Question:
When they say eat 5-6 small meals, instead of 3 a day, what exactly is small?

Been on a 2 week plateau. I lost 47 pounds since surgery (MAY 31) but only 5 pounds in this past month! I drink 90oz of water a day and get in 65 grams of protein a day. I've heard that eating 5-6 smaller meals is better for RNY post-ops, so that we don't get the full sensation and don't stretch our pouch, right? But we can't eat as much as it is, so what exactly is smaller? I am over 10 weeks post-op and usually eat 1 1/2- 2oz per meal maybe, 3 times a day, along with a carnation instant breakfast and sometimes another protein drink. SHould I try to break up those meals into smaller ones throughout the day to break my plateu? Any suggestions would be helpful! :) THANKS!    — Lezlie Y. (posted on August 9, 2002)


August 9, 2002
My nutritionist says not to eat more than 1-2 oz of food per meal - even with the 6 meals. At 10 weeks, you should be able to meet your protein needs through food intake - which is preferable to protein drinks or CIB. Your water intake sounds good as does your protein intake. What about the carbs and fats in your diet? Exercise???
   — John Rushton

August 9, 2002
i have had so many platous and im almost 4 months out the last few weeks i have changed what i eat i quess tricking my body i think it gets used to what it gets everyday so while i was on vacation last week i had to eat out everyday but i watched my sugars and proteins ate salads and soups things like that when i gotr back id lost 2 lbs i was excited i weighed today and had lost another 3 lbs in 4 days so you might try that never know it could help
   — icannie

August 9, 2002
West Shore Endoscopy has a meal plan on their site. It includes the main meals and snacks. http://www.endowsec.com/pated/edtgs22.htm. Our nutritionist in KY recommends this. You can look at it and do a comaparison/contrast. Good Luck.
   — Tina B.

August 9, 2002
Hi Lezlie, You are doing great! I think you know that once you pick up the exercise and maybe "shake up" your routine like the previous poster stated then you'll see it fall off again. I too have been slacking in the exercise dept...I need to take some of my own advice! lol ~ Best wishes...Debbie
   — Deborah F.

August 9, 2002
Leslie, are you monitoring your carb intake? I know I looked at carnation instant breakfast once, and put it right back on the shelf, no way could I afford that quantity of carbs! Also becareful with you 5-6 meals per day, make sure you are not grazing on the wrong foods. I have heard grazing is a main contributor to plateus. I have also been told to try getting your carb allowance at one meal, versus spread over the day. Just a couple thoughts, hope this helps, Take care,
   — Nene B.

August 9, 2002
I've been told 3 meals a day, focused on proteihn, push lots of water in between and if you are hungry have a high protein snack. Angie, Lap RNY 3/6/2002 -88lbs
   — Angie B.

August 9, 2002
Plateaus are very common during our journey and a 2 week one is not unusual. I have had them last 3-4 weeks, then break, so don't get frustrated, its just our bodies way of saying, hey, let me catch up. As for the 5-6 meals, I did this early on. You have your regular 3 meals and then add 2 or 3 smaller meals so that you are eating every 3 hours. A meal for me would be 3 or 4 bites of chicken breast, a few crackers with tuna salad on it, a handful of nuts, cheese on crackers, or a chunk of cheese with a slice of apple. Those are just a few ideas. The important thing is to keep fueling your body with good stuff every few hours. Protein drinks are good too. Some posters have said that by overloading on protein, like 100 grams a day that will move a plateau, but I haven't tried it. What has worked for me (eventually) is concentrating on protein, lowering the carbs, EXERCISE and trying to up the water.
   — Cindy R.




Click Here to Return
×