Question:
I just read an answer to a previous question and it stated that a three month post-op

should only be able to eat a 1/2 cup of food at a time!I can eat more than that and have lost 53# so far(over half of my excess weight)! I think that everyone is different and although I am going to ask my surgeon about this, I must admit that I drink and eat at the same time(I must)maybe that is why I can eat more than usual.The important thing is that I am losing weight,cause I sure used to eat a lot more than I do now!!    — natalie J. (posted on March 12, 2004)

March 12, 2004
The concern is that you may be stretching your pouch too much and too fast. Drinking when you eat pushes food through the pouch and small intestine quicker. It also helps to stretch your pouch. WLS patients usually have had a problem with portion control. The purpose of the small pouch is to limit the amount of food you eat at one time. This is only a tool and must be used appropriately. It is way too easy to fall into our old eating habits and regain weight. It has to be a life time change in eating.Congratulations. Discuss this with your surgeon.
   — Linda Dianne E.

March 12, 2004
Your concern is that a three month post op can "only' eat 1/2 cup food. I don't know what surgery you and that poster had but i am over one year post o- and cannot eat that much. If it is a Wendy's chili or something similar, i might. But something like meat, no way. About 1/4 cup would be all i can eat. You are making your food into liquid and it is running on thru your pouch when you drink while eating. This is why you can eat more and ultimately, why you might fail. Sorry, this is not to be rude, just plain facts. Good luck and unless there is a medical reason that the doc has told you to drink while eating (and some people do have that), please stop this habit. Good luck to you.
   — Delores S.

March 12, 2004
Delores - Based on all my reading a research your food quantity is way low for where you are at. At about 3 months our plan had us on 3-4 ounces per meal for 3 meals. I could not have eaten more at that point, that's for sure. I agree with you that the poster needs to can the drinking with meals habit as it's not going to serve her well in the long run. I do occassionally take sips with a few bites but I am 13+ months PO. I do eat typically 1 cup of food at a meal and maybe more if it's something that really breaks down when chewing. However, there are meals I still only eat 4-5 oz. It drastically varies based on what I am eating. <p>I assume you are getting the majority of your protein from supplements. That's one way to go but most prefer not to have to live on them the rest of their lives. We each need to figure out what works for us and for me it's food and definitely more than 1/4 cup. I've lost 245 lbs in less than 13 months, so what I am doing is working for me. <p>To the original poster, I would not be pushing your quantity at this stage. It's going to bite you in the long run. JMO
   — zoedogcbr

March 13, 2004
I've been eating approximently 1/2c of food since I was about 1 month out... Most of the time I eat slightly less then that... Drinking with your meals is just wasting the nutrients that are so important to us as post ops.. As far as stretching the pouch, drinking with meals does not do that.. Over eating will...... From what my Dr. says we are suppose to eat 4-6 mini meals a day equaling about 1/2c each and waiting 30 mins after until you drink anything.... I believe by around 6 months out you will start consuming more, I am 6.5 months out and still eat the same as when I was 1 month out. I usually eat between 3-4 mini meals a day (sometimes more sometimes less).. So like the other poster said we are all so different and somethings that work for me may not work for you... Only you and your Dr. can decide what amount and how you should be eating (with or without H2O)..... Take Care
   — baybekmbrly

March 13, 2004
I've been able to eat well over 1/2 cup of food -- indeed, probably more than 2 cups of food -- at a time, ***depending on what it is***, for a long, long time. I'm not quite sure why we're all so different, but if I couldn't eat more than half a cup of food per meal, I'd literally have starved by now at 21 months post (at/past goal for year).<P>For me (stressing ... "for me," not someone else), I never worried about measuring bites, or volume. I worried about calories, and tried to train myself to eat meals that were protein-first, filled my pouch in a true "single serving" size if possible, and added up (at the end of the day) to a proper amount of calories. Things like turkey chili, I can eat more of; brocolli or black beans, not very much (1/2 cup might be right there); popcorn, sky's the limit (so gotta watch that). I notice if I'm able to eat a lot of something, but I'm not alarmed unless it's something junky.<P>I know you know this already, but I'd really try to quit eating and drinking at the same time. There are those who say it didn't affect their weight loss, but I've seen too many posts from long-termers struggling with regain, bemoaning the fact that they never followed that rule, and lived to regret it. Early success with weight loss following WLS doesn't take much effort on the patient's part. Just because something worked for the first 53 pounds off (woo hoo, congrats, btw!), doesn't mean it'll serve you at all well down the line.
   — Suzy C.

March 13, 2004
Hi, I'm 5 months post-op and i strongly recommend that you stop drinking with your meals. I never pick-ed up that habit but i can tell you that as time passes chances are you will be able to eat more. You don't want to chance your weightloss with all we went thru to get this far. Happy losing, enjoy the weight loss and the platues. Its an amazing journey:)
   — Maria G.