Question:
I am 5 1/2 months post op, and I am eating way more than I should be!!!

I know I am. For example last week in New Orleans, I stopped at a restaurant and got some battered shrimp. They appeared BIG. I ate 6 of the shrimp, minus the breading, and a couple bites of the beans from red beans and rice. I felt full.. but not like I was over done! And a couple days later, I ate almost one whole biscuit with sausage gravy on it. I realize the biscuit isn't probably a great food choice, but I still ate just about the whole thing. But then--I feel overstuffed if I eat one egg. What the heck is going on with me?? I get so confused all the time about everything I'm doing. Not much makes sense when I can eat 6 shrimp, but get stuffed on one egg. Can anyone shed some light on this? I know I'm doin' ok, Last time I checked I was down 112 lbs, and that was 3 weeks ago. Oh.. by the way (BIG SMILES) I FIT in my airline seat, and DIDN'T need an extender!! Michelle J. 10/13/03 425/306/200?    — Michelle J. (posted on March 22, 2004)

March 22, 2004
OK here is what is going on when you have gravy on something it is easier for it to go down so you can eatlot more. That is one of the reasons they do not want you to drink when you eat. a egg is dry so it fills you faster. I hope this helps
   — Rosemary L.

March 22, 2004
The amounts we can eat at different stages varies widely among us. It doesn't sound to me that you are able to eat all that much. I'm a little over 6 months out, and that's about what I can eat. (Example: last night I ate 3/4 of a half-chicken breast, about 1/4 C of green beans, and maybe 1/2 C of mashed potatoes.) I think shrimp would probably shrink down a good bit after chewing, so it doesn't seem out of line that you ate 6. If you measured the weight of it, I'll bet it wasn't much more than 2 or 3 ounces. The other poster was right about the gravy, too. It makes everything softer and easier to digest. I usually use gravy with chicken to make it a little easier to get down. Also, one egg can fill me up usually, but I ate one the other day with 2 strips of bacon, and wasn't overly full.<p>It sounds like you're doing fine. Congratulations on your success! Lap RNY 9/11/03, 254/180/???
   — Carlita

March 23, 2004
Oh heavens you are so not alone and this is entirely normal. I too am surprised sometimes at what I can eat, versus what I can't, in terms of volume. I buy two rainbow trout filets for myself. Now, once I pull off the meat and were I to weigh it, it is likely just about 4oz. The meat on those filets is thin. If all I ate was salmon, I'm sure I could eat 6oz easy. Or walleye. Add in some veggies though, and I'm back to 2 or 3 oz. 6 even large shrimp doesn't seem out of line. Just keep in mind they were deep fried and still have lots more calories from the oil - yes even if you didn't eat the breading. Just stick to eating SLOW and not drinking with meals (I do sip occasionally, and when out to eat will take more sips, yes to eat more, but I am very aware that I am doing it, and balance the more calories at the meal with a few lighter calorie days.) The point of this surgery, if this point-of-view it works for you, is that this is a TOOL. You still have to change your eating habits and lifestyle to have it work. The TOOL can't do it all. Even if you only could eat a "very little" all the time, but if you ate crap all day long, the TOOL won't do it for you. So IMHO don't stress about each meal each time "wow I ate so much" but focus on balancing out what you do eat. I write down everything I eat, I keep a spreadsheet, to tell me my various averages (protein, calories, fiber) - I track the current day, a 3 day, a 7 day, 14 day, and 28 day average. This way if I have a day where I eat more, I can see to have a day where I eat less. I don't stress over larger meals of salmon or trout because it is simply spiced and baked, and there's no harm there. I COULDN'T eat 6oz of beef, period. And wouldn't. But if I did, I could adjust for it in the days after by having lower calorie things. Don't stress over how much you CAN eat, and don't purposely try to get around the rules. Someone here said, and I think of it often, "just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD." Balance, balance, balance all things in life and it all works out. Good Luck! oh, and for a while being able to eat more of some things than I thought I should was stressing me out, but now that I am back tracking it all, I know that in total, I'm doing ok. You will get used to this, just remember to be HONEST to yourself about WHAT and HOW MUCH you are eating, there ain't no elf sitting on your shoulder to stop you, it is up to you. Some treats are ok, but treats everyday, for some, adds on pounds. I'll stop rambling now!
   — Calleigh Q.