Question:
At 2 years out what is considered a 'small' meal?

I keep reading on here how we should eat 6 'small' meals a day. It that 1/2 cup 1 cup?? at 2 years. Thanks for your feedback    — Sharon B. (posted on October 18, 2004)

October 18, 2004
My Surgeons office "Dietician" says at two years 3 small meals about 8oz each a day. No snacking and No Grazing. Best Wishes
   — Shell G

October 18, 2004
Each program will have different guidelines. Some say 6 small meals of 3-4 oz and others say 3 meals of 4-8 oz.It deals with stretching your pouch. If you get your pouch stretched out too much it can be a problem with over eating and regaining weight. I don't see much difference. It will always come down to calories in vs calories out. Stay heavy on protein intake and light on carbs.I'm also 2 years out and down 225 pounds.Isn't life wonderful on the light side. I still can't believe that I weigh 125 lbs and wear size 8 clothes.CELEBRATE!!!
   — dianne E.

October 18, 2004
The answers will vary here. But most people eat 8 - 12 oz at 2 years out. Depends on if you are still losing, how much you exercise, how big your pouch is. Pouch size has no affect on long term weight loss. It is what you put in it and how often you exercise. I'd ask your doc.
   — mrsmyranow

October 18, 2004
As a fresh postie, I did 6 1-2 oz meals per day, plus protein drinks, vites and water. At 10 yrs out, I do roughly the same as I did at 2 yrs. 6 protein drinks, vites, water and 4 meals. Usually 2 are very snack size, like "a carrot", or some celery and cheese (I LIKE those), and some are real meals, more like a child would eat. A "plate", on the light side. Breakfast might be 1 egg, 1 toast, 1-2 bacon, depending on type of bacon. Small normal.
   — vitalady

October 18, 2004
Your meals should be no more than 1/2 cup of food (total). Three meals a day and 2 snacks.
   — Linda R.

October 18, 2004
I realize that everyone's doc has their own idea but at 2 years out if someone was to only eat 1/2 cup total per meal, it is likely they cannot get enough nutrition to support their body long term without protein drink supplementation. <p>My surgeon is still of the belief that 3 meals is normal, so that is what they prefer. At maintenance, meals should range from 3/4 cup to 1-1/2 cups depending on what you are eating and how dense, filling etc. They also recommend no snacks. I eat the 3 meals and usually have a snack or two. It is quite a bit of food total for the day, yet I hang in the same 5 lb range, which is below goal, so obviously my body is burning it. So many things factor into what is the right amount to eat. The bottom line is finding the right combination of quantity and types of foods as well as exercise, is the key. The more active you are the more you are going to need to fuel your body. Ideally the extra food is in snacks instead of larger meals. Starving ones body is not going to serve them well in the long run. We also need to remember that we do not absorb everything we eat, so getting in adequate protein, vitamins etc. is a challenge. If what you eat maintains your weight then the quantity is right for your body. There is no one size fits all in the life of WLS patients.
   — zoedogcbr

October 18, 2004
As stated before all surgeons have their own "rules" the dietician I saw at 1 year out said 1 to 1 1/2 cups of food per meal , 5 meals a day. I am maintianing well on that and have even lost weight since the one year mark on that. At this point I no longer want to lose and sometimes have to eat more than that to maintain. I only do protein supplements if I dont eat > 60 grams of protein, or more recently to help heal well from LBL I did supplement. I tend to gain if I do too much protein.
   — **willow**

October 19, 2004
I eat like a lean cusine for lunch, and a piece of fruit for snack. Dinner is meat and maybe a serving of veggies or whatever... I generally drink my breakfast, and I might sneak another snack or two in beef jerky, beans and cheese, yogurt, string cheese stick etc.
   — MF

October 19, 2004
I'm a little over 2 years out and I do 3 1/2 to 1 cup meals per day with 2 small snacks that averate 1/4 to 1/2 cup. Still can't finish a lean cuisine at 2 years out. One of those MacDonald's Deluxe Salads will do 3 meals for me.
   — Cathy S.

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