Question:
i feel like i can eat too much. i never get full or sick. i had 2 scrambled eggs

with cheese & 2 biscuits for breakfast. i usually never eat anything with sugar, but the other day i had 4 chocolate chip cookies. i thought it would make me sick, but it didn't. i feel hungry all the time. can something happen to your pouch? i am eating about 55-60 grams of protein a day. i have not lost any weight in 6 weeks. this is when i started being able to eat more. also, is it okay to drink coke sometimes? please help. i have lost 55 pounds so far and have a lot more to lose.    — Amy B. (posted on September 9, 2003)

September 9, 2003
Hi there. It is best not to drink carbonated beverages because of people who gain their weight back after surgery, most of them are soda drinkers (diet or regular). As for never getting full, talk to your surgeon because you may have a staple line disruption. One egg on a biscuit would stuff me! So it may be a physical thing.
   — mrsmyranow

September 9, 2003
Hi Amy: A lot depends on how far post op you are. I can't eat biscuits, but I can eat four or five eggs at one sitting no problem. I went to the doctor about being able to eat as much or more than I could preop, and he said my stoma has expanded and food is leaving my pouch while I'm still eating more. He didn't scope me to verify it, but he sounded pretty convinced that is the reason. I did almost reach goal prior to my year anniversary. I started gaining weight back around my 13th month post op. I cut out all the bad stuff I had added, mostly sugars, and I still continued to gain. I have greatly increased my exercise, and I have to control the amount I eat with my own will power now or accept that I will regain all my weight. For the record, I NEVER drank carbonated drinks or drank with meals. Sounds like you need to get back to your doctor and discuss what s/he feels is going wrong. If you want to talk to me more feel free to email. I wish you well. Sherry
   — sherry hedgecock

September 9, 2003
HI Amy.... are you exercising? Are you full when you eat those two eggs and two biscuits? I have to admit, with the biscuits.. I'd be very full... and no, its probably not alright to drink Coke.. but we all make our own choices. Soda is full of sugar calories.. not really all that healthy for you. <br><br>You might check in with your doctor and see if your mechanics are ok, but in the meantime, you should probably exercise AND eat MORE than 55-60 grams of protein a day... and maybe cut back some on the carbs... those are my suggestions.. good luck!
   — Lisa C.

September 9, 2003
I am 5 and a half months out ..I had one scrambled egg with cheese for breakfast and was stuffed . Did you say how far out you are from surgery ? I sip with me meals always have and have lost 86 lbs . I have also had some diet coke when I reallt craved it ..but not often as it makes me feel bloated , even a few swallows, as for sugar ..I havent tried it because Im afraid I will find I can tollerate it and it was my downfall before my surgery ..so I tend to think of it as my poisen , I will however eat a SF cookie every once in a while but find I loose best when eating protein veggies and some fruit . I have found without sugar in my diet fruit is very sweet . I also eat some carbs but eat them last but I have not jumped the protein train . I lived on DR Adkins before and didnt have this surgery only to be on adkins forever . Ruthie in SC
   — ruthie

September 9, 2003
Try cutting back on the carbs and sugars for a few days (especially the biscuits ... I'd punt those entirely, as breads aren't really all that useful for us, nutritionally). Carbs can cause you to feel hungrier. Also, try eating more protein (instead of carbs) -- most proteins are fairly dense, and lower in calories, and don't promote so much hunger. Fifty-five to 60 grams of protein is on the low side of protein at this point.<P>If you're unhappy with your weight loss, I absolutely wouldn't touch Coke (especially if it isn't even Diet Coke, but regular Coke). It's just more empty calories that will stall weight loss. And it may be that sugar doesn't make you dump -- it rarely makes me dump -- so you can't necessarily count on dumping to stop sugar episodes. Try hard to use protein foods as snacks, instead of cookies. They do make protein cookies (try www.protocookie.com), or try more turkey, cheese, tuna, etc.
   — Suzy C.

September 9, 2003
First, you already know that you are eating too much and too much of the wrong foods. Secondly, you should know that everyone has fallen off the wagon at some point-- everyone cheats-- but to be successful at this, you really do need to commit to making a lifetime of postive changes regarding your relationship with food. A few tips-- stay away from the carbs-- we all know that they promote hunger and greater carb cravings. Don't drink coke or other full-sugared sodas. And the cookies-- c'mon, now. You can get back on track-- you've come an awfully long way to get sidetracked now. Good luck.
   — SteveColarossi

September 9, 2003
When I was out of surgery for the first month I would go all day w/o eating and its b/c I was not hungry or really I'd forget to eat. Nowadays I can still go all day w/o eating but I know its not good and I won't lose weight that way. One thing my Nutritionist told me is that eating more protien will make you feel fuller. You should not be even touching the buicut part of that sandwhich. It would be better if you ate two eggs w/cheese and maybe some cottage cheese instead of the carb loaded buiscut. My day starts off with 1/2 cup of cottage cheese 14 grams of Protien, and a string cheese 8 grams already that is 1/4 of my P for the day. For lunch I'll eat me whatever usually some sort of a hot pocket. Sam's has these chicken breasts filled with swiss and ham chicken cordon blue 23 grams but you know I can only eat 1/4 of it so its not like I'm overloading my fat intake or whatnot, I'll eat me a Kellogs special K fruit ceral bar 2 grams of p, no pop, no candy, you know we all cheat. We all find what works best for us. I jog not walk when I work out and I feel good. Just lay off the high carbs and you will start to feel fuller try a protien drink. When you feel you are getting of track sit a while and meditate b/c no one can make you lose weight but yourself. How bad do you want it? You decide that. I hope this motivates ya.
   — Mary Lou E.

September 10, 2003
Amy, you have no profile so we don't know how far post-op you are, and there are a lot of questions that need answering so that we can help you.. The further out you get, the more you can eat, but honestly it does sound like too much at a meal. Did you have the RNY or the DS. DS'ers can eat more than RNY'ers as their pouches are larger to start with. There could be several reasons for the amount you are eating and not just something wrong with the pouch. How long is it taking you to eat the meal? If its more than 15 minutes, say 45 minutes or more, any of us could eat that much, as the food starts leaving the pouch as soon as it gets there. Set a time limit and stop eating after 15 min, or a little longer if your a newer post-op. And are you drinking with or right after meals? If so, do not do so as that will wash out the food and make more room in the pouch. The others are right, the white carbs (biscuits) and sugar will make you more hungry. Also how often are you eating? You should eat when hungry, but choose good protein foods and in small amounts, like 2 scrambled eggs with cheese should be all you eat for breakfast, perhaps a protein bar for a snack, then lunch-deli meat or grilled meat with veggie or over salad, fruit or nuts or cheese for a snack, dinner could be some form of grilled meat/poultry or fish with veggie, and use a protein shake as a snack. I try to eat something every few hours and many of us do it that way. You should not have to be hungry, but just eat until satisfied not overstuffed. Not losing anything for 6 weeks is not abnormal. It can happen. As for soda, an occasional one will not hurt but try not to make it a habit-its the sodium and empty calories and gas that can bloat you, plus takes away from your water intake. Are you also getting in all your water-thats essential for weight loss too. Exercise?
   — Cindy R.