Question:
How much can you eat at one time? Please be honest...
I can eat entirely too much food at one sitting. Granted, if it is a dense food like steak, chicken, etc., I can't eat as much. My pcp has put me on xyprexa (sp?) for anxiety, which causes food cravings and ever since I've been eating like I did pre-op. I feel like I am eating all day and eating the wrong things. I am going to have to see if I can get the medication switched, but in the meantime, I've realized just how much I can eat. I can eat an entire breakfast sandwich and then turn around and eat a bowl of oatmeal. Please, no flaming, but tell me if honestly you post-ops could possibly that much...Open RNY 03-20-03 -87lbs — vittycat (posted on September 9, 2003)
September 9, 2003
Hi Krista: It does sound like a bit much. I had surgery a few weeks after
you, and I'm sure I still can't eat that much...especially a breakfast
sandwich (bread) & oatmeal (dense). I can eat 1/2 a breakfast
sandwich, but only if I make it at home & use thinly sliced bread.
Even then, it feels like it's stuck in my esophagus when I eat it. Oatmeal
fills me up so quickly I don't even eat it since it isn't a valuable
protein source. It might be that medication...but it is strange that all
that food fits in your pouch. I can see if maybe the oatmeal is watery?
The medication might make you feel hungry, but I can't see how it allows
you to fit lots of food in your small pouch. If I were you, I'd check with
my doctor/surgeon. It does seem odd..good luck!
— Amy A.
September 9, 2003
Hi, Well first I wanted to say congrats on your weight loss! I know we are
able to eat more as we get further along on being post-op cuz now I am 7
mths post op and I can eat alot more than I use to, but some days are diff
than others. Some days I can handle only alittle bit and some days I can
eat all day, but I try not too I try to stay at 4-5 small meals a day! It
also depends on what I have to eat too, cuz meats I get fuller quicker and
more denser foods I can eat alot more of before I get full. But also, if I
eat like a bowl of cereal or somethink like that, I tend to be hungrier
sooner, but I can't eat awhole breafast sandwich yet, but I can eat awhole
bowl of oatmeal at once, but not all together either, so if it is your new
medicine causing this problem of your hunger right away then definitely ask
to get it changed cuz I know that some meds can cause hunger, I am now
antidepressants and I know that a few I took at first made me hungrier too
and I gained awhole lot of weight but this was also before I had the surgey
so I am not forsure how they would affect me after surgery, but now I found
the right one to take and I have not had any probs with that before or
after wls. So I bet that is the prob. But also remember if you tend to eat
more now further along that alittle more is normal-k cuz our pouch tends to
stretch out alittle as we go along! But do get that med changed cuz I am
sure that is why you are able to eat even alittle more than usual. I hope
this all makes sense to you I tried to explain it the best I could. Good
Luck to You!
— Melodee S.
September 9, 2003
Krista,
I'm right there with ya, I know how you feel, I too can eat alot, in fact
just the other day I ate almost 2 sausage Mc Muffins with eggs, ya I know I
shouldn't be eating like that. And that I should be strict but I too am
human. You won't get any flamming from me here...... I feel like I can
eat way too too much, I sometimes feel like I can never get full and really
have to catch myself, otherwise I will gain weight, I've been loosing and
gaining the last 5-8 pounds back for the last 3 months, I know it's awfull,
I'm 16 months post op and am about 20 pounds away from goal, I'm hopping
one day I'll get to my personal goal.....
I find that every day is a battle with food and how much I eat, just keep
track of everything you eat. And take heed to what you need to do to loose
the excess calories we've consumed.... It's a give and take thing, I'm
working on it here.....
If I can help any please email me.
Many Hugs
— tannedtigress
September 9, 2003
Generally, I don't eat that much in one sitting, *but* on occasion, I can.
However, if I do, I'm not eating out of hunger, I'm eating out of obsession
(and I'll get uncomfortably full, too). It's good that you're considering
switching medications, because if you sense you are really eating more than
you need to or really want to (but for feeling driven to overeat), you want
to get a handle on that ASAP. I'm sorry the medication is causing this
problem -- geez, that side-effect alone would produce even more anxiety,
for me. Good luck in finding a better medication -- hang in there!
— Suzy C.
September 9, 2003
Krista, you are just a couple of weeks further than I am.. for breakfast I
am eating 1 scrambled egg with a little cheese, or 1/2 cup special K with
1/4 cup milk....lunch is maybe half a boneless chicken breast and 1/4 cup
cottage cheese, dinner might be 1/8 lb hamburger patty, and more cottage
cheese, or perhaps a salad with chicken and cheese on it.. maybe a cup
total...
I would encourage you to contact your doctor regarding your medication...
and then... work to rethink your choices... protien first... the egg and
sausage off of the muffin, eat slower.... if you think you need to snack...
chose deli meats or cheese....
One thing I tell myself if I am feeling the need t snack...I must drink 8
oz of water...then if I am still feeling hungry in 30 min, I will eat some
cheese- those individually wrapped string cheese are good...
Keep up the good work... we have a tool.. but its up to us to make the most
of it....
lap rny 4/9/03
311/225/-86
— Peg L
September 9, 2003
Hi. I am only one week post op so I'm not sure about the amount. I'm still
trying to figure that out myself. I just wanted to tell you that my brother
was on zyprexa for 2 months and gained 50 pounds. He has never had a weight
problem in his life until now. His doctor said the average weight gain is
75 pounds. There are other medications that work the same without the
weight gain. He is trying other medications now. I would suggest you see
about getting a different medication asap.
— AmyWollet
September 9, 2003
I'm 20 months post-op and I can eat a serving of oatmeal and two slices of
bacon - or grits and bacon. I can't comment on the breakfast sandwich
because I rarely eat bread. I can eat a whole bacon and tomato sandwich (I
did one time) but I was completely full when I finished. I can eat about a
cup of canned salmon or of cottage cheese but can only eat about 3 ounces
of meat such as beef or pork. I can eat almost a whole salad from Wendy's
(if I'm really hungry) and then other times, I can make three meals from
one if I add more meat or cheese to it. Some days, I can eat a lot -
others I have to force myself to eat.
— Patty_Butler
September 9, 2003
My most favorite breakfast that I will eat about 3 times a week is from
McDonald's. I order 2 bacon and egg biscuits NO CHEESE-yuck!!! I can eat
about 1 1/2 of these, but I take off the top 1/2 of the biscuit. I HAVE to
have the bacon very well-done (crunchy not chewy) or I can't eat it!!
So, I am probably eating close to what you are. I am maintaining nicely and
so don't feel this is hurting me. I would definitely check to see if you
can be on a new medicine. Good luck! Oh yeah, I am 2 1/2 years post op.
Shelley
— Shelley.
September 9, 2003
At 6 mo post-op I do think that is too much food for one meal. At 19 m0
post-op I could probably do one or the other. You don't say the size of the
bowl of oatmeal nor the size of the breakfast sandwich but if they are
normal sized, then it is too much, especially if there is no break in time
between the two. Get to your doctor and switch meds now-the side effect of
the medication is sabotaging your weight loss program. In the meantime,
until you can do so, satisfy the appetite with all protein foods-eggs with
cheese (no bread) and no oatmeal/cereal. If you have to eat and eat alot,
at least make it good protein.
— Cindy R.
September 9, 2003
hi krista,
i to am one of those post ops that can eat pretty much the amount that a
normal person can eat. i can eat most of a chicken sandwhich from carls jr
and about four onion rings, a big mac with the middel bun removed and five
french fries. a whole 9oz lean cusine. most of an egg mc muffin with the
hash brown and small orange juice, a whole large bagel with cream cheese, a
small senior steak dinner from sizzler with some of the steamed broccli and
half the cheese toast. when i asked my surgeon he said not to worry? when i
asked the dr. at my local support group he said way to much i should have
an upper g.i. done? whose right? i dunno? i was losing pretty good until
this last month i haven't lost a single pound. this is the first time i've
hit a platue, so i hope that's what it is not the amount of food i can eat
holding me back. and no i don't eat out everyday but those are some
examples you might be able to relate to. best luck, kimberly open distal
rny 11/12/02 -120lbs
— kimberly T.
September 9, 2003
We had surgery at about the same time, and have lost about the same amount
of weight. To be honest, I cannot eat as much as you described (either the
oatmeal or the sandwich, with only half of the bread, but not both).
However, I don't think it's a question so much of how much we CAN eat, but
how much we DO eat. You have an external reason leading to your
overeating. Change medications as soon as you can. Once those horrid
cravings go away, you'll be able to control what you eat better, and it
won't matter that you can eat more. You'll choose not to. Also,
concentrate on getting protein in, rather than cereals and breads. It will
fill you up faster and longer, so that even if you do have a craving, you
just won't have any place to put the food. Best wishes to you for
continued success.
— Vespa R.
September 9, 2003
I can eat 3-4 ounces of steak with mushrooms and onions to 6-8 ounces of
boiled or steamed shrimp with nothing else. Most meals are a total of 5-6
ounces.
— zoedogcbr
September 9, 2003
I am 7 weeks post-op and I can eat 2 oz tops at a time! I eat anywhere from
twice to 3 times a day!
— Beverly S.
September 9, 2003
I used to take Buspar for anxiety and I do not remember it causing cravings
or hunger. Maybe a medication change is in order.
— zoedogcbr
September 10, 2003
I am 1yr out..minus 160lbs..from 350 to 190...and I have been concerned
about how much I can eat from the very beginning!!!!!!!!.....
I did a "cottage cheese test" at 8 weeks...9oz!!!!!!
My very first solid meal (at 2weeks out) was 3/4 cup chili with 5
saltines!!!!!!
So, you tell me, am I doing okay? heehee from size 30 to 12 in
12months... and I ENJOY my food!!!!!!!!!!!
I am blessed!!!!!!!
— Debby M.
October 24, 2003
I have been reading these posts and I am glad to know I am not the only one
who wonders if they are eating "too much", I am only 4 weeks post
op, I was on blended food for 2 weeks then after that it made me feel ill
just looking at it, so my doc said it was ok not to as long as I chewed
well. I try to do that but I don't seem to have problems eating anything,
which is good I guess.....lol But I can eat quite a bit. Each day is
different though. I guess since I am down 40 lbs there is nothing to worry
about though!
— Saxbyd
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