Question:
how much should i be eating

I am 3 months post op and dont count cal. I measure my food. I have been eating 1/2 cup 5 times a day. This last week i have been very hungrey. So today I increased my supper to 1 cup. Is this to much too soon. I was full but not overly. I have lost 55 lbs so far.    — pinky_711 (posted on March 4, 2009)

March 4, 2009
I am just over a year out I count ccalories and serving size. I do not do any servings over 6 oz, ie. 2/3 cup of solids and I eat around 3 times a day and have a couple of low carb protein shakes too. Have lost 123 pounds gone from size4 28-30 to size 8-10 Sandra
   — sandrainpodunk

March 4, 2009
My doctor says I don't need to worry about calories or portion size as long as I only eat veg and protiens and do not eat beyond being full. I am still losing so this works. I do eat some carbs and they said to cut these out if my weight loss stops. I am 8 months out and have lost 73 lb since surgery. 93 all together.
   — trible

March 4, 2009
my credo is and has always been, eat only the amount you are allowed. I am nearly 5 yrs post-op, and my protocol is still half cup 3 times a day, with a protein shake in the morning, and if i am hungry, which is almost never, then a shake at bedtime. I have lost 230 lbs, and i firmly believe i have had no wt gain to date is because i still measure my foods, still limit the cals, under 1000, protein 110-120 a day, keep the carbs 30 and under.( i use fitday for this ) You have to find your own path, but first are the food amount rules. Good luck , great job so far. Cindi M.D. retired -230# maintaining 3.24.04
   — DollyDoodles

March 4, 2009
I had the VSG. At my 2 mos nutrition class, it was said that I should be able to eat 1 cup three times a day with two small snacks. I'm near 4 mos. I eat 1/2 cup two times a day and drink protein drinks to help supplement my in take. I have a hard time getting 1/2 cup down. I do feel hungry even though I the stomach producing the hunger hormone was removed. I think mine is a head hunger though. Even though I have that head hunger, I still can't much down. If your stomach starts feeling sore, you should cut back on the food. I don't know how much I've helped but best wishes on using your new tool. Hugs.
   — Corina C

March 4, 2009
Hi Shelly. Congrats on the surgery!! I can only tell you of my experience so far and what my surgery center has offered for guidance. I am 8 1/2 months out, have lost 107 lbs and am 3 lbs from goal. I am 44 yrs old and 4 foot 10 inches tall. My center tells us to eat 3 meals ONLY while losing . To maintain..you may have to eat more, but in the losing stages eat only 3 meals. Measure your food. I eat 3-4 ounces a meal~-at 3 months it was 2 ounces-~ Thats usually 4-6 bites. I wait 5 minutes between bites and never exceed the 30 minute rule. Tho I admit that some foods I tend to eat closer than 5 minutes each bite these days..Like if I am eating sf pudding or something smooshie. I do count calories. I am on a daily amount of 700-1000 calories a day.This comes from me, not the center..the center recommends 600-800. I consume 60-70 grams of protein a day and I drink anywhere from 75-100 ounces daily. If you don't mind my saying so, ..try drinking when you feel hungry. It could be head hunger. Usually drinking will help that. Find more to drink to mix things up so it doesn't get boring. I heat up v-8 and add garlic and black pepper. I "eat" sugar free fudgies, drink soup broth, boullion, plain old water and flavored water. What does your center recommend? I would try to cut back on portion size. You don't want to stretch out the pouch. And above all, use this time to re evaluate how you think about food. Its fuel, not pleasure anymore. You will lose weight, you will feel good and you will want to keep it off. Good luck to you on your journey and God Bless! Hugs, Kim
   — gpcmist

March 5, 2009
You should be eating only til you are no longer hungry...That full feeling is NOT something you want to aim for often as that causes the pouch to stretch.If you feel any fullness it is STRETCHING you feel...Doubling your food portions is quite a huge jump...You need to only add a bite or two extra if you are still hungry...But not a double serving... You will have days you can eat more than other days...or less than normal even...Go with those feelings and eat more or less...This keeps your metabolism peeked! When you eat the same exact small amounts and low calories and super low carbs day in day out and do the same exact exercise routines/without kicking it up or changing the intensity now and then... day in day out, you train your metabolism to run on very little (starvation mode) rather than enjoy a nice revved metabolism that allows you to eat more (cals, carbs, volume) and still maintain your weight with no gains and have energy too! The first year, you really just need to learn your pouch signals and warnings and fullness and what the new kind of hunger feels like...After the weight is lost, it a great time to start measuring so you don't begin eating more and more and risk gaining weight...Just my opinion and what works great for me! If you decide to eat very low calories, Super low carbs and very small volumes of food, you need to stick to it or any wavering will cause you to gain at first...I see it all the time...People come back saying "i am doing the same things and all of a sudden I am gaining...That's your body storing whatever energy and fat it can in starvation mode!
   — .Anita R.