In a Panic

[Leeska Peeska 1]

I accidentally ate too fast and definitely over ate. Please tell me one time isn't going to ruin my tummy and stretch it out.

[BabySpoons 616]

Depends what stage you are at. Doctors say you really can't stretch your new smaller stomach, but you can definitely damage it if you overeat while your tummy is still healing. Popping a staple and creating a leak can be deadly.

My doctor told me of a patient who went through a fast-food drive thru on his way home from the hospital after WLS and blew his stomach out. I can't imagine....

[Arabesque 7,335]

It’s very difficult to stretch your tummy out to point it doesn’t contract to it’s smaller size. You’d need to consistently over eat for a long period of time.

Not sure when you had your surgery, but it takes a while for all the nerves that were cut during surgery to heal & for messages about having eaten too much to get through. You often won’t feel your restriction either until you are eating solid food. It’s why sticking to your portion size recommendations is essential. Also try not to eat until you are full or feel the restriction. It takes time for the message that you are full to get through to your brain. By the time you get the message you have eaten to the point of being much more than full. Plus full signals are often different to what the were. Some sneeze, some find their nose runs, etc. I still ask myself do I need the next bite or just want it. Never be afraid to put your cutlery down, push away from the table & take a break to wait for the messages to get through to see if you are still really hungry & need another bite.

if your surgery was recent & you are still on the staged return to eating solid food restricted diet than the risk of damaging your tummy or hindering your recovery is high. Remember all those sutures & staples holding your tummy together (about 12 inches of them). You may have got away with it this time but do you want to push your luck?

[Jeanniebug 473]

Welcome!

You're likely going to be fine. Make sure you learn the lesson and don't do that anymore. If you have food addiction or an eating disorder, you might want to seek help from a therapist.

Edited to add: I've found that portioning out my food helps a lot. I know how much I'm allowed to eat in one sitting. I usually don't end up finishing it, but if I do, I know it's okay.

Edited June 26, 2023 by Jeanniebug