Question:
Nutritionist says to graze
I'm pre-op, with open RNY scheduled 1/9. Met with nutritionist tonight and she advised that post-ops need to "graze" for the long term. She said that we should plan for very small food intake approx every 1/2 hour, from now on. She said that is better for everyone -- not just WLS patients -- although maybe not as drastic as it will be for us. She insists that if we eat larger "meals" 3 times a day that we will get too hungry in between, will eat more than we should, will stretch our pouch, and sabotage our weight loss effort. This is almost exactly opposite from what I've been reading here. Can anyone help me? I'm confused. — Linda W. (posted on December 17, 2001)
December 17, 2001
Today is my 3 month anniversary. I started out eating 3 meals a day. But,
I was hungry. I started going to the fridge, looking in cabinets...looking
for my next fix. Exactly what I was doing before--except this time I'd
stop myself and I'd suffer until meal time. Then I decided that I needed
to eat more. I usually can eat 4 times a day; but since that's against my
surgeon's and other surgeon's reccomendations, I always feel guilty. But,
I've lost 86 lbs and it seems to be doing me some good. Other people that
I have known have since started eating 4-6 small meals a day and they feel
better and the weight is coming off faster too. But, you really can't
apply any of the information you're recieving until after your surgery.
Things will always be based on how you feel that particular day. From then
on, it's whatever works.
— Kristin R.
December 17, 2001
I AM So happyto hear that the nutritionist encourages grazing. It is what
I have been doing. In attempting to eat three somewhat meager meals, I
notice an increase in carb ingestion. Definitely not a good thing. I
think I will follow the 5-8 minimeals plan. I work from 9-9 many nights so
this would really fit the bill.
— michelle R.
December 17, 2001
Well, sorta. If you eat every half hour, you will strech your pouch
PAINLESSLY. But if you have 5-6 distinctive "meals" a day, you
will feel comfortably full, comfortably empty and park the pouch size at
the meal size. If you can hold yourself to a 1-2 oz meal every 2-3 hours, I
think you will feel satisfied, and be pleased with maintaining your small
pouch size until goal wt. I agree with her about the 3 large meals being a
huge error, b ecause we become RAVENOUS in that long stretch, then overeat
to overcome the next famine period and do on.
— vitalady
December 17, 2001
I am 4 1/2 months post-op and I also "graze" daily for my meals.
I found when I tried to eat a meal just 3x a day I would have to
"cheat" in between with something and I was heading back to old
habits of something sweet. Then I realized that if I grazed only on those
things I am supposed to eat anyway, like a slice of turkey rolled up in a
piece of low fat cheese or a hard boiled eggI felt less hungry through out
the day. If you do graze though you have to make sure you don't graze on
junk!! You have to be very careful because the calories can add up quickly.
— Elizabeth C.
December 17, 2001
I am glad that everyone who has answered thusfar AND the Nutritionist feel
that numerous small meals is the way to go. I am 7 weeks post-op and I have
been going through hell trying to eat three times a day. My pouch is so
small. When the foods are solid, I just can't get down more than 1.5
ounces. There is no way that I can get in enough food to survive on 4.5
ounces per day. It is not even like stretching my pouch is an option. If I
eat even 2 ounces, I get really ill and throw up the whole meal. For the
past two days, I have been eating about 6 or 7 one once meals and I feel
100 times better. I keep everything down, my breath is not horrible and I
have a lot more energy. I don't feel as though this will cause me to slip
into old habits. I feel as though this will allow me to survive without
suffering from malnutrition!
— Julie S.
December 17, 2001
I have always thought of grazing as snacking when not really hungry,
therefore staying full all day long. But eating many small meals during
the day is the way to go. I get hungry about every 2 hours and eat about
1-2 oz./meal. I really don't eat unless I am hungry. Eating smaller more
often also keeps your metabolism up. Maybe this IS called grazing. But
whatever you call it, it works!!
— Cheri M.
December 17, 2001
I have always been told that numerous small meals was far superior to 3
bigger ones; aside from the WLS reasons, you remain in a sort of state of
digestion and do not suffer the highs and lows of blood sugar. And my
post-op nutritionist said the same, so I eat about every 2 hours. I'm
never really hungry or full, but I make myself eat at those intervals.
Nothing but, maybe a piece or 2 of string cheese, turkey hotdog cut up,
something with protein.
— scottiemaam O.
December 17, 2001
What your nutritionist has told you is opposite of what most RNY surgeons
and those experienced in gastric bypass say. I would print a copy of the
article
<p>"UNDERSTANDING THE FUNCTION OF THE SMALL GASTRIC POUCH;
APPLICATION TO POST-OP TEACHING AND EVALUATION
By Latham Flanagan, Jr., M.D., FACS"<p>
for your nutritionist and take it to her.
<p> You can find the article at <p>
http://gastricbypass.netfirms.com/understandingsmallgastricpouch.htm
<p>
Also, she might want to read up about the functions of the pouch on the
website of the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons. Just because she
knows nutrition, she might not know a lot about bariatric surgery.
— [Anonymous]
December 18, 2001
I agree with my surgeon's recommendation: Eat when you are hungry and stop
when you are satisfied. I don't feel deprived like I do on a diet and my
schedule is my own. I usually eat a very small breakfast, a mid-morning
meal, a late lunch, very small mid-afternoon meal, and dinner. I eat
anywhere from 1/2 oz to 5 oz depending on how hungry I am and what I am
eating. It works for me. And I don't focus on food all day. I just sorta
notice, "Hey, I'm hungry!" and take care of it. I think the
mini-meals keep your metabolism awake. At 1300 calories a day or so, I
believe I am eating just a little less than a "normal thin
person." And I eat pretty much what I want (in moderation:).
— ctyst
December 18, 2001
I'm glad you mentioned this about grazing. I think I'm going to try it. I
just can't stand waiting five hours or so to eat. And I think it is messing
my methabolism up as well. If I'm not so hungry I can make better eating
choices too. Sounds good to me!
— Danmark
December 18, 2001
Your nutritionist doesn't understand the mechanics of the pouch.
I got bad advise from a nutritinist in the beginning also...and I
never did reach my goal. She advised me to eat 5 small meals a day
and never told me to limit carbs. The food plan she gave me was
actually heavy on carbs. I discovered how wrong she had been when I
started visiting this site and when I started doing some research. If
you graze now, you will never break the habit and you won't be taking
advantage of this quick loss period. Eat three meals a day...eat your
protein first, then your veggies and then some carbs/starches. If you
drink your water and other sugar/calorie free drinks between meals, you
won't get hungry. If you absolutely have to eat something between meals,
eat protein or drink a protein shake. In the first year, your pouch is
very small; so, if you eat the right foods and drink your water, you don't
get hungery.
— [Anonymous]
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