Stop eating when full?

[JitterbugPerfume 23]

One of the things that was stressed during my pre-op classes was the need to get to a place eventually when we are only eating when hungry, and stopping when full. We were told that we might not get the hunger signals post op, but we should definitely stop eating when we are full.

I very rarely feel like eating. I don't just mean that I don't get very hungry, but I have a full feeling that puts me off from food. I make sure I eat purees at least once or twice a day, but I've only down more than that once or twice. How do you balance that direction to stop eating when you're full, with the direction to eat 3-5 times per day?

[allwet 868]

12 minutes ago, JitterbugPerfume said:

One of the things that was stressed during my pre-op classes was the need to get to a place eventually when we are only eating when hungry, and stopping when full. We were told that we might not get the hunger signals post op, but we should definitely stop eating when we are full.

I very rarely feel like eating. I don't just mean that I don't get very hungry, but I have a full feeling that puts me off from food. I make sure I eat purees at least once or twice a day, but I've only down more than that once or twice. How do you balance that direction to stop eating when you're full, with the direction to eat 3-5 times per day?

Jitterbug you are so early in your ws journey i would not worry about eating to little food.

try to hit your Water goal

try to hit your Protein goal

take your Vitamins as directed

note these are goals, you may need time to reach that goal.

in the coming months you will begin to eat more food but dont worry about it now.

[FluffyChix 17,415]

^^^This! Great post @allwet.

It's super stressful, the "not knowing," and trying to navigate a new road. The surgical team tries as best they can to prepare us, but the reality is that it's like bringing home a new baby from the hospital. We will be anxious and fretful 1st time parents to our new babies.

I was TERRIFIED of overeating and ruining the tool I was given. My new pouch wasn't giving me feedback to let me know when I was full. So I never knew how much latitude to give myself. So I actually did the opposite of you. I ate my scheduled 5-6 mini meals per day and got my Protein in come hell or high Water. But I ate very small quantities and calories for my stage in order not to stretch my pouch. Consequently, I never challenged it or felt full--so I thought my surgery was screwed up cuz I never got full. LOL. Then one day I let myself eat all I wanted. Low and behold, I was only about 2-3bites below the "OK, 'enough moron' stage."

I got my Vitamins in each day and got my 120oz of liquids! Every day. I ate on a schedule whether I was hungry or not, cuz it was the only way to get my protein in and make as much of it protein from food, rather than protein supplements.

Retrospectively, I'm not sure if that was right or wrong. You know? I could have just had 2 Premier Proteins for 320cals and been done with it! Protein req satisfied, BOOM Chahkalaka! And I would have had 22oz of liquids toward my goal.

I healed easily. Many don't. Many of you guys have a LOT of swelling to deal with. So it's an individual walk and what worked for me, won't work for you. You just have to carefully feel things out.

Now, fast forward to 9 almost 10 weeks and my new tummy tells me when it's full and I know approximately how big a meal should be by volume and weight. I know when I can't possibly eat another meal--so I cut out the next meal. I try to still eat on a schedule, but sometimes I don't want my Snacks. So I skip them. Eventually, I will be able to eat enough volume, that I can eat 3 meals + 1 snack a day. But I'm not there yet. And that's ok. My tummy will tell me when I am! Your's will too!

At the end of the day, if I haven't eaten enough to satisfy my protein minimum for the day, I will add as much Premier Protein as I have to have in order to satisfy my minimum goal.

I ALWAYS satisfy my liquid reqs and my Vitamin reqs and the absolute minimum protein. But now I'm doing good to work toward the middle of the protein range, which should give me more oomph to do my workouts.

Just take things slowly and try to listen to the very subtle cues from your body. They will become more and more pronounced as you learn its new language! Congrats on surgery!

Edited April 29, 2018 by FluffyChix

[JitterbugPerfume 23]

Thanks. I'm totally fine on my Water and Protein, meeting goals every day. I guess I just thought it was important to eat regularly at this stage, because it was stressed SOOOO much during pre-op class, that I thought it was important for the way we heal or something.