Question:
Some people say it is best to eat 6 or 8 small meals a day and eat every

2 or 3 hrs. What is the difference in this and grazing? This sounds like grazing. At 9 mos post op, I can eat 1/2 of a cantalope at one sitting. This was about 4 slices. I am horrified that it took this much to fill me up!    — [Anonymous] (posted on August 17, 2001)

August 16, 2001
Grazing is eating just for the sake of eating not because you need it. Planning out your meals and snacks gives you control over this. My typical day consists of a mini bagel and coffee for breakfast, a handful grapes or cup of some fruit for mid-morning snack, half a sandwich and a few pretzels for lunch, 1/2 cup of cottage cheese or 4oz of beef jerky for afternoon snack, dinner is usually 4oz of fish,chicken,pork or beef with 1/2 cup of veggies and sometime before I go to bed an ice cream sandwich or small bowl of ice cream. And I'm constantly drinking Crystal Lite all day. Some days it feels like I'm eating more often now than before surgery! The only difference is now I'm eating things that are good for me. Don't worry about the cantelope...I tend to do the same thing with watermelon. Since it's mostly water, a cup of cantelope chewed probably ends up being half of that in your tummy!
   — DolcezzaVT

August 17, 2001
Eating 6-8 meals a day is not grazing. It is eating healthy if you are eating the right kind of foods. I was told to eat this many "mini" meals cause with eating so little at one sitting only does the trick for a little while. Your body also needs this to keep your metabolism elevated. My dr. has stressed to me many times on how important it is to eat every 2-3 hours and that this will be the key/success to my surgery - RNY.
   — Penny Smith

August 17, 2001
Regarding a previous answer, most of the people I know, or have read about and communicated with on the 'net, have been instructed to eat 6 or 8 times a day - or about every three hours. Some have not of course, but it is a widespread recommendation from many, many Surgeons and nutritionists. All kinds of WLS surgery. I don't eat 8 times a day, but neither could I EVER eat three meals a day. I can hold such a small amount at one time that I'd never get anywhere NEAR adequate nutrition if I tried to eat only three times a day. (OpenVBG - 61 lbs GONE in 9.5 weeks!!)
   — Cathy J.

August 17, 2001
I guess that each doctor and/or nutritionist has his/her own protocal. In the beginning, I was instructed to have three square meals a day and one or two protein drinks. After 3 months, I was told to limit myself to three meals, five hours apart. I was told to make sure I ate enough so that I would not be hungry for five hours. I was told not to plan on snacks; but they weren't forbidden either. One year out, I eat three meals a day and sometimes a snack. Yesterday I ate a low fat blueberry muffin for breakfast, almost an entire chicken wrap (grilled chix with fresh mozzerella cheese, lettuce and tomato)for lunch and a turkey burger, roll, and half a knish for dinner. For a snack I had a pretzel. Wednesday, I ate 1/2 bagel with cream cheese for breakfast, some nachos and mozzerella for lunch, and half a chicken salad sandwich for dinner. For a snack I ate some frozen ff, sf yogurt (9 calories an ounce). Honestly, I usually eat much better than this; incorporating more veggies and less carbs. But I am usually not hungry most of the day.
   — [Anonymous]

August 17, 2001
I definitely graze. I eat every 2 hours(approximately). I have to! I only eat 100-300 calories at a time, and my stomach is growling a couple of hours later! It has worked for me! I weigh 130 pounds now (at 5'4"). I can't eat enough to stay full for five hours at a time! I can't imagine being told not to snack! I am just careful about my TOTAL calorie intake per day, not how often I put some of it in. The bottom line is calories, and eating the right amount to go with the weight you want to be and your activity level, so when/how often is irrelevant. At least I think so.
   — jenroberts

August 17, 2001
6 x 2 oz meals = 12 oz. 3 x 4 oz meals = 12 oz. Same food, but one holds your blood sugar & hunger level steady, one stretches your pouch and leaves you hungry in between. Grazing is cutting that cantaloupe up, leaving it on your desk in a bowl and eating 2 bites every 10 minutes. I'd rather see you eat 1 slice & a string cheese every 2 hours. You'll feel WAY more satisfied and begin to learn waht "comfortably full" and "comfortably empty" feel like, without having to experiences crazed with hunger vs overstuffed. Of course, I also use protein drinks in between all that, too.
   — vitalady

August 18, 2001
I was told to eat 6 small meals by my doctor. I had rather eat like this than to try and stretch out 3 square meals per day. I eat a lot of string cheese-great for my calcium and protein intake, salads,fruit, a small wendy's hamburger when I crave beef which is not often. I do not feel as hungry but there are days in which I forget to eat or not eat on a certain schedule. And then there are days I feel like I cannot stop eating. But it all balances out. I have lost 160 over the last 10 months-45 in the last 3 months.
   — Jan M.