How much food is enough?

[zeniada 9]

So I am 3 weeks banded now have dropped 12lbs and am able to eat pretty much anything. My main question and concerns is How much is enough? do I eat till I feel full or should I only be eating 1/4,1/2,3/4 or 1cup of food per sitting? I know everyone is different and it all varies on person to person but what is the average??

I have noticed that the scale is going in the wrong direction and that is starting to get me down and need to know what I have to do to get it moving in the right direction.

I need to start walking or exercising but I also need to know how to eat so if anyone can help thanks! Zen

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1.03.01

[Nicole74 4]

I am in my 7th week and I feel the same way...when I went for my first fill the dr told me to start only eating a half a cup per sitting but half a cup does NOTHING for me...I feel like I didnt eat anything..I get full usually after about a cup and half of food but I always try to eat lean Protein and veggies. Im not losing quickly at all and averaging about a pound a week sometimes less so I am disappointed. I am hoping that my next fill in Oct. gives me more restriction!! Good luck!

[amandac82 0]

I am 3 wks out (tomorrow) and at my 1 wk post op appt the Dr told me to get use to get 4 oz at each sitting. I have 3 meals and 2 Snacks. And luckly :thumbup: I am full. I drink plent of Water between (of course waiting the between time). I have no idea if I have any Fluid in my band or not. I get a fill on Oct 13.

Are you getting full at any certain amount?

[zeniada 9]

Are you getting full at any certain amount?

Yup I do get full at about 1 cup I have not measured so I am guesstimating really but I know it is not more then 1 cup. I just wanna eat all the time and it really sucks! :thumbup:

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1.03.01

[Melissannde 41]

my doctor says 3oz of Protein and 1/2 cup of veggies.

If you don't have a scale to weigh out the Protein, you can visualize it by comparing it to a deck of cards.. height, width & depth. 1/2 cup of veggies can be compared to a tennis ball. Tasty meal, cards & ball.. LOL

I actually use a small digital scale that I bought on ebay years ago to weigh packages when I was ebaying fairly regularly. It's not 100% accurate, but it's close enough. I love it, wouldn't take for it.

Call your doc's office and ASK. That's what we pay them the big $$ for.

Oh.. and the wanting to eat all the time is pretty normal before you get enough fill to dim your appetite. Drink lots between meals (of course after waiting at least 30 min after eating..), Water loading will help a bit. Cold liquids will help contract the band a little.. hang in there.

Edited September 17, 2010 by Melissannde
additional info

[LeighaMason 19]

I put 2-4 oz of meat (weighed on scale), 1/2 cup veggies, 1/4 cup of starch on my (little) plate then I eat until I am no longer hungry. For a long time, I struggled to eat it all then I finally learned that its OK no to eat everything on your plate.

By weighing and measuring you will learn what a correct portion of food is. Before I was banded I had a very distorted view of how much I should be eating, I would cover my big dinner plate with food and then eat it all. For instance I would eat a 12 oz steak, a large baked potato (probably 2 cups worth) and a cup of green Beans. So I would basically eat 6 times as much food as I should have.

[BetsyB 9]

I am also in the weigh-and-measure camp. (I also am an advocate of journaling what you eat so you can evaluate what changes need to be made when you hit a wall.)

Did your doctor provide guidelines to you? When I was at your stage, I was eating 3 ounces of Protein per meal. A bit farther along, I added 1/2 cup of nonstarchy veggies.

[vlp1968 83]

Once you have restriction I reccomend that you eat until your not hungry. I have found since banded that I don't get the same "full" feeling. I have to admit I miss it. For me it's an uncomfortable feeling if I eat even a little too much. Until you have restriction I suggest you focus on eating the right foods, even if your portions are bigger than they will be when you have restriction.