Any tips on how to portion out food?

[ResizingRebecca 0]

I have been eating 4 tbs which equals about 1/4 cup of food I can't tell when I'm full so I'm scared to eat more. Can anyone tell me how you portion your food? I'm starting on mt 3rd week post op RNY GBP.

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[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Get a kitchen scale and some good measuring cups.

You can also get containers (ex. ziploc) that hold small portions.

[ResizingRebecca 0]

Do I just scale out 4 oz ( is our stomachs that big at 3 weeks or is everyone different? )

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[James Marusek 5,244]

I found out early that foods had better flavors and taste when the foods were mixed. So I relied significantly on home-made high Protein chili and Soups. It was softer and went down easier. I would cook a pot which would last me for almost a week. It was easy to measure using measuring cups. The only problem was that as you move up in volume size, it was a little difficult to find the odd sizes such as 5/8 cup. I put some recipes at the end of the following article. http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery.pdf

[ResizingRebecca 0]

James what do you mean by move up I don't know any steps in measuring or moving up in volume my surgeon told me to advance myself so I'm lost

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[SweetPeas 117]

I'm using a kitchen scale and also bought some small cups (hold about 3 oz), some smaller shot glass type deals (hold 2 oz), and also got some smaller tupperware type containers for storing the smaller portions. Having good measuring cups is also helpful. I have been using a ninja blender to make some of my own Soups and mix Protein Shakes which is great because it gives more control over the flavor/content and allows me to make enough for a few days at a time.

[Spiceyfrog 269]

@@ResizingRebecca, you should be asking yourself if you are satisfied or not hungry, not if you are full. Take advantage of eating as little as possible for as long as possible. Soon enough you will regain hunger feelings and at that time, you can increase your intake to 1/2C, 3/4C, etc.

[ResizingRebecca 0]

I just ate for the first time the other day so I am still learning what full or satisatisfied feels like. It's different for everyone. My friend says she gets a tightness under her breastbone or in her chest others full feels like they did before surgery. I have only been eating 4 tbs no matter how I feel and I don't think that is my full mark I'm just terrified to puke

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[JupiterinVirgo 846]

Your sleeve will measure your food. It takes a while to understand the new signals.

[applejenn 173]

I have shot glasses and a doll plate.

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I have shot glasses and a doll plate.

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[ResizingRebecca 0]

@@JupiterinVirgo I had gastric bypass

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[whiterose 0]

My husband has the same experience as you in that he doesn't feel full no matter how much he eats. I, on the other hand, learned the full feeling quickly. Mine is more of a pain or lump in my chest when I've overeaten. I learned to slow down and stop at the 1/4 cup of food and see how that felt. I found that there really a feeling of being satiated or full. It sounds weird, I know. I still can't do much more than a 1/4 cup of food and I'm nearly 3 months post-op. I also have issues with certain meats. For example, I can do ground chicken ok, but chicken breasts, even shredded and cooked in a crock pot all day so its super moist, just does not sit. I can do almost 4 ounces of fish, which I'm loving, and it sits very well in my pouch.

The best advise I can give you is what others said before: 1) get a scale and weigh out all your food to 4 ounces, 2) use a much smaller plate than a regular dinner plate (I went to a thrift store and bought a bunch of saucers and fruit bowls), and 3) listen to your body after you've eaten. Hopefully, after some time, you'll eventually figure it out.

Good luck!

[Daisee68 2,493]

@@ResizingRebecca - Ok, so first at only 3 weeks out, it is confusing and your stomach likely won't really register "full" or "satisfied" yet as the nerves are still healing. For now, you will just need to measure your food as you are doing. 1/4 cup at this point is good. You could try 1/3 cup but I promise you that it will feel like too much if you push it. I am 9 1/2 months out and some days I can eat 1/2 cup and some days I can eat closer to 1 cup. I promise you will figure it out eventually. One of the clues some people get is either hiccups or burps (because the vagus nerve is stimulated is the explanation I have heard).

Secondly, the scale is a good idea, BUT please remember that volume and weight are not the same (i.e. 4 oz volume is what your stomach can hold - 4 oz weight of say fish would likely be way too much). You have to think about the volume of your stomach as chewed up food. I use the scale though so I can more accurately track my food since most trackers are by weight on some food (such as meats). When you can move on to a more solid diet, start with 1 oz weighed of Protein (for example turkey deli meat sliced very thin) and then if you tolerate that, you can try 1.5 oz next time and so on. I am just now at 9 months able to eat 3-4 oz (weight) at one sitting and still get in some veggies with it.

Are you still drinking shakes? (I am still drinking one per day.) The Premier Protein ready made shakes are 11 oz. At this stage, it would probably take you 45 minutes or so to drink that but very soon, it is likely something you can finish in 30 minutes. (No need to push it faster than that.)

I hope that helps!