Just can't stomach this!!

October 30, 2005

I have a question for anyone who can answer. While you are losing weight does your "old" stomach shrink ? You would think that it would get smaller because of less food going into it so I was just wondering.

Thanks,

Jolynn

October 30, 2005

Hello, is anyone out there today.lol

Just check'n

Jolynn

StartingOver · October 30, 2005

In my experience, yes I can definately say that my old stomach has shrunk. When I didn't have good restriction I could eat and my pouch wouldn't fill up, but still with a small amount of food I would feel a fullness in my "old" stomach that was different than having a full pouch.

NJChick · October 30, 2005

Well I think the stomach shrinks. Before I lost 150 lbs (YEARS ago) I could down 2 big macs, nuggets, fries, apple pie and a shake w/no sweat. After I lost the 150, I couldn't even finish a regular burger.

Of course the more I gained the more I could eat...vicious cycle isn't it.

vinesqueen · October 30, 2005

yeah, I think it shrinks, but I can't prove this

adorkbl · October 31, 2005

According to Anne Collins:

Your stomach is a muscular organ and like any muscle it expands and contracts according to usage. So it stretches when it's full and returns to it's initial size when empty.

However, it's not possible to permanently enlarge or reduce the size of your stomach by eating.

Marimaru · October 31, 2005

I think mine has definitely shrunk. I can tell this most when I eat Soup, or something else that goes through the band. Even when I eat things like this now, I can't eat nearly the amount I used to be able to eat, and I can feel that it's in the main part of the stomach, not that my pouch is full. The same thing happens when I drink alot of Water or something like that.

HarleyNana · November 1, 2005

Yeah it shrinks, that's why you have to get fills silly girl!

Jachut · November 1, 2005

Well the amount of fat around the outside of it reduces, that's why it "shrinks" but physically the actual muscular stomach doesnt shrink (and you'd have to eat an AWFUL lot in one sitting to stretch it) but you do make hormonal and psychological adjustments to less food. My surgeon told me that they dont know exactly why and dont really understand it but the body does make enymatic and hormonal adjustments to being banded so that you're not constantly starving. Remember that the pouch "tricks" you into fullness but your body would logically still know its on smaller rations. Yet it magically does adjust.