Question:
Post-ops, please help!!

Will I always be eating just 2 oz of food? I am 3 weeks post-op Lap RNY, and am following the rules to the letter. Right now I am on pureed foods, and moving on to soft foods next week. I'm just wondering, will I always be measuring my 2 oz of whatever I eat? Does it ever increase (on purpose, that is!)? The reason I'm asking is because I am hungry most of the day, except of course for about an hour or so after I've eaten my 2 oz. Am I normal?? (My nutritionist STRONGLY recommends eating only 3 times a day, which I am doing.)    — LaRayne H. (posted on April 2, 2002)

April 2, 2002
It won't be long and you'll be eating more than 2 oz. And I don't know how anyone (after WLS) can eat only three meals a day. I like several small meals. But whatever works for you. ;) I usually don't measure food (although it does help at first). I put my food on SMALL plates or tiny bowls. That way I'm getting what looks like a full (or mostly full) dish.
   — Danmark

April 2, 2002
I am 14 days post op - LAP - RNY and started by eating only 2 oz of liquids & creamed foods (and was hungry every 2 hours). On day 10 I moved up to pureed foods, bread-sticks, softly scrambled eggs, yogurt, tuna and immediately felt intense satisfaction. Variety of foods helped. I also listened to my body - I am able to eat about 3 - 4 oz total each meal and I am no longer hungry.
   — Yvette W.

April 2, 2002
I'm sorry, 2 oz of food is not enough fuel to run a body for more than about 2 hours. I'd rather see you eat 1-1.5 oz every 2 hours, and get less total food (if you want) than to use the starve & stuff method of waiting til you're ravenous and cannot think about anything other than food. I still do 4 meals & 6 proteins a day.
   — vitalady

April 2, 2002
This seems to be something we all go through. Don't worry if you went through this surgery you have enough stores to last a while. I'm 9 weeks out and am eating 650 kcal. I wouldn't think that would be enough fuel but it is. Follow your surgeons recomdations. People write here are all well meaning but your surgeon is a professional who is MOST fimilar with your case you trusted him with your life so listen to him about your diet. You are not normal you are exceptional.------ Good Luck
   — Robert L.

April 2, 2002
LaRayne, 2 oz. 3x a day is simply not enough to convince your metabolism that you are not starving! Please consider adding more tiny protein meals during the day. Eventually, your tummy will hold more and you can cut back on the number of times you can eat, but if you're hungry at 3 wks. post op, your body is telling you "I need fuel!" At 6.5 mos. out, I still eat 4 or 5 times a day but rarely more than a a total 6 oz. at any one time, and I do not generally feel HUNGRY. Also, BTW, eventually you can recognize what 2 oz. looks like on your dishes. Until I could, I used to keep a shot glass on the table to remind me what 1 oz. looks like. Worked for me.... Good luck to you. Margie B
   — Marjorie B.

April 2, 2002
Is your nutritionist a specialist in WLS? The reason I ask is because almost everything I have read in my research and my own doctor recommend small meals every 2-3 hours. That helps keep your metabolism steady throughout the day, helps keep you feeling full and satisfied, and helps you get in the calories you need at this early stage to keep your body from going into starvation mode and hanging onto the fat instead of purging it. As you get further along (no you won't have to measure your food =) it helps to keep eating frequent small meals because if you wait too long between meals you will overeat because you will be too hungry. Sometimes nutritionists get in a "diet" mentality. THIS IS NOT A DIET. You cannot maintain diets because they are based on deprivation. If you use your pouch they way it is designed to be used you will lose the weight and you will not be miserable doing it. I eat protein with every meal and eat every 2-3 hours. I can and will do that for the rest of my life. I almost NEVER feel deprived. If I am hungry, I eat. Don't set yourself up for failure! Do what makes sense to you. If it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. Good luck and happy losing!
   — ctyst

April 3, 2002
Your pouch will slowly stretch to about the size of a lemon. I am 13 months post-op now and never measure my food. I just stop when I'm full, which is usually at about 1/2 to 3/4 c. of food.
   — Terissa R.

April 3, 2002
Hi, I too am in the Denver area, and have the same surgeon, Dr. Tillquist, as you. I am 8 months out, have lost a little over 140 lbs, with 55 more go. I eat approx, 6 mini meals a day, and I don't measure them anymore. But I guesstimate they are around 3 to 4 ounce each, sometimes less, and maybe sometimes more. I let my pouch tell me when I am full. Dr. T is well aware of my diet and is fine with what I'm doing. Your nutritionist may want you only to eat three meals a day, but what does Dr. T think? You have to do what is comfortable with you. Nutritionists are there to help, but they don't live your life, if you aren't satisfied eating three meals a day, then try an extra meal , and see how you feel. I've dabbled with my diet here and there as you can see in my profile, and sometimes it takes times to get that right fit. Good luck to you!
   — Carey N.