after 4 years what should our tummies hold?

I would like to know. I can sometimes eat 2 tacos but sometimes only 1. I can probably eat about 1 1/2 cups of food at one setting. I weigh 155 lbs. I started at 380. I flucuate up 5 lbs and then down 5 lbs. this time last summer I weighed 150 so I guess ive done pretty good, although its weird cause My pant size has gone from a 6-8 to a 10. All my skin has shifted or something. I feel so fat still. I eat all the time because I get low sugar real easy. please tell me if anyone has these same issues.THanks Sheekalala

I'm like you~ some days I can eat more than others, but I guess that's normal. The type of food definitely plays a part in how much I can hold~if I'm eating grilled chicken breast I can eat 4 or 5 oz and then I'm stuffed, but something like cottage cheese I could eat a cup no problem. As far as the weight shifting, here's the link to a post a few down from yours that discusses just this topic~ http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/wls_grads/a,messageboard/a ction,replies/board_id,5491/cat_id,5091/topic_id,3620804/

You are NOT alone!!  I am four years out and how much I can eat varies day to day - heck, hour to hour.  And the consistency make a big difference too.   In December I had a slew of tests done, one of which was to determine the size and stability of my pouch.  The doctors swear up and down that it is only the size of a fist and could not hold more than 8oz.  I find that so hard to believe, since I KNOW I can consume way more than 8oz when I am hungry....but who knows.  I do know if I eat solid protein, I eat way less, get full faster and stay full longer.   And I agree that your body changes and the weight you carry will shift.  My body has done that several times over the last 4 years.  And each time I find it bizarre, but again, you are not alone.  I think that happens to alot of us.   Hope that helps, Lisa 

Hi Sheekalala

WOW....It is sooo ironic you should ask this question at this time.  Just recently I too am going through the same thing.  My problem is I am still in a size 10 pants but I feel as though my boobs (38B) are enormous!  I feel that when I look in the mirror I see the BEFORE of me and NOT the AFTER!  Why is this? 

I too can eat more of some foods than of others.  If I go to the Chinese Buffet I always start out with the unpeeled cooked shrimp.  I can eat a full dinner plate of this and not feel full, but if I have a thick chicken breast I can only eat a few mouth fulls and that is it.  I am trying to just stick to 4oz of water with protein nectar in the morning and at lunch, one cup of coffee, and then another 4 cups of water in the afternoon while eating a sensible dinner.  My current goal is to lost 15 lbs,   I wegh between 165-168 lbs and am 5'8.  Right now I feel like a fat slob and that when people see me they see the same although I constantly told I look great and no way am I fat and I am crazy to think I need to lose weight!  I also worry that my pouch is stretching too much even though I know that that is not possible.......Do you experience this same syndrome?  I call it the anorexic syndrome.....check out my pictures and tell me what you think.....PLEASE!

OMG I need to make a correction...the above should read that I am trying to just stick to 4 CUPS of water with protein nectar...............>

Yep - right there with you on just about all of it. I tend to find that I get one big meal in a day and the rest can be 4 or 5 bites and that's it. Drives me a little batty sometimes, especially if the smallest meal is when I've gone out to dinner. The 5 lb weight flux is, to quote my surgeon when I whined about it, what people who don't have weight issues do normally! So, we're normal. The key is to not let the weight be more than those 5 lbs. My low weight was 132 (with original goal at 135) and due to my heart not liking that weight, I now sit at 140-145. That 10lbs made a change for pants/tops from 4/6 to 6/8 - usually 8s. Part of the issue is when we lost so much weight so quickly we start looking a little 'turtlish' and usually start getting the "you're too skinny" comments. After we stop dropping so quickly our bodies, at least women, seem to recreate that biological fat layer we all have to some extent and it creates a slight change in how our clothes fit. I also can have low blood sugar issues - but I usually create it myself by eating too many carbs/sugar during the day and then when I stop eating my sugar plummets. Are you eating 75% protein at your meals and are your snacks protein based? Your picture looks great, but if you're wanting to lose more weight, cut the carbs and be sure to eat as little protein inbetween meals as needed to keep your blood sugar up, exercise a bit more and I bet the weight starts to drop. Welcome to life on the otherside of the weightloss wagon!