Question:
11 months out and able to eat a lot....

Or not...I guess I'm not too worried about this yet but it did concern me that I was able to eat a whole piece of pizza (including the crust) and a small salad for lunch today. Granted I had nothing to eat at all and this was my first meal of the day (something I don't make a habit of but did because I'm travelling and couldn't get to eat without being late to a presentation). Anyway, there are still days where I have the capacity to eat that scares me, and days where I am stuffed after a few bites. I guess I'm just looking for those almost a year out to share their experiences with eating capacity. I don't feel full in the slightest. Just satisfied. Is this "normal" for 11 mos out? Thanks.    — Kimberly L. (posted on June 7, 2002)

June 7, 2002
If you really stop and think about it, how many slices of pizza could you have eaten before surgery. 3 or 4? I know I sure could. 1 slice of pizza and a small salad is totally acceptable at 11 months out. The main thing is to say more active than you used to be and start enjoying life after surgery. Unless you graze all day, this lunch will not add weight. Now if you get to 2 slices and a salad then you can get nervous. I think I'll have a slice tonight! Have a good week-end.
   — MARSHA D.

June 7, 2002
What I'm going to say isn't popular because most everyone has had the RNY procedure, but the "pouch" does stretch out over time (with the first year) whether you eat a lot or not. Kathi
   — Kathi S.

June 7, 2002
Hi, I will be one year out on June 26. I also feel that I can eat quite a bit sometimes, and other times I can hardly eat anything and I'm full. When I start to feel bad or guilty about eating too much, I tell myself that this surgery keeps me from OVER eating. I now eat like a normal person. That puts it into persepective for me. How many pieces of pizza do you think you would have eaten if you hadn't had the surgery? I ask myself that question too. Last night for supper I ate two pices of pizza, but mostly the toppings and just a little bit of crust, so it probably was the same as what you ate. Salad chews down to hardly anything. I know what you are fearing, because I fear the same thing - - gaining back the weight. I guess our struggle is never over, but it sure feels good to be this far out from surgery and enjoying life more than I have for a long, long time. Best wishes to you!
   — blank first name B.

June 7, 2002
Hi Kimberly. I don't feel what you ate to be excessive. As long as you are not causing yourself discomfort, I'm sure the "quantity" of this sort of meal is not going to send you down the "Road to Ruin". Personally, I eat pizza pretty often, but I leave the crust alone - I just eat the cheese and toppings. It's not that I'm some kind of "carbo-phobe". I've just always preferred the gooey stuff to the crust. (This surgery just gives me the opportunity to get away with this tactic. "Aww, Honey, you know us WLSers are really not supposed to eat a lot of bread." How can she argue that?!?). Good luck to you... Kevin
   — meilankev

June 7, 2002
I don't think that is too much. I ate nearly the same thing (2 slices of a personal pizza sans end crust and 1/2 small salad) earlier this week. I have found that if I wait too long to eat I eat more so I try to eat every few hours in small amounts. But still what you ate is not too much. At a year out I can sometimes eat 1 1/2 cups for lunch but not anywhere near that at other times of the day. =)
   — ctyst

June 7, 2002
To Kathi... Your pouch does not stretch that much if you are careful about not over eating. It may go from 30cc to 180cc You are able to eat more because it also heals. You will soon eat what a "normal " person might.
   — Robert L.

June 7, 2002
Thanks for the support y'all... I am active. Exercise a minimum of 4 days a week. And I am still losing. Like I said, I'm not particularly worried as I try to keep it in perspective. I got up this morning rushing to class (I'm the trainer so I can't be late :) didn't do my usual protein drink and basically sipped water til lunch so like one of the posters said, when you actually have hunger is when you can make those types of "bad" choices. I don't think pizza is the worst choice but had I not been hungry, a salad or soup would've been fine. I'm now back home and had a protein drink and probably will do another one before going to bed. But thanks again for your support and advice!
   — Kimberly L.