Question:
HELP I think I've streached my pouch
Hello, I'm 6 weeks out and I think I have messed everything up. I think I have already streached my pouch. I can't eat as much as before, but I can eat more than 2 oz at a meal. I've eaten a whole 7 oz frozen dinner, roast beef, gravy, green beans, mashed potatos and was fine. What can I do to get back on track and make my pouch smaller???? — Robin W. (posted on December 29, 2003)
December 29, 2003
Did you drink fluids while you ate the meal? that will push the food
through and allow you to eat more.
— bikerchic
December 29, 2003
The mashed potatoes and gravy would go straight through and not stay in the
pouch. The liquid gravy would act almost like water in flushing out the
pouch.
Also, next time, skip the potatoes. They're just wasted calories/carbs
that we really don't need as posties. Eat the roast beef first (or chicken
or turkey), then your veggies.
Out of the 7oz dinner, probably only 2-2.5 ounces at most was protein
(roast beef). The rest was carbs - granted, the green beans are "good
carbs", but carbs nontheless and we really need to fill up on the
protein if possible.
Anyway, don't worry - you haven't messed anything up. Just make healthy,
protein first choices, avoid the white carbs (white bread, rice, potatoes,
pasta, etc.) and you'll do just fine.
— Carolyn M.
December 29, 2003
It doesn't sound like you messed up. remember different foods packs
different as it settles in your stomach. mash potatoes, gravy has no bulk
to it. so it takes less space. Just remember to watch the carbs, eat your
proteins first then veggies, and when you feel full stop, leave the rest.
plus no grazing in between meals. you will be alright.
open RYN
400/229/-171 lbs in 12 months
— Naes Wls J.
December 29, 2003
Hi, Robin! I was curious about this "pouch stretching" stuff,
too, so I decided to ask my surgeon's opinion on this issue. I asked if it
can be stretched, and if so, what are the causes. I received the following
reply via email: "The pouch expands and contracts naturally. The
stomach is a muscle, almost comparable to a water balloon, you can put in a
little or a lot. Most people who say they have stretched their pouch
haven't stuck to the program and are regaining weight. Hope this
helps." I can also tell you that, at almost 4 months out, sometimes I
can eat a lot more than other times, and it also depends on what I'm
consuming. Softer, less dense foods do not take up as much room in the
pouch, so you can eat a little more of them. I think the key to our eating
is to stay in touch with your "feelings of fullness," which as I
said, may be different on different days. But pay attention to when you
feel full, eating slowly (over about 15-20 minutes), and you should be
fine. This does not seem to be something you should obsess about, unless
of course you stop losing weight, or can begin to eat portions that are
obviously too much. In that case, your surgeon should check the mechanics
of your surgery to make sure everything is as it should be. Best wishes
for your continued success! Lap RNY 9/11/03, 254/200/???
— Carlita
December 29, 2003
A 7 oz meal all chewed up is not a 7 oz meal in the pouch. Now if you ate
7 oz of dense food, like chicken, thats different. Besides, sweetie, the
pouch is meant to stretch to some degree. You will not remain eating 2 oz
per meal forever. Eventually by a year or so post-op your 2 oz pouch will
be 6-10 oz in size. All totally normal. I wouldn't worry about trying to
make it smaller. As the others have said, I would have eaten the beef and
green beans and skipped the potatos. While I believe in eating carbs, only
after you have had the protein and veggie, and minimize them especially at
just 6 weeks out. You want to maximize your weight loss in these early
stages so be careful of carbs...
— Cindy R.
December 29, 2003
Thank you Everyone you've made me feel a lot better. I'm still at the soft
food stage and thought I'd really messed up. Robin W
— Robin W.
December 29, 2003
Hi Robin. I'm so glad you asked this. Sometimes I just feel so scared
that I'm messing everything up. Like at Thanksgiving, I felt super. I had
about a bite of everything, and a small piece of sugar free apple pie. But
then, I got really nervous that I had over eaten. And then last night, my
family and I went out for dinner, and I got two eggs over easy and could
only eat the whites of the eggs. Which I felt was the right amount for my
stage. Oh.. I just hope that I am doing everything right....
— Michelle J.
December 29, 2003
Remember studies show that pouch size has no correlation with long term
weightloss (and more importantly keeping it off).
That was almost all soft food. Can you eat 7 oz of white meat chicken?
Probably not.
My nutritionist says she has people who can eat that much at 4 weeks out.
Everyone is different.
— mrsmyranow
December 29, 2003
The mushier and more liquid the food, the more you can eat. My Dr. told us
to stay away from very mushy foods and heavy sauces. If you ate the meat
and gravy or meat and potatoes together it would flush out faster. Next
time eat the meat first with little or no gravy and you may see a big
difference. Best wishes - 4/2/03 283/185/175
— M B.
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