Question:
Any recommendations for serving size of what I can eat

My surgeon has been great. I am three weeks post-op for the lapband and still feel like a kindergardner in trying to figure out what portion sizes I should limit to. I don't trust myself to decided what "full" is. Help. Any websites, or books with good portion size info or sample menus. THANK YOU SO MUCH.    — aubrey (posted on December 16, 2005)

December 16, 2005
hello well my doctor told me to eat with a baby spoon an off a baby plate.That way you dont have a large plate of food that you cant eat an have to feel like you have to clean your plate.like mom said when we were little.lol good luck, hope this helps
   — amygirl

December 16, 2005
Good morning, I'm 5 months post out and I can only hold up to 4oz of fluid and sometime food. My doctor told my around this time and up to a year your stomach should only hold that much at a serving. I measuring my food in a cup, I can eat 1/4 cup of food and sometimes a little over. SO, it depends on you, because i have the same problem trying to eat until i'm full and get sick and have discomfort. Good luck.
   — Charmaine C.

December 16, 2005
I ate with a baby spoon all through my recovery and a few weeks past that time. I would give myself about a tablespoon of whatever and eat with the baby spoon and it gave me time to chew and register that I was full. It takes getting used too but you do. I serve myself now even with the holiday season on us and pick what I really have a craving for and then eat protein first and follow up with something I really want. I wait after I swallow and can tell when I have had enough. If I think that I did not eat enough I will have milk or milk with protein powder to get in the recommended amount of protein instead of eating.
   — 1968 Loser

December 17, 2005
Although I have had my band revised to BPD because of complications, I remember my time well with it. Your stomach will now only hold 50mls ( about a 1/4 cup) and remember it takes awhile for your stomach to send the signal that you are full and your brain takes a while to register the fact, so you need to masticate (chew) slowly and wait till you feel full before going over that portion size. If you eat too quickly, the results can be painfull indeed. meal times should be peacefull, not eaten on the run, not in front of a TV, and give your complete attention to it to be succdessful. As time goes by you will become adjusted and more knowledgable about the ammounts. But, you need also to be extremely carefull about what, as most patients I know are unable to eat meat or fish, and in some cases eggs, so a food journal for the next 6 months will help you know the effect and help you become more established with your new tolerances. Remember though, everybody is different, so what one person can tolerate, maybe you wont. certainly your old food tolerances will not ever be the same as before. hard work, but worth every effort for success.
   — Lise K.

December 18, 2005
whatever your body can handle. everyone is different. but take it very slow
   — flyrssuk

December 20, 2005
I have a great idea for you. I know it is very hard to change old habit real fast. You could start the way I did it and it worked for me. Fill out your plate as you always did before the surgery. Take a knife and devide the portion into 4, this way you will have 4 portion = 4 meals. Eat 1 portion now and save the rest for the next meal and the next meal and the following meal....... Good luck! Sooner or later with practice you will learn how to make smaller portion and how to listen to your body.
   — Dani96