Jenny

I know you're further out than I am, but what the hell-- any opportunity to run my yap works for me, right? I'm a counter, as you know. 900 calories a day-- 30% fat, 30% carbs, 40% protein. Sometimes I get there by several small snacks, sometimes in larger meals-- I like having that flexibility, especially during certain times of the month. Initially I made myself eat every one of the planned calories-- but this week, as long as the balance is good and the protein is over 70, I stop before 900 now sometimes, too. I figured out that 900 is my magic number where I don't feel like I am going to croak, but still can have some variety and fun. I am going to try not to increase it until I hit a maintenance weight-- I'm still losing about 8 pounds a month, and hope I can stretch that out a little bit longer. I think the secret is in the content of the snacks. For me, a protein shake (rare now) still is the most filling thing for me-- but Fage yogurt or pieces of roasted turkey would be a close second. Crunchy carbs do nothing in that department for me, so I eat precious few of 'em. I do approach this more like a diet than most. I need the security that offers me. (Knowing I did nothing that could impede my progress helps me survive stalls, etc. with my head intact.)

I measure pretty close. Sometimes, since I've been doing it for so long I can guess how much is there but I still check it from time to time. I had been making a shake from soy milk (a cup) and a serving of NSA Dreyers Coffee Ice Cream (1/2 cup)with a scoop of protein for dessert at night. Yummy. But just for fun I measured it. I've been shorting myself on the milk a little but right on on the ice cream... I developed a tactic to treat that extra hunger that I get between meals. When I feel like I need a snack, I have a 24 oz container of water with a flavor packet in it first. Sometimes, I've found, that my hunger isn't really hunger but thirst. I have to train myself to feel the sensation of thirst after WLS so I just figure I must need water. And that forces me to drink more water instead of eating all the time.  The one thing that doesn't work with is popcorn. I'm so thirsty if I have anything salty...But I just take a tiny sip and wait the half hour until I can have the whole 24 oz of water then.

you look great Jenny! I don't measure any more, but I am stick pretty firm to my plan. protein, fruits and vegetables. Little slack on extra water, but really work to keep calories down. I hardly eat white stuff anymore, and remain sugar free. I find frequent meals works best for me, and sometimes a meal is one of my 3-4 protein shakes. keep up the good work!

I do 6 premeasured meals. Im only allowed 4oz at a sitting so that is what I do. I know I could fit more in there but was told that getting up to 6-8 oz at a sitting could put weight back on me. I never paid attention to calories until now that Im in the maintanence phase. Im allowed 1200 calories a day. Sometimes I hit that but other days Im way low, it just depends on my choices for the day. If I didnt get enough protein in at a meal and I start feeling crazy tired Ill grab a special K protein water packet. It has 5 grams of protein and some fiber so you feel satiated. I still dont get hungry so the "feel fuller longer" part isnt an issue for me and I have no clue if it really does. Hope this helps.

Hi Jenny. You sure are looking good. I'm one of the several-times-a-day eaters. I don't really measure, just try to stay within my limits and usually eat healthy. If I get off track, the weight starts coming back. When I go up 5 pounds, which I am right now, I'll be a lot more careful for a while until it comes back off. I know a lot of people try to stay around 1000 to 1200 calories, but I tend to get more like 1500 to 1700. I do a one-hour workout every morning, and I get pretty run down if I don't get at least that much. 

I don't measure anymore but follow the Dietitian''s advice.  She said to put the fork down between each bite and stop eating when I am no longer hungry.  Said that if I eat until I feel full then I have overeaten.

I dont measure my food I eat till full. lately I have been eating till over full.........NOT GOOD. that is why I am now off track.... I am going to go back to small plate, that allways seemed to help me before. Hugs,Terri

Good question. I'm not a counter or a 'measurer' but I am aware and make choices about eating. I don't eat until I'm full, but I eat until either my plate is empty or I'm not hungry anymore (this is different than full to me). I use a lunch plate, fill it 1/2 with fruits and veg, 1/4 with protein, 1/4 with starch (sometimes whole grain, others not). I eat three meals a day and have 1 or 2 evening snacks. By bariatric standards my meals are fairly large, but I'm not hungry between meals generally. I'm 15 months out and still losing 1-3 lb's per month. I feel like I've got a food plan that satisifies me, but  yet is flexible.

HI Jenny! Hey, you look fantastic!!!  I am 3+yrs out and I'd say I do a combination of everything listed. I tend to do 6 meals per day. Alot of things I measure, but not everything. I do usualy eat until I'm full~its weird b/c I could eat 2 of the exact same meals 2 days in a row and day 1 I won't get full until its gone, but day 2 I'm full on half. I also use thedailyplate.com to track my caloric intake for the day just so I know where things stand for the day. I still follow the rules~protein first, no drinking 30/30, etc. I have found that I  need to listen to what my body is telling me. If I'm hungry (really hungry, not head hunger) then I eat even if its not time or my calories might be over for the day or whatever~listening to my body and figuring out its need for the day has been very helpful to me!  Good Luck to You!!!!!!!!!!