Question:
Am I eating too much at 4 1/2 months out?

I had lap RNY June 3rd 2004. My doctor showed my weight as 281 post op and I now weigh 203. I was talking to a friend who had the DS and another friend who had open RNY and both told me that they didnt eat as much as I eat now when they were 4 months out. The day we talked I was showing them a Weight Watchers meal that was carb controlled and high in protein and they both asked if I ate the whole thing. I generally can eat the entire frozen dinner, but occasionally I do not. Do you think a 9 oz frozen dinner is too much food 4 1/2 months out? It mainly conisits of chicken and vegetables and maybe some sort of sauce or gravy. My food intake so far today was protein drink (8oz carb countdown juice and nectar protein powder at 7am, 1 oz cheddar cheese w/ 4 triscuts at 8:45am, a handful of cashews at 10:30am, 11:45am 4 oz of turkey chili topped w/ shredded cheese, I will probably eat the rest of my cheese and 4 crackers around 2pm and dinner which will be 1 grilled chicken italian sausage link and green beans around 5pm. I have a snack around 8pm or 9pm which is NSA Nestle Quick in Carb Cartdown milk w/cinnamon and vanilla extract and protein powder warmed. In addition to the above mentioned, my doctor states that I should only eat 3 times a day. I told him that I recently started eating 4-5 times a day as of month 3 because I was getting hungrier it seems and becuase I seemed to be on a plateau at that time. Am I overeating?????? I generally eat only til I am satisfied and I drink tons of water throught the day.    — ToriJ (posted on October 21, 2004)

October 21, 2004
I dont think so. You dont want to graze, I had a past problem with that and the emotional eating thing too. It sounds that you are doing well. As far as what you can eat and what you eat, I learned from this site ---I may be able too but I dont want to get into the habit --moderation that's what its all about.
   — debmi

October 21, 2004
Truthfully, I couldn't eat that much at 4 1/2 months out, I do eat more now, that I am 8 months out and I am also at a plateau, because I do eat more, I ocassionally eat bread, a no no and crackers also a no no, my surgeon wants you on all low carb low amounts of food per day lots of water etc. of course at a certain point you will try to push the envelope more and more. If you can already eat 9 ounces of food at one sitting I would consider cutting back a little if you can and drink more water just so that you have something in your hand, something to do to keep yourself busy. But, I guess as long as you're still losing it's okay but, we still need to watch ourselves it's easy to get out of wack. Good luck to you. Tammy, AR
   — Tammy P.

October 21, 2004
To be honest, I can't eat that much at 9 months out. The cheese & crackers, nuts and even the chili are possible. However, I am lucky to eat 1/2 of a sausage or brat (no bun), and even then I couldn't eat green beans also. We are all different, and what you are doing seems to be working well for you. Best wishes. Angela 252/165/125
   — Angela T.

October 21, 2004
My nutritionist who has patients who can eat that at 1 month out. Say it with me people, "it is not the size of the pouch it is what you put in it and how much you exercise..."
   — mrsmyranow

October 21, 2004
I can't say if You are eating to much but My surgeons office (and there all differant) says i should eat no more than 8oz at 1yr. We are always supposed to stop when we start feeling full and eat no longer than 20 minutes at a time. Only You and Your diaticean would know if what You are doing is ok seems like You are losing but it makes me wonder if you could be losing lots more if YOur portions were cut in half. I am only 3 weeks out so I am no expert by no means I can't hardly get in 1 1/2 oz I can't imagine 9oz but time will tell. I wish You the best Congratulations on the lose so far!
   — Shell G

October 21, 2004
the 9 oz frozen dinner is weight, not volume. What you are eating sounds pretty normal to me, the weight watchers dinners have pretty small portions of meat and veggies are mostly water. ho much I can eat has always depended on what it is. I could not begin to eat a cup of meat, but lettuce, I could eat probably 2 cups, it chews down to water and not much else. Try putting you food in a measureing cu and see how much it is. I would guess you will be surprised how little it is. I'll be willing to bet it is less than 1 cup, as your chili etc is 1/2 c. I was told at 1 year to eat 5-6 meals of 1 1/2 cups of food. Like I said , how much fits in deends on what it is. Tonite I had beef stew with mushroom and baby onions in it. I definately ate less than a cup because it was mostly beef, and I am still full 3 hours later. If I have salad, I can eat 1/2 a chicken breast with a cup of lettuce and a few slices cucumber and tomato. Maybe try logging in to wwww.fitday.com and track your calorie, and protein intake. I did that daily for a long time and it helped "train" me on what to eat and how choices affected my totoal daily calorie 7 protein intake.
   — **willow**

October 21, 2004
I was told you shouldn't eat more than 1/2 cup of food per meal (total), 3 meals and two snacks. Half a cup is for someone who has been post-op for some time. If it is liquids (soups, protein drinks, etc.) I have a little more 6 oz up to 8 oz. Are you still following the no drinking before, during and after rules? Everyone is different. If I compare myself to 4 months, you are eating more then what I was at that time. I mainly stick with soups and cottage cheese. I love soups because they are light and I can add additonal protein to them (cheese, meat, etc). You may want to up your exercise also if you are eating more.
   — Linda R.

October 22, 2004
My post below should have said 1 to 1 1/2 cups per meal.
   — **willow**

October 23, 2004
I had surgery on June 11 and I can about the same as you. My weight was 278 and is now 216.5. My dr. said to eat 3 meals 2 snacks, protein first. I can eat a whole lean gourmet for a meal, it fills me up. I don't think you actually eating 9 oz. in food once chewed. I pulverized one in a food processor to see how much I was getting and it was just under 3/4 of a cup. I don't think that is bad for a meal, especially since much of it was liquid from the veggies. I think you are doing great. Our bodies are all different and each one of us will lose at a different rate. Right now I am on a stall, haven't lost in 2 weeks, but I lost 19.5 last month, the most since the first month when i lost 20. Good luck.
   — bubbleboo K.

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