Question:
Food volume @ 15 mos post op

For lunch today I ate 3 baked chicken legs and about 2 cups of salad and a piece of string cheese. I had brought the 3 legs thinking that if I got hungry later this afternoon, I could eat the 3rd...I thought 2 would fill me up. I'm full now, not painfully stuffed but quite satisfied. Is what I'm eating more than the average do you think?? Is there a good way to go about "shrinking" the pouch to get back more intake restriction?    — Rhoni333 (posted on May 13, 2004)

May 13, 2004
There isn't a lot of meat on a chicken leg, so it's hard to say how much you really ate. Maybe pull the meat off of one and weigh it to see how many ounces you consumed (if you have any left). The salad pretty much goes to mush and doesn't hang around long in the pouch (at least for me). Just make sure you get your protein first, salad last. Good Luck
   — Carolyn M.

May 13, 2004
No. That is not too much. I am almost 3 years post, and could eat that at 15 months also. Use your time wisely to learn hunger cues and craving control, because you will be able to eat yet more. I am to the point that I can easily eat what a "normal" woman would eat. I honestly could eat what an obese person could eat, but I fight the fat girl in me with fierce determination. I still sometimes get confused and think I'm still hungry because I'm not full, and I over eat from time to time....but I conscienciously (sp) remind myself that to properly fuel my body and keep it healthy, I don't need to have that belly pressure of being full, that I associated with eating "enough" when I was big. I keep a food log, which is a great help in controlling my food intake...days I don't fill it out, I tend to grossly underjudge. Don't panic, your food choices sound good...just become conscious of the quality of food, lean protein, high fiber, whole wheat carbos, healthy fats, etc. and watch out for the sugar devil....when he grabs me by the toe, I can't shake him for two, three days. Also, if you are able, and haven't started, EXERCISE, it is half the equation of kicking the O-beast in the A$$. Best wishes on your WLS journey. Kim open RNY 7/17/01 282/145/125 (always striving)
   — KimBo36

May 13, 2004
I'm 15 months post op and I can't eat that much still. We are all differnt, although. Of course, meat off the bone of 3 chicken legs would come to about 3-4 ozs,if legs are normal size. Nothing wrong there, but 2 cups of salad besides seems a bit much, plus cheese. I still weigh/journal all my foods and my food portions are 3-4 ozs of protein, maybe an ounce veggies with it. Now, I do eat a salad as a snack... have to get those greens in daily. lol I thought the further out I got the more I could eat, but I can't and I don't want to. Food means nothing to me, other than to nourish my body. I could easily do w/o it! lol Good Luck!
   — Hazel S.

May 13, 2004
My first reaction was that is a lot but after a moments thought I think it's fine. Like the others said there isn't so much meat on a chicken leg. It probrably was just a few ounces total and I know I could eat that much at that point. You had good choices. Lean meat, vegetables, cheese. I didn't hear any carbs in the mix so I wouldn't worry. That is very much how I eat. I frequently buy Rotisserie Chickens and eat the meat off of them. I eat salad every day and I can definitly eat 2 cups of salad. I can eat all of a fast food salad now from McDonalads or Wendy's or those places. I usually get the more fattening ones too, like with crispy chicken and regular dressing. I do that because I am at goal now and I need a few extra calories in my day to keep from loosing below goal and also because I think we need some fat for our hair and skin and I don't get much fat elsewhere in my diet. Keep up the good work. I'm 21 months post op by the way. Carrie
   — Carrie D.

May 14, 2004
Green salad? Over how much time? (a meal is 15 minutes) Any chance your are staple line disrupted or have other mechanical issues? Was it sudden,or gradual? Are you starting to sip with meals? I don't mean any of these accusingly, but just as a check list for you to answer to yourself. Coming up on 10 yrs out, I could not eat that much in a reasonable meal, but I started with 1/2 oz pouch.
   — vitalady