Question:
Nutritionist said at 18 months po I should be eating 4 oz at a time

but no more than 6 oz. After 6 oz we have stretched our stomach. I am scared I have stretched mine because I can eat the little 10 oz Stouffers lasanga with no problem. But when I eat chicken I can only eat like two fingers and I'm full. Am I doomed?    — [Deactivated Member] (posted on December 10, 2004)

December 10, 2004
Protein such as chicken, beef, pork, tuna has a tendancy to be denser and it fills you up faster. I would say that the 10 oz of the Stouffers meal is a little too much. I still can eat only 1/2 cup or 8 tbls of food for one of my 3 meals and I am 19 months out. Try and do the cottage cheese test to see how much you can get in in 5 minutes.
   — ChristineB

December 10, 2004
she meant volume not weight. put the lasagna into a measuring cup and see how much volume it has.
   — **willow**

December 10, 2004
My take on this is that the lasagne is mostly carbs, so you can naturally eat much more. I can usually eat 2 to 3 times more food when it is high in carbs than when it is a protein, so I tend to avoid carbs as a rule. Protein is much more filling, and better suited to meet the needs of your body post-op. Also, from what I understand, 4 oz. is the maximum amount that you should ever eat at one time, forever, once you have the surgery. Any more, and you will stretch out your pouch, and gain weight.
   — [Deactivated Member]

December 10, 2004
It is so funny how differant everyones nutritionist and docs are mine says that at 12 months 8oz and then stay at that. And they only have a couple patience that after two or more years have started gaining back. and they drink pop on a regular basis. I would watch the caloric and carb intake more than anything. Best WIshes
   — Shell G

December 10, 2004
How much space does it take up? Chop it up with a fork a bit, toss it in a measuring cup. How much is there? Then the other question is, over how much time? If you consider that your meal is over in 15-20 minutes and anything beyond that is grazing, are you able to eat it comfortably in that time or do you have to graze it to get it in? So, I guess my overall question is, just how much do you really think you are eating/getting? Is it a grazing thing or is there really not THAT much volume there. I can't test it, cuz I don't like it. Yuck. But measure it out and see for your own self.
   — vitalady

December 13, 2004
This is kinda in response to Janis. Each doctor will create a different size pouch on different patients. The original poster did not specify what her starting pouch size was. For me, my pouch was originally 4 ounces. So now that I am over three years out...I can certainly eat more than 4 ouces, and that is expected.<br><br>But like everyone else has said, carbs are easier to eat, mushy stuff will move right on thru and don't get confused by the difference in 10oz in weight and 10oz in fluid measurement. Best of luck.
   — RebeccaP