Question:
Am I not being careful enough w/ portions??

I am 7 wks post-op LAP RNY. Okay, the more I read the Q&A, the more I'm wondering if I'm "keeping up" with things well enough. Since about week 3, I have not had even ONE problem with ANYTHING I've attempted to eat. I just chew the dickens out of it and I'm fine. I have no clue how much I eat at one sitting - everyone else seems to know they ate 1/2 cup or 6 oz., 7 bites, etc etc. I've never kept up with this....should I be keeping up w/ this? I only eat twice a day and only snack (very) occasionally. Since surgery, I haven't actually ever felt hungry. I just feel like my body is calling for food - so I eat and then I stop eating when I'm full. I have been really surprised at how much I've been able to eat! I can eat about 1/2 or 3/4 of a child's portion at a restaurant. When I went to the WL Seminar, they told me that 4-6 bites would fill me up. HA! When should I worry that I'm eating too much? I have thrown up twice - but learned my lesson quick not to over do. If I don't puke - am I okay on my portions? Maybe it's just me...I don't even ever weigh unless I go to my Doc's office! Sorry to ramble....just have a lot of questions. Okay....one more question. My Doc said I need to take in 60gm's of protein per day - there's no way I could eat enough of anything to give me that much protein each day. Is drinking a protein supplement okay? Thanks for your input!!!    — Jodi T. (posted on January 5, 2002)

January 5, 2002
Seven weeks is still really early. Soft foods are the easiest--like cottage cheese, scrambled eggs etc. Protein, 60 grams, was hard for me too until I started using the food processor. Now I buy ham or turkey or chicken, already cooked, and whirl it with the blade, until it is finely minced. I mix it with a little undiluted Campbell's healthy choice cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup and sometimes put in a little grated cheese. This is so good over small bits of rice or mashed potato and it much easier to eat. Other essential: eat very slowly. 45 minutes for a half cup of food is not too slow. These two things helped me.
   — Lisa M.

January 5, 2002
Yes & no. Using a good protein supplement to get your 60g is great and then it's a sure thing, no guessing. BUt eating 2-3 meals a day so early might be stretching your pouch. I admire you eating when hungry, stoppiong when full, but you might try 4-5 meals, so eating every 2-3 hours, so then you'll be less hungry, so will eat less to reach full. And maintain your pouch size in so doing. You didn't say you are drinking lots of water, but one assumes since your brain is working so well that you must be!
   — vitalady

January 5, 2002
I think you're doing just fine. I was very aware of my portions early on, but this proves to be a lot harder to do if you ever decide to go out to eat, or have to eat away from home. I was also surprised by the fact that I wasn't full after 4 or 6 bites, but everyone is different. I've not had a problem with anything so far (knock on wood) and I've never thrown up. If you are worried about portions, you could always get a cheap little portions scale (I have one by Cuisinart) that will tell you exactly how much you're eating, but if you're only eating until full, and never get that uncomfortable feeling, you're doing great! I do try to get three meals in a day, and I start the day off with a protein drink, so I never get that starving feeling.
   — blank first name B.