Question:
Am I Eating too Much!?!?!
I have never been able to eat as much as I did today. For breakfast I had about 1/3 of a pack of instant grits. For a snack b/t lunch, I had a string cheese thing. At Lunch, I had 2 small pieces of pizza. For snack that afternoon, I had another string cheese. And finally, for dinner I had a WHOLE can of cream of chicken soup, and later another small piece of pizza and 1/2 a cup of sugar free ice cream! I didn't hurt at all today! I'm just scared that my stomach has stretched, I am only out 3 weeks. I drank all my water today and I am down 32 lbs. I just need a little encouragement and advice! Thank you! — Robyn P. (posted on August 5, 2002)
August 4, 2002
To me that seems close to grazing. Our pouches are small, but they do
empty after about an hour. You can eat the same amount of food you eat at
every meal if you do it every couple of hours. I would just be careful of
how many times a day you eat. It doesn't seem like you eat that much at
one sitting, but maybe try to only eat 3 times a day.
— Jennifer Y.
August 4, 2002
Hi, I kind of agree with the grazing thing, except that some surgeons
suggest 5-6 small meals each day. A few things that I would suggest you
watch...soup, especially a cream soup, should not be concidered a meal. IT
goes through to fast and does not have alot of protein in it. It will count
as a liquid though. Also, lots of fat usually. The soup for dinner is
probably the reason that you ate a whole meal later. The amounts you are
eating are pretty normal. If you are concerend that you are eating too
much, keep track on Fitday.com. That will tell you your calories, fat carbs
and other nutrients. Then you can take a print out to your doc or dietician
and they will evaluate it. Good Luck!!
— Vicki L.
August 4, 2002
Is it time for your period???? I do the same thing each and every month
for a day or two then when I do start I have to MAKE myself eat for 3-4
days....Just a hormone thing I guess....
— Joi G.
August 5, 2002
Hi R ~ I hear all the time of people being concerned with stretching their
pouch or whatever - I personally have never thought twice about it. Even
if it stretched out to maximum density - its still over 3/4 smaller than it
was before. I still can't down a piece of pizza - I can eat the topping
off of the top of one or two pieces, if I eat really slow and carefully but
that wasn't able to happen until I was about 3 to 3 1/2 months out but
everyone is different. I have difficulty with bread, in general. The
crust is what gets to me. Your weight loss is good though and you'll be
amazed how good you start to feel. Try not to waste your time worrying
about the "what ifs" of the surgery - it can be overwhelming
afterwards and that's certainly not what we went through all the pain &
agony for. Enjoy your new life - believe me, your stomach will certainly
let you know what is okay and what is not okay. Good luck to you.
— Lisa J.
August 5, 2002
Sounds like your quantities are fine except a whole can of soup??? That's
a lot, but since it's soup, I guess that's probably not bad. I avoid
soup(doctor's orders). My doctor says solid food, as permitted by the
schedule he gives, will keep you satisfied longer and provide you with more
nutrients. If you are able to eat pizza, try eating something that is more
substantial like baked fish or grilled shrimp. Just make sure you chew
really well. Try fatfree refried beans to get some protein. The day's menu
you described seems a little low on the protein side and high in fat. Fat
makes me dump just like sugar. Everyone is different...I couldn't eat more
than 2 medicine cups of any kind of food (I used the cup from a Nyquil
bottle)until about 3 months. I still eat less than a cup of food at a
time, but I do eat 6 times a day. That's because I need the extra
calories...I workout with weights at least 4 times a week for 1 1/2 to 2
hours at a time. I've lost all my weight and don't have any reserves to
call on so I have to eat freguently to keep my metabolism going. If you
aren't already, start exercising...it makes the world of difference in how
you feel and will help speed up the visibility of the wonderful weight loss
you've already experienced. 32 lbs. in 3 weeks is awesome!
— Teri D.
August 5, 2002
I don't think you are eating too much, but I'm surprised that you are
eating solids so well at only 3 weeks. Most of us were on pureed types of
diets until at least the 1 month mark. Fat is perfectly fine in our diets,
but perhaps you can choose some other foods for variety, or maybe you are
already! What about scrambled eggs, or refried beans, or tuna salad on
crackers at this stage? I don't think a whole can of soup is alot as it is
liquid and moves right thru you. Do you supplement some protein, with
protein shakes/drinks? Your water is good, now up the protein, and add
some variety, perhaps lowering the carbs a little.
— Cindy R.
August 5, 2002
Congrats on your loss! We all are so different, but I really couldn't eat a
whole piece of pizza so early out. When I tried within the first 3 months,
I usually just kind of ate the cheese and sauce and sometimes couldn't chew
it all the way and had to spit it out in a napkin. Sounds gross! I do think
it sounds like a little bit too much solid food so early out. At 13 months
post-op I recently ate two small pieces of cheese pizza and kind of felt
guilty that night as I have only eaten 1 piece up to that point. I do tend
to eat more around my period as the poster noted. Maybe the bottom line is,
even if we can eat that much early on, should we? I hope that doesn't sound
too harsh, yet you asked for opinions and ideas. I would look into the
protein supplements as they do fill you up and give you mega-protein and
make you feel like you are doing good things for your body. Best Wishes!
— Molly S.
August 5, 2002
Wow! I don't know if you'r eating too much, but I don't know how you can.
I don't think I could have managed a bite of pizza at three weeks. I'm
five now and still wouldn't do it. I have to admit, I follow my doctor's
nutritional advice.. and pizza was not part of it at three weeks. I was
just getting off pureed food at that point. I'm good about following the
rules, it makes me apain in the ass, but I'm sure it helped my stomach to
heal. I try to avoid carbs as much as possible except some fruit every
couple of days and some wheat bread once or twice a week. good luck. I
think the answer is, maybe you didn't eat to much, but you might want to
watch the quality of what you're eating.
— Lisa C.
August 5, 2002
It does seem like large portions to me. I'm a fan of the 5-6 TINY meals.
The other thing that is bothering me is that this is ALL carbs. There is no
actual FOOD here. I am not anti-good carbs, but anti-sugar. Check the sugar
g in your s/f ice cream. If I ate this in a day, I would be RAVENOUS.
Carbs beget carbs. We're on clear liquids for 4 weeks, so I can't compare
with what I did. But you might want to try something with some substance to
it, so maybe an egg for bfast and 2 T of grits or a sausage with some
grits. Some fat & protein helps SATISFY and cut the "need"
for more carbs. Perhaps half a string cheese & a good grain cracker? Or
part of a beef stick with half a string cheese? See what I mean? And of
course, from my perspective, I saw no protein supplement in there, and that
is your ultimate appetite control tool.
— vitalady
August 5, 2002
Don't panic, Robyn! Remember that the soup you've eaten is a liquid and
will pass right through the pouch. Ice cream melts when it hits the pouch
and turns to liquid, so it also passes through. Everyone who has this
surgery stresses out that they're eating too much. In order to stretch the
pouch you'd be so uncomfortably full on a daily basis. Be happy that
you're losing weight at a great pace and that you're feeling good.
Congrats! - Mike
— Michael N.
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