Question:
Eating too much?

My surgeon thinks I am eating to much. I am 14 weeks post op and I told him I had a hard boiled egg and a cranola bar for breakfast, eaten within a half hour. I was full but not stuffed. Does this sound like too much to anyone else? I also can eat a whole sandwhich but only on toasted bread, skipping the crust. I am really worried I might have a staple line disruption. Can anyone give me an idea what they can consume at 3 months or so post-op?    — Mattsmom34 (posted on September 19, 2001)

September 19, 2001
Hi Wendy, I'm about 13 weeks post and could probably eat a hard boiled egg and maybe half a granola bar. I know I couldn't eat a whole sandwich though -- toasted bread or not. But maybe I could do it in 1/2 an hour. My problem is that I eat too fast. Anyway, is your surgeon willing to do an upper GI just to see what's what? If he thinks you're eating too much, then maybe he's comparing you to other patients. How do you feel about it? There are days where I feel like I could eat all day, then days where it is really a chore. I guess I didn't really answer your question huh? I think I could eat an egg and a whole granola bar in a 1/2 hour but I think I wouldn't want to. Hope that helps. Good luck!
   — Kimberly L.

September 19, 2001
At 3 months, I could probably have eaten that much in 1/2 hour. I always felt surprised at how much I could eat, but then I've lost 88 pounds in 9 months, which is fine for me. So no, I don't think it's necessarily too much, as long as you are not feeling like you are stuffing yourself all the time. If you are really concerned, maybe try eating the egg first, then waiting 1/2 hour before eating the granola bar. You may find that after waiting, you don't really want the granola bar. Just a suggestion. Good luck.
   — Maria H.

September 19, 2001
Man! I feel for you...this learning to eat thing is an adventure, isn't it? I am almost 4 months post op and have lost 73 pounds. Some days I barely eat anything and I'm stuffed...other days...it's a bottomless pouch! Nowhere near the bottomless PIT I had before....but definately more than I thought I'd be able to. Try not to stress over it too much. Make the best food choice you can....forgive yourself for being human...even a few wrong food choices won't kill your progress entirely. It doesn't sound like a staple line disruption to me...before surgery I'll bet you could have eaten a heck of a lot more than ONE sandwich and a granola bar! We put so much into this surgery..the worry, the sacrifice, the pain and the horror of past failures that we often beat ourselves up unnecessarily if things don't go exactly as we thought they would afterwards. It'll be okay. Be kind to yourself...you've done a great and courageous thing. Try not to obsess over this...let your body lead you....it's speaking a new language and it's gonna take some time for you to understand it...in the meantime...give yourself a hug from your amos family and relax :>)
   — Sharon L.

September 20, 2001
You have to remember that your pouch is continually passing your food into your intestine and that is why you are able to eat the quantity that you mentioned. You still lose the weight because your body is not able to absorb all of the fat and calories because of the rate your food passes through. I am now able to eat a "normal" meal as far as choices but the quantity is still a "child" serving or less. I find that snacking throughout the day works for me, I think it has helped to raise my metabolism and helps me to continue to burn fat. My one year anniversary is Sept. 26, and I have lost 197 lbs so far. I was in size 30-32 and now in 18 pant (men's 38 jean) and 16 or 18 tops. I feel great and have not dumped or gotten sick in a long time. Remember to east slow, chew your food well and only eat until your hunger has subsided. That is what I meant by the snacking, I try not to "get hungry" because that is when I over do it and feel miserable. Thank God for Low Fat Cheez-it Crackers! Hope this helps- Welcome to the other side!
   — Brenda A.