Food Portions - 6mos post op

[cookiecutter 14]

Hi guys - I’m just shy of 6mos out from Gastric Bypass and have a question on portion sizes.

Any idea what the portion sizes or ounces one should be eating at 6mos out? Grant it there are some days when I can have more than others but is there an estimate? Sometimes I feel like I’m eating too much. Meaning, the food goes down fine but 15mins later my stomach is super full. I’m thinking if I base it on ounces then I wouldn’t have this issue and maybe a better stopping point.

Let me know your thoughts - thanks

[LindsayT 594]

My program says no more than 8 oz per meal or until full, whichever comes first. If you're as full as you say 15 minutes later, are you still taking your time eating and not drinking while you eat?

[cookiecutter 14]

On 05/23/2023 at 20:00, LindsayT said:

My program says no more than 8 oz per meal or until full, whichever comes first. If you're as full as you say 15 minutes later, are you still taking your time eating and not drinking while you eat?

I don’t drink while eating. I was told to wait at least 30 minutes in between for each. Since it takes a few for your food to digest, perhaps I’m not eating as slow as I could. I think that may be the issue. I’m not scarfing food down, but I’m also not eating as slow as I could. This is helpful, the mention of taking my time. I’ll consider that. Thanks

[LindsayT 594]

1 minute ago, cookiecutter said:

I don’t drink while eating. I was told to wait at least 30 minutes in between for each. Since it takes a few for your food to digest, perhaps I’m not eating as slow as I could. I think that may be the issue. I’m not scarfing food down, but I’m also not eating as slow as I could. This is helpful, the mention of taking my time. I’ll consider that. Thanks

Of course. It's definitely a learning curve. You'll figure out what works for your body.

[toodlerue 452]

I was told no more than 3.5 oz. If I eat more then that I’m too full. I eat 3 meals plus 3-4 Snacks a day.
I had surgery 5 years ago.

[cookiecutter 14]

On 05/23/2023 at 21:57, toodlerue said:

I was told no more than 3.5 oz. If I eat more then that I’m too full. I eat 3 meals plus 3-4 Snacks a day.

I had surgery 5 years ago.

Thank you. I have a scale, I’m going to put it to use.

[Arabesque 7,234]

Check with your dietician to be sure as different plans have different requirements at different stages as you progress & you may have different needs. Ask how much Protein, how much vegetables & how much of any carbs you may be allowed.

I was advised by my surgeon that by goal, which was 6 months for me, I’d be eating about a cup of food. He also drew a circle about the size of a side plate. He then drew another circle about half the ‘plate’ (about inner palm size for my medium size hand) & said that’s your protein. He drew a third circle which was about a third of the ‘plate’ circle for my vegetables. I still basically still follow this at 4 years but do about half & half protein & vegetables now. I take 30-45 minutes to eat this.

I sometimes experience what I call a slow full signal. It can occur 30 or so minutes after I’ve eaten. I also don’t eat until I feel full but until I’ve had enough & don’t need anymore whether I’ve eaten all my appropriately sized portion or not. Don’t know why it happens though. It’s pretty random but seems to occur more often after Breakfast. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[cookiecutter 14]

On 05/23/2023 at 23:51, Arabesque said:

Check with your dietician to be sure as different plans have different requirements at different stages as you progress & you may have different needs. Ask how much Protein, how much vegetables & how much of any carbs you may be allowed.

I was advised by my surgeon that by goal, which was 6 months for me, I’d be eating about a cup of food. He also drew a circle about the size of a side plate. He then drew another circle about half the ‘plate’ (about inner palm size for my medium size hand) & said that’s your Protein. He drew a third circle which was about a third of the ‘plate’ circle for my vegetables. I still basically still follow this at 4 years but do about half & half protein & vegetables now. I take 30-45 minutes to eat this.

I sometimes experience what I call a slow full signal. It can occur 30 or so minutes after I’ve eaten. I also don’t eat until I feel full but until I’ve had enough & don’t need anymore whether I’ve eaten all my appropriately sized portion or not. Don’t know why it happens though. It’s pretty random but seems to occur more often after Breakfast. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes - The slow full signal. Most times your full signal isn’t right away so I’m thinking I’m eating more than necessary because by the the time my full signal hits, I’m super full. Thank you

[Hope4NewMe 173]

Every plan and dr is different and my dr says that between 6 months and a year that the oz should be 8-12 with just 3 meal per day. I also have calorie goals instead of just oz though and at 6 months it was 1000- 1200 but the calorie goal was more individual based because if you were not stalling then you could maybe be at less but if you were stalled for more than 3 weeks then you would increase the calories by 100 per week. It was never decrease which hurt my brain because I so wanted to do the opposite lol.

[Jeanniebug 473]

I wasn't given any guidance for this specific point... Just that between the time I'm on solid food up until forever, I'd be going up to about 8oz of food. I'm not there yet and I'm about 7 months post op.

I've found that some days I have more restriction than other days. And some foods - like meat - I can eat less of, in one sitting.

I still wait to drink until 30 minutes after I'm done eating - or longer. And if I eat too fast, I tend to hurt. But, I don't eat as slowly as I probably should.

I mostly measure out my food and I do not go back for seconds. I try to be really mindful of how full I'm feeling and I stop as soon as I think I might be starting to get full. Overeating is (thankfully!) still painful for me.

I eat from little 8oz bowls and salad plates.

[Tomo 1,191]

I was told to work up to 4oz by the 6 month mark and keep it around 4 oz. The exception for me is with fruit, which contain a lot of Water like watermelon, strawberries... Etc. I usually eat more than a cup of my fruit for Snacks. My program requires 5 to 7 servings of fruit and/or vegetables a day.

[cookiecutter 14]

On 05/24/2023 at 17:17, Jeanniebug said:

I wasn't given any guidance for this specific point... Just that between the time I'm on solid food up until forever, I'd be going up to about 8oz of food. I'm not there yet and I'm about 7 months post op.

I've found that some days I have more restriction than other days. And some foods - like meat - I can eat less of, in one sitting.

I still wait to drink until 30 minutes after I'm done eating - or longer. And if I eat too fast, I tend to hurt. But, I don't eat as slowly as I probably should.

I mostly measure out my food and I do not go back for seconds. I try to be really mindful of how full I'm feeling and I stop as soon as I think I might be starting to get full. Overeating is (thankfully!) still painful for me.

I eat from little 8oz bowls and salad plates.

Yes, being mindful of the full feeling is key. Thx

[cookiecutter 14]

On 05/24/2023 at 21:16, Tomo said:

I was told to work up to 4oz by the 6 month mark and keep it around 4 oz. The exception for me is with fruit, which contain a lot of Water like watermelon, strawberries... Etc. I usually eat more than a cup of my fruit for Snacks. My program requires 5 to 7 servings of fruit and/or vegetables a day.

Yes - i have my measurer now. Thanks