How Easy Is It To Stretch Your Sleeve?

[melbelinc 33]

I know just one or two meals that are a bit too big isn't going to do it. But what if you are eating too much every meal. I don't know if I'm actually eating way too much or just eating things that are not making me feel too good. But it literally feels like its stretching. Granted this is my biggest fear, so I may be a little obsessed. I'm 3 1/2 months right now. I'm also in a colossal STALL! One that is not even staying the same but going up. My Dr office said I'm not eating enough, so here I am increasing. Geez Louise!

[LzL 9]

Great question.! I'm wondering the same thing. I'm 6 wks out and I've been on a stall for almost 3 weeks. Though my doctor doesn't seem to be worried, and says the same thing. That I'm not eating that much and can increase if I wanted. Never thought I'd hear someone say to eat more before.

I wonder if I may be stretching my stomach or something. But since I write down all my meals, I can't see how that would happen because I eat comparably only 3-4 oz of food at each meal. It's not fun to watch the scale stand still let alone gain when you know you are eating next to nothing.

If anyone has and answer, please let us know... thanks

[O.T.R. sleever 3,386]

Your sleeve is almost impossible to stretch. It would take a ton of abuse to do this.

You say you are consuming a lot. Can you give an example of what a typical days consumption is?

Do you know your caloric/carb/protein/water intake is?

[Izuri 428]

I think if your doctor says you should keep increasing that you should probably follow his advice, as long as you're not eating a super large amount. Maybe you need to eat small amounts more often? I can only get in about 2oz of soft food per serving right now, but my NUT wants me eating six small meals a day. It's hard to get in, but when I do, I feel much better.

There is a really awesome thread about stretching here: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/48540-worried-about-stretching-is-it-easy-or-hard-to-do/page__hl__stretching

which kinda calmed some of my nerves - I was pretty worried about it too before reading that pretty much everyone is eating similar to me and that everyone is worried about it.

As far as your stall - just tough it out. I know it's so much easier said than done, but it happens to just about everyone. Measure! Maybe you are losing inches. If you are really that worried about it, switch some things up. Try new exercise, try new foods, up your Protein, down your carbs, up your Water, up or down your exercise, get more sleep. There are an incredible number of factors that influence our weight loss. In the end though the biggest factor is really just time for our body to adjust. It will start up again soon! =)

[Sleeved&Hopeful 182]

The sleeve naturally heals and relaxes at around 6-9 months I believe. I have talked to some people who are all between 2-4 years post op and most of them can eat around 4-6 ounces of dense Protein and some veggies. Now soft foods or easy to chew foods are more like 6-8 ounces so gotta be careful with that! So honestly it doesn't stretch much at all! However, what you can eat at 1-2 months post op will be less than you can eat at 6-8 months post op obviously. However I always like the expression some of the sleevers say "Just because you can doesn't mean you SHOULD". If you just eat until you are satisfied, and not until you are stuffed, you should be good to go and not worry about stretching.

[kimmy*custis 276]

I am six months out and can eat 6 oz dense Protein and a small ( 1/4- 1/2 c) of vegies at a meal. I had 2 oz chicken lunchmeat, 1/2 cup cottage cheese and 4 cherry tomatoes for lunch yesterday. Everyone is different but I think you are just fine! I just upped my water/food/exercise when I had a stall and it worked for me!

[TheNewSusie 471]

According to my doctor after 8-12 months I will be able to eat 6-8 ounces of food as opposed to 3-4 ounces now, I'm almost 6 weeks post op.

[gmanbat 5,889]

I have been thinking about how I can blow it and put back on the debilitating fat layer that was so close to me for so long.

From my research the only way is to eat constantly, as soon as the sleeve has room put some more down there. Not stretching, just constant feeding, somewhat like the queen ant who is fed 24/7 by the workers and also lays eggs 24/7. She becomes quite large and helpless and must be depressed and in need of a Psychologist/Entomologist

Then again, maybe I will just eat intelligently and continue to be the energetic stud-muffin that I have become.

[2bsmallagain 156]

I am 3 months out and can eat about 4 to 5 bites at a time without pushing it. It also depends on the food. I try not to eat until it hurts. I just put a certain amount of food on my plate and thats all I eat. I do Portion Control. It always satifies me. I also eat 4-6 small meals a day. I also believe just because you can doesn't mean you should. I will always keep my portions small and make sure my carbs are low. Protein, veggies, and some fruit is all I eat.

[NtvTxn 1,262]

I know just one or two meals that are a bit too big isn't going to do it. But what if you are eating too much every meal. I don't know if I'm actually eating way too much or just eating things that are not making me feel too good. But it literally feels like its stretching. Granted this is my biggest fear, so I may be a little obsessed. I'm 3 1/2 months right now. I'm also in a colossal STALL! One that is not even staying the same but going up. My Dr office said I'm not eating enough, so here I am increasing. Geez Louise!

I would not increase my intake. Increase Protein and liquids, when I'd stall, I'd up my Protein to about 80 if possible, and I could get out of the lull.

[SleeveDreamer 383]

I know just one or two meals that are a bit too big isn't going to do it. But what if you are eating too much every meal. I don't know if I'm actually eating way too much or just eating things that are not making me feel too good. But it literally feels like its stretching. Granted this is my biggest fear' date=' so I may be a little obsessed. I'm 3 1/2 months right now. I'm also in a colossal STALL! One that is not even staying the same but going up. My Dr office said I'm not eating enough, so here I am increasing. Geez Louise![/quote']

Ask your doctor for an acid reducer to take twice a day for a couple months. This will take away your head hunger. My doctor said it is not likely for your stomach to stretch, but even if it did a little bit farther out, it will never be 1/2 as big as it was before. Try having more proein for your two Snacks and add a Protein drink in sometime throughout the day to fill you up a little. I really doubt if your stomach is stretching. If you start eating more Protein, this will increase your metabolism and soeed your loss. I am almost 9 months out and at my goal and I still can't hardly get in 1,000 calories a day.

[TJanastasa 2]

Had upper gi and my sleeve appears to be a stomach! Avocado shaped said the tech, not small banana!!! I am one yr out, could ALWAYS eat and feel little restricting.

They tell me it can't stretch and honestly I don't feel like I ever hurt it or pushed it.

Waiting for doc to call me. I gave gained back 20 of the 50. Could they have mis measured?....Because they told me sleeves don't stretch ?