Pouch Packing - When Enough Is Enough

[NJChick 3]

What is your idea of enough food, regardless of the restriction.

Should we all stick to one cup of food.... does that include Protein. What about salad, that is so much lighter than protein/carbs.

I'm still having a hard time knowing when I'm full until I've eatin quite a bit and stretching the pouch worries me.

Lets talk...

[MelodyJ 0]

Eileen...I was told 4-6oz....that's 1/2 cup plus if I need it. So I measure out my 1/2 cup take a bite, put down my baby spoon chew 15times then wait 1min (still practicing) then take another bite. By the time I'm finished I generally feel "not hungry" anymore. It's not always a matter of feeling full....it's a matter of not feeling hungry anymore. A new way to look at it! I don't know rules on salad as I am just starting regular food today!! I have been on mushies, etc. Praying this helps!!

God Bless,

Melody

Banded 3/20/06 -30lbs

[bandayed 0]

Eileen -- you are definately asking the wrong person as I feel I am in your same boat. I eat more than I should.....pouch stretching worries me too. I eat off a salad plate rather than a dinner plate but I would say I have about 2 cups of food at dinner. If I get full before it's gone, I do stop, but I wouldn't say that happens too often. If I were measuring out just 1c to eat, I would probably go over that if salad was part of the meal..........probably do about 1c of everything else then some salad.........My whole theory with the band has been changing. Rather than sticking to measurements and rules, I kind of say....if I'm losing, it's working..........Only problem is, I have only lost 1 pound in the last month. Time to tweak things a bit!!!!!!

[NJChick 3]

Melody, I remember being on mushy and just going to regular and feeling satisified/full. Your so right... I should focus on being satisified instead of stuffed. Praying does help

Bandayed your so right the "I'm losing so WTF" is not the way to go. Back to the rules for me (at least I"m going to try). Even with the band, its hard to break those old habbits that sneak back up on you.

[banded_for_life 2]

Eileen...just keep paying attention to that full feeling. Don't let the tv distract you like I did. I am back into sitting at the table. I too am eating off a salad plate now and I am at about a cup of food. Sometimes I finish it sometimes I don't...I let my stomach tell me when I am full. If I eat it all and feel I need a little more...I go back for more Protein.< /p>

[Wheetsin 714]

I ask myself, "Am I still hungry?" between bites. When the answer is "no" I stop eating. Sometimes that's after three bites and sometimes it's many, many more.

I figure -- I'd much rather get more food later, than have too much and deal w/ the consequences.

[NJChick 3]

I took the day off today, went to chuck e cheeses with DD. She had pizza, I had salad. It took every bit of strength not to get a second round. All I kept thinking was.... STOP IT!!! JUST STOP IT!!! you had enough. I really was hungry and not satisfied but I knew I really had, had enough.

Its gonna take work girls, lots of work LOLOL !!!!!

But your right Wheetsin, I don't want to deal with the consequences.

Maybe I should put a sign up in my house "NO MORE POUCH PACKING"

.....HAAAAAAAAAA Imagine the neighbors faces when they see that SNORT HAHAHAH ~~~

[paula 4]

My big question is, am I FULL (had enough) or is something stuck. Been banded long enough to know this, but dont.

I eat. Get the stuck/full feeling. Sometimes I feel the food move through - then I continue eating (maybe this is the beginning of MY pouch packing?) . Sometimes the food doesnt move through so fast, then I wait it out.

Just like Banded said, Im the wrong person to answer this one!

[paula 4]

by the way...

where the heck is your avator?

[NJChick 3]

Okay okay.... the mug shot is back up ROFL !!! Paula your like the 20th person to slap my wrist about the avitar LOL!!

BTW, your all not the wrong people to ask about this. I need help from those who are going through the same thing I am and yes, thats you.

Paula, I do the same thing...wait it out and stuff more in...wtf :confused:

[bandayed 0]

That's what I do! I figure if it goes through, there's room for more, but I know this is wrong. I t is not the goal to fill the pouch, but that is the feeling I wait for. I think I may eat until something gets stuck, or I get ahead of the amount going through the stoma and then I am "satisfied" -- aka packed!

Eileen, I have no idea how you could be in the presence of pizza, and eat salad -- you're a much better woman than I am sistah! No band in the land could train me to do that!

[mrk520 0]

I'm curious about stretching my pouch because I can eat anything I want right now, I haven't had my first fill yet but is it normal to be able to sit down and eat an 8-inch sub at one time or am I stretching the pouch. I am 3 1/2 weeks post op and started solids about 5 days ago because I could never seem to get full. Any advice would be great because I seem to have put on 3 pounds in those 5 days! Thanks!

[MelodyJ 0]

mrk520- this is the training ground!! This a time to "practice" what we've been told. I cannot personally eat much more than 4 oz at a time. You must ask yourself am I still hungry after each bite. You must take bites the size of a baby spoon and chew to mush and put your fork (sandwich) down and chew 15-20+ times each bite and then wait a full 60 seconds before you continue....this is the tough time before your fill...I have not had a fill yet....hoping to within the next 2 weeks as I am starting to get hungry before the 5hrs they said.....remember it's not necessarily about being "full" but not being hungry!! :confused:

God Bless,

Melody

Banded 3/20/06 -30lbs

[mrk520 0]

Thanks! I think I just need some encouragement, it's really hard not to eat like my family. I think I am going to try going back a few steps to the "mushy" stage and see if this helps. I am also hoping for a fill in the next 2-3 weeks, hopefully that will help with the hungry feeling that's driving me crazy!

Thanks,

Melinda

Banded 3/23/06--13lbs

[paula 4]

I'm curious about stretching my pouch because I can eat anything I want right now, I haven't had my first fill yet but is it normal to be able to sit down and eat an 8-inch sub at one time or am I stretching the pouch. I am 3 1/2 weeks post op and started solids about 5 days ago because I could never seem to get full. Any advice would be great because I seem to have put on 3 pounds in those 5 days! Thanks!

I certainly dont want to steal the thread with my reply here, but...

What in the world are you doing?

We must ALL go through these 4 weeks of hunger - and the 4th week is a hunger from hell.

But weve all survived it.

I would think that eating a 6 inch sub is extremely dangerous for a 3 week banded tummy.

Please let your doctor know what is going on.

Also - Ive heard that for some newly banded folks, their surgeon prescribes them diet pills to help them get through this period. This may be an option for you.

Good luck!