Question:
I am 4months post-op.My doctor tells me I should only be eating 3/4 cup total?

I can eat more and often do. Please tell me what others at this stage are doing. Thank you.    — Monique W. (posted on October 23, 2002)

October 23, 2002
Monique, I had this problem at about your stage too, and I wrote to a friend who had had the surgery a few months before I had. She reassured me that sometimes, I was going to be able to eat "a lot" compared to other days when I might be able to only get down a slice of cheese or a bit of turkey breast. Sure enough, that is the way it went. Still does, at 13 months. Some days it seems I have a HUGE appetite (though it's nothing compared to what it was pre-op) and other days I feel like one of those models who go through life picking at their lettuce leaves. I don't seem to have much control over this. Seems like my body's in charge, and so far, it hasn't let me down. If you want to reassure yourself, you can go to a site like Nutrawatch, and keep a food journal for yourself. For a small extra fee (something like $12 per year) you can also fill in your exercise activities, and see what your daily "calorie deficit" is. So far, I've never gone above about -400 calories -- that is, each day, according to my height and weight, I'm eating less than I need to stay at my current weight. In fact, I'm working right now on getting my calories UP, rather than keeping them down. I've lost enough weight, and my face is starting to look kinda hollow and sunken. Don't worry, you will get to this place too! (Yay for hollow, sunken faces! LOL)
   — Karen I.

October 23, 2002
Try fitday.com. It is a free service to track your food intake, exercise and weight goals. Also, 400 calories a day is too low. From what I have researched at four months you should be aiming for 600-800 calories (some doctors say 1000). Otherwise, your body will go into starvation mode and stop giving up the weight. Keep in mind that even sitting still your body burns more calories then you can possibly take in right now. That is the key to weight loss, burn more calories then you take in. As far as the 3/4 cups goes, it will depend on the density of the food you eating. 3/4 cup of creamy mash potatoes will not fill you up the same as 3/4 cup of meat. I hope this info helps. Cheryl Lap RNY 5mos -88lbs
   — Cheryl S.