Quantity...

I just wanted to get an idea of about how much (quantity wise) ya'll are eating per meal...Any replies would be greatly appreciated!! =)

ok...3 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

Ditto what Tooter said. If I eat softer foods I can easily consume several cups a day and a couple thousand calories. Today I ate three, 3-oz. servings of meat only (shrimp, chicken, and turkey jerky) and I'm still stuffed feeling tonight. DeeDee

I do a cup to a cup and a quarter per meal and I'm over 4 years out. I can fit in more soup than steak so the food depends on how much I eat too.

I eat 2-3 oz of meat for dinner and lunch and I have 2-3 protein shakes per day that are 35g each. I can eat 1-2 fried eggs, 1 boiled egg, 1/4 cup of cooked veggies, fruit, cereal or pasta... I can comfortably drink 24-32 oz in 30 minutes... I measure what I eat and do not exceed the 2-3 oz of meat, 1 oz of cheese, and 1/4 cup of any side, veggie, and fruit. If its raw veggies, like a salad, then I eat 1 cup. Your caloric intake should not exceed 800-1000 calories per day VAL

Hello Larena - I don't really measure my quantities and based on the TYPES of foods, determines just how much of it I can eat. ie, chicken? I could eat 2 drumsticks, or 1 thigh, could NOT finish a breast. Salads? Keep bringing it in by the truck loads, if it's all veggies, I can mash that stuff into liquid form in no time at all and it just pours right out of the pouch. Now if we're talking crunchy carbs? (that's code for CHIPS) ...well, that stuff breaks down to powdery dust and we won't even discuss quantities there. Like I said, I don't measure -- BUT, I do try to keep control of the overall caloric count. Not so much that Im pluggin in every calorie I eat into a palm pilot or fitday.com but I do a running total in my head and on a good day, I try to keep it at or under 1500 calories. At 5'9" and at goal, moderate exercising, I need 2000 calories to MAINTAIN - per the "normal" charts. Since Im not normal and I know my thyroid (metabolism) is shot to hell, I try to STAY UNDER that number - hence the 1500 a day. I disagree that long term post ops should be keeping their caloric intake between 800 and a 1000 a day - that's borderline starvation and lord knows Ive dieted and starved my body into it's formerly SMO self. Personal opinion, obviously, based on NOTHING but Lei-Logic. Good luck to you - Lei

I agree -- 800-1000 calories is too low. BUT for couch potatoes, they probably have to keep it that low to keep from gaining. Why? Their metabolism is shot to he!!. Losing weight and not exercising is a BAD combination for the metabolism. Deb

WOW - I don't eat nearly as much as these other posters on here... I can eat 1/2 cup cottage cheese and feel stuffed. If I want a hamburger patty, I measure out 2 oz. raw burger and after it's cooked up, it's perfect. 4 oz. yogurt is perfect. I can eat a slice of toast w/peanut butter comfortably. It takes me over an hour to drink 16 oz of protein. Each of these things I list here, I only have one of them at a time. What's here is basically what I choose for meals. Does this help at all? I will be three years out next month.

Thank you for all replies!! I was just trying to get an idea on how much other people are eating...I'm a worrywart, and I just need some reassurance that I'm on track every once in awhile! I appreciate it!