Question:
HELP!!! Is this all in my head??

Today I ate 1 can of vienna sausages spaced out over two meals. That breaks down to 2.5 servings and each serving is 48 grams. And with both meals, I had a total of 6 wheat crackers. I am now 5 weeks post op and find myself constantly worrying about staple line disruptions and the fact the I've been sitting on a plateau since July 1 isn't helping. I saw my surgeon today and he said that I'm doing fine (down 30+ pounds) and that plateaus happens and that it shall pass. I drink plenty of water (1 gallon a day) and exercise for 30+ minutes at least four days a week. So, how do I convince myself that I'm not overeating?????    — George B. (posted on July 18, 2002)

July 18, 2002
Wow, can I relate to what you are saying. I always feel like I am overeating. I am five weeks out also. I often have lunch with friends and I see what they are eating.... and that's when how little I am actually consuming hits me. I can only eat one or two meals a day and it usually just consist of a protein. Today for lunch I had about 1/2 of a meatball, and for dinner some fish.... I know it's all in my head and that I am not overeating, I mean if I was I am sure it would come back up... it has before. I guess it's all about adjusting... I feel nervous that this is not going to work for me, but it is... I just need to relax. Until it goes away, I guess eating with "normal people" will allow me to visualize just how little I am consuming.
   — gloria M.

July 18, 2002
Hi I am nearly eight months post op and I hate to say it but that seems like a lot to eat. I couldn't eat that much now. At five weeks I was barely able to eat 2 oz of soup at a meal, most of the time I was not able to finish that. You may want to talk to your surgeon or his dietician. I know each surgeon is different but it seems you have moved ahead kind of quickly as to what you eat and how much. I am not critizing you because you are most likely doing what you were told to do. As far as convincing yourself that what you eat is not too much, that is the hard part. I still don't always buy into it but it does get easier with time. I am looking to find a good counselor once my new health insurance kicks in to help me with that. Try not too eat too much and take care, you will do fine. Let us know how you do.
   — purdue_1993

July 18, 2002
Go out to eat somewhere! I am 5 weeks post-op, too, and had been feeling the same way. Then I actually went out to eat a couple times with friends and was amazed at what I actually ate. I think our minds get used to the small portions we are eating. When we go out to a restaurant, it is easy to really see how little we eat now. I could only eat like about 5 bites of a tuna melt one time, and another time I could only eat like 1/4 the cup of split pea soup I ordered.
   — Jennifer Y.

July 18, 2002
To determine and/or convince yourself that you either are or are not overeating, track everything you eat daily on www.fitday.com, which will run a report and show you where improvement is or is not needed. I can tell you for sure that I was able and willing to eat more 5 weeks out than 8 weeks out. If you find you truly need to cut back on your calories (though if you are losing wait, do you really?), I would suggest 5 days with carbs kept under 10 grams. This will kick you into ketosis, which has an appetite suppressing side effect, and I found that it totally recalibrated me three weeks ago. Good luck. Post back so we know what you decided, or what worked!
   — Karen F.

July 19, 2002
George, I know exactly what you mean. I was worried when after 2 weeks I was able to eat a bowl of cereal without getting full. Then I started going out to eat and every time I finish my meal, even on an airplane, the waiter/flight attendant would ask me if there was somethig wrong with the meal and did I want something else. I then realized how little I was actually eating. Congrats on the weight loss. - Mike
   — Michael N.

July 19, 2002
George, listen to your doctor and stop stressing about food. Plateaus do happen and the first one seems to hit at about the 3 week post-op time frame and can last for several weeks. Just stay off the scale for a while to reduce your stress-it will pass, trust me! Continue drinking the water, exercising and eating good protein meals. Keep the carbs low and the sugar low, and try to avoid too much snacking, and it will start moving again.
   — Cindy R.