Question:
3 meals vs. 6 smaller meals

i know every surgeon is different. it seems pretty much 50/50 on which they recommend. what do you think the difference is in terms of weight loss? i seem to be hungry every 2-3 hours and eat 5-6 smaller meals. my surgeon recommends 3 meals per day. am i going to compromise my weight loss?    — [Anonymous] (posted on December 12, 2001)

December 12, 2001
You didnt mention how far along are you in your post-op. As you said 5-6 small meals or 3 meal a day depends on the person and you will get an even split on this theory in the medical feed and non-professionals. There are NO HARD AND FAST proof on which is best. The more active you are, the more your body will require to fuel it and most athletic people go for the 5-6 small meals to spread out the nutritional reserve. As long as you are getting in your calorie requirements for your stage of post-op (proteins first, keeping your carbs in a reasonable range and monitoring those fats, getting in your water of a 64ozs, targetting towards a regular physical activity of at least 3 times a week for at least 30 mintues, (in the beginning this will be hard so pace yourself and work up to it as you begin to feel stronger) you should be doing fine. Everyone has to find a balance that works for them. The goal is to get healthy and the weight will come off in its time. Not sure if what I said has help but thats how I approach the situation.
   — Gwen M.

December 12, 2001
oops that word is medical field not feed.. DUH me
   — Gwen M.

December 12, 2001
My surgery was 6-20-01. My body has always required six small meals per day, until recently. Now, I am on three meals daily and doing just fine. My weight loss to date is 110# However, I do exercise daily. Good Luck :-)
   — Barbara B.

December 12, 2001
My experience is that I went with 6 meals a day. I eat every 2-3 hrs My capacity to get all my nutrition in for 3 meals is limited. When I was doing 3 meals I started grazing between. I regained wt between yrs 3 and 5. When I went to 6 meals or 3 meals/3 snacks if you prefer, It gave me permission to have a snack and the grazing stopped and I lost the regained wt and got down to maintenance. My surgeon now recommends eating 6 times a day to everyone, when I had my surgery in '94, she only recommended 3 meals. I think I am her *guinea pig* LOL Rita / rny 3/31/94 463/185
   — vt_rita

December 12, 2001
Like Rita, I'm a way out here now. We did the 5-6 tiny (1-2 oz) meals/day. Keep the pouch small, that was our doc's motto. The volume is about pouch size, not calories. Three 4 oz meals is the same as six 2 oz meals in calories. The difference being that the tiny meals sustain you better for the short haul on far less food. When you have to stuff to get full, then make it last, you are ravenous when you finally get to eat. On the days that circumstances have forced the 3 meal routine on me, I find myself spending a lot of brain cells THINKING about food and then falling upon it like a wild beast. I remain in control on the smaller more frequent portions. But NOT grazing.
   — vitalady

December 12, 2001
I am 12 weeks out now and have formed a little routine that is working pretty well for me. After my shower in the morning, I immediately start drinking water. After an hour of this (and usually 600 ml of water), I eat something, allowing myself about 20 minutes. Then I don't put anything in my mouth for the next 40 minutes. Then I drink water for another hour, etc, all through the day. I usually end up drinking more water than food though, and often only eat 4 or 5 times a day because I get too busy, and when very busy I just drink water or protein and don't eat.<br><br>I am down 73 lbs and 60 inches in 12 weeks so obviously this is working for me. :-) I can usually eat right around 600-750 calories with this regime; the higher number if I've had two 22 g protein drinks. HTH
   — Julia M.