Question:
I have no problem eating the max of 4oz soft foods?

It has been 3.5 weeks since Lap RNY and I have moved into the soft food phase of the diet. It says to "work up" to 4oz of food, 3x a day. Well I was immediately able to eat the 4oz of food and can even add a few saltine crackers along w/ it. Is this too much? Why do some people say they can only take a bite or two? I am worried that I am overeating or somehow stretching my pouch, even though I stick w/ the 4oz of food? I am losing very slowly- only 27lbs and only 2lbs in the last week? I am 5'4" and started at 247. I have been walking and doing Pilates daily. I need some advice!!    — Lesli J. (posted on October 19, 2002)

October 19, 2002
I am about the same as you - almost 3.5 weeks out from a lap RNY. I can eat about 4oz. of very soft food (like cottage cheese) if I go slowly and take my time. I always put a little in my mouth and chew it to death (yes, I even chew cottage cheese!). I usually stick to one Dixie cup of food though. That's about 3 oz. I haven't tried crackers yet. But I guess the soft stuff will go through the pouch faster than, say chicken or something. What blows my mind is that you are already doing pilates! That is serious abdominal exercise. There is no way I could be doing that yet! My doctor told me to do walking only for 6-8 weeks after surgery. I'm still uncomfortable sitting straight up from a laying postion! Wow!! And as for the weight loss, you are a lightweight so from what I've read on here, you will lose slower. I started at 333 lbs., so I have a LOT longer road! Be thankful you don't have as far to go!
   — ediecat

October 19, 2002
Hi...I don't think you're having any problems, but I know how we're all very sensitive to everything--especially in the beginnning. I'm almost 3 weeks post op and I definitely don't think you're a slow loser....I've lost only about 15 lbs so far and think I'm doing great! I may be wrong, but from what I've discussed with my surgeon..you seem to be on track.
   — Karen K.

October 19, 2002
I was told not to drink when I eat because it washes the food out of the pouch too fast and I wont feel full. Am 6 months postop and there are days that I can eat without problems and there are days I can hardly eat a few bites. Also I am not able to eat pastas and breads without having problems. I have a problem with fish (especially salmon which I love), I just start producing alot of mucos/spit and end up getting sick to my stomach. Guess the most important thing is to eat your protein first, filling up on that first. If you are not loosing you need to count your calories and increase you activities. I have a treadmill, if not walking is a great exercise. Some say you cant stretch a pouch, but I am betting that it is possible, so you need to be careful and not push the limits of nature. You want your new little pouch to last the rest of your life. And you want it to do what it was intended for.
   — Marty L.

October 19, 2002
a few things. First, are you talking 4 oz volume?? or weight? For a dense food, 4 oz could be a very small portion, but for a soft food like yogurt or cottage cheese, it wil go through faster. How long is it taking you to eat that much? Your meals should not last longer then 20 minutes. Are you drinking wiht your meals?? That is a definate no-no as it will wash the food out of your pouch faster. Your weight loss is great, keep up the good work!!
   — Vicki L.

October 20, 2002
You are doing just fine, especially in the weight loss area. Our stats are almost exactly alike, I am 5'3.5 and started at 249, lap RNY. 8 months later I am 85 pounds lighter and I believe at 1 month post op I had lost about 26 pounds. You are a lightweight and your weight loss is right on schedule. At about the 3-4 week post-op mark, most post-ops experience the first plateau. Its the bodies way of saying, "whoa, slow down there" and it can last for a few weeks to a month. Mine lasted almost 2 weeks, then the weight dropped again. So, don't fret, just stick to what the doc has said you should eat, always do protein first, try to get in lots of water, vitamins and exercise. 4 oz of soft food is not too much. Soft and liquidy foods go thru rather quickly. You'll find that you can eat more of these than the more dense foods. When you start eating the meats, thats another story. E-mail me if you'd like and we can talk more.
   — Cindy R.