Food portions

[matt917 17]

I am 7 weeks post opt and have most restrictions removed with the exception of bread/ rice / beef/ pork.

I’m worried about stretching my stomach. Around how much lean Protein are you having per meal along with carb/veg?

Anyone get weight loss stalls at this stage? I notice the scale has barely moved the last 10 days.

[catwoman7 11,212]

most people have their first stall sometime during the first month after surgery, so you're actually a bit late to the party! So yes - early stalls are very common!

it's been several years since I had surgery, so someone not as far out can probably answer your question about portion sizes, but as far as stretching your stomach, that doesn't happen - from what I understand, you'd have to overeat day after day after day for that (and i've also heard that the whole stomach-stretching thing is a myth - so I'm not sure which is correct - but suffice it to say, your stomach probably isn't going to stretch). Your stomach capacity is bigger now than it was right after surgery, though, because the swelling has gone down - but it's still pretty small now!

[Arabesque 7,240]

Stalls are very common & you can have several of them while you are losing. When they occur & how long they last can be quite different though yes the first tends to occur around week three & the usually last 1-3 weeks. It’s the time your buddy uses to reset your digestive hormones & enzymes, metabolic rate, etc in response to your weight loss & new needs.

Your stomach is a muscle that stretches & contracts but it will take years of overeating to stretch it out to where it doesn’t contract as effectively & is larger.

As for portion sizes, it’s best to check with your dietician for their recommendations for your needs. Some people are given caloric goals as well as goals for all macros. I was only given Protein & fluid goals & told 1/4 to 1/3 of a cup from purée slowly increasing to a cup by about 6 months (my goal weight). The majority of that portion should be protein. I was only eating a bare 900 calories at 6 months but many are advised to eat more than that from months 2 or 3. You’ll discover your own portion sizes too i.e. the portion your tummy will tolerate of specific foods at a sitting. Some foods sit more heavily in your tummy or take longer to digest & are more filling so you’ll eat less of them. Some are digested more quickly so unless you are aware of your portion it can be easy to eat more than you need.

[Jeanniebug 473]

I try to make sure that at least half of what I'm eating is Protein. Depending on the food, I'm eating about a cup.