How much is too much?

[Ineedalapband 0]

I was banded on the 20th and am able to eat eggs/beans, etc. today. I am feeling great except for some port tenderness.

I am able to eat about a half a can of refried Beans with a little taco sauce/lowfat cheese on it. I don't feel stuffed or anything afterwards. I've been hungry all day. I've had beans (lunch and dinner), a small cottage cheese, a pudding cup, a protien shake and a popsicle and I could truly eat something else. I am also able to drink pretty normally too (not while eating/1 hr after, of course).

I just worry that I'm eating too much or that I'm going to stretch my pouch or something. I know I don't have any restriction yet but I'm still concerned. My Dr. has given me guidelines of what I can eat what day but nothing about how much.

Insight?

[fleminld 0]

I also am able to eat more than they say I should. I had my surgery on the 6th. I am on real food and can eat more than the cup of food they say I should be able to eat at the most. I am still eating less than I did before surgery, but not loosing any weight either. I am just trying to paciently wait until I go in for my first appointment and fill on the 3rd.

[amaltha 2]

I also am able to eat more than they say I should. I had my surgery on the 6th. I am on real food and can eat more than the cup of food they say I should be able to eat at the most. I am still eating less than I did before surgery, but not loosing any weight either. I am just trying to paciently wait until I go in for my first appointment and fill on the 3rd.

I think I am in the same boat. I have these little rubber maid half cup tupperware things and I limit things to stuff that can fit into that. Then wait an hour to drink. And see how I feel then. I have been tracking my nutrition religiously on livestrong.com and making sure my cal stay down and my Protein up. But at the end of the day it looks like I have a lot so I am not sure. :biggrin:

[msjessy 0]

I am also concerned about this. I was banded on the 21st and am HUNGRY! I've read posts here where people say they are not hungry after surgery and force themselves to eat when they realize they've gone a whole day without eating.

I wasn't sure if I was doing something wrong, or if I am just going thru the bandster hell I've heard about. I want more than the recommended meal servings the nutritionist mapped out during this time. I'm still on full liquids and will be for another week. I am SO looking forward to mushies.

[amaltha 2]

Hang in there. I just try to get my Protein in and follow the rules. I understand things will be different after the first fill and I don't get mine till next month :biggrin:

[Lanakila 1]

Remember that the band is a tool only. Yes, the band is supposed to help you feel fuller faster once you have the proper restriction, but it is still your responsibility to track your calories and work on your mindset. Just because you feel like you can eat more doesn't mean that you shouldn't start practicing the dieting changes that come with.

[kristenmh 68]

i'm eating about a 1/2 cup at a time. very rarely am i full with that -- i'm forcing myself to stop eating. i figure the hunger is normal at this stage. i've lost that immediate post-surgery (where a 1/4 cup of yogurt would make me feel like i had had 4 plates of Pasta carbonara), but i'm definitely not ravenous.

well, except for yesterday when i had less than 60 grams of Protein. i noticed around 4pm that i was super fatigued and hungry. (drank 1/2 a Protein shake and was MUCH better within minutes.)

i think until we get fills, we're pretty much "dieting" on our own, or with minimal help from our bands.

[Ineedalapband 0]

Remember that the band is a tool only. Yes, the band is supposed to help you feel fuller faster once you have the proper restriction, but it is still your responsibility to track your calories and work on your mindset. Just because you feel like you can eat more doesn't mean that you shouldn't start practicing the dieting changes that come with.

Of course I recognize that this is my responsibility. I am taking small bites, chewing and doing all the things my post fill stomach will require. What I'm asking is simply how much food (1/2 cup, 1 cup, etc.) is too much for my post band/surgery stomach to handle. I'm not gorging myself. Quite the opposite. I'm trying to make sure I stay well within the range, hence the question. Just because I say I'm hungry doesn't mean I'm eating all the time, thats why I'm hungry. I was simply wondering if anyones doctor told them not to eat more than X after surgery but before a fill, because that would be harmful to your pouch.

[Lisa B 0]

One thing that has helped me is the visual the nutritionist gave me: the pouch is the size of an egg. If you eat more than what would fill an egg, you're over filling your pouch. I'm definitely guilty of eating more than that at times, but I'm still losing and sticking to all the "rules" otherwise, so I'm not too concerned.

YMMV, of course.

[jack&kota 0]

I am only allowed to have 2 oz (1/8) of a cup of cottage cheese, Beans, etc. I am allowed to have 3 oz of high Protein Soup and light yogurt. When I can add fruits and vegetables, I can only have 1 oz along with my 2 oz for a total of 3 oz (less than a half a cup). I am allowed to eat breakfast/snack/lunch/snack/dinner and was encouraged to eat every 3-4 hours. Maybe you are not eating frequently enough?

[krtork 0]

I am supposed to have a 1/2 cup serving at a time. With what little restriction we all have right now, I think you would have to really over eat to even come close to stretching your pouch.

It is hard to stay in the guidelines when you are hungry, but this too shall pass when we all start getting our fills. I have my first one on Wednesday, I am kind of excited. Some restriction will be nice!

[vegasgirl44 0]

Of course I recognize that this is my responsibility. I am taking small bites, chewing and doing all the things my post fill stomach will require. What I'm asking is simply how much food (1/2 cup, 1 cup, etc.) is too much for my post band/surgery stomach to handle. I'm not gorging myself. Quite the opposite. I'm trying to make sure I stay well within the range, hence the question. Just because I say I'm hungry doesn't mean I'm eating all the time, thats why I'm hungry. I was simply wondering if anyones doctor told them not to eat more than X after surgery but before a fill, because that would be harmful to your pouch.

Yes, my doc says half a cup servings. That's it. Good luck to you!

[lindar172 1]

Mine was set to 1/2 cup of food at a time for the first two weeks of soft food. I am not allowed 1 cup of food, but find that I am gaining on that amount. I am going to email my nutrionist to see if I should stay on the 1/2 cup a while longer. I don't want to gain. Anyone else having that problem? My lowest weight was 273.2 and I am now back up to 276.2. not a lot and could just be Fluid build up but I am not happy with it.

[ShrinkyDink 0]

My doctor said that since I don't have a fill yet the pouch is not restricting me and that I should eat until I feel satisfied, even if it's more than I think I ought to eat (within reason of course). As long as I'm eating slowly and chewing enough and not feeling the pressure of being full, he said my body needs the calories to heal and that's the goal right now. He said to just make sure I'm making good choices in what I eat and not to get hung up on the amount. I do find that sometimes I can eat more than the half cup at a time, but sometimes a half cup is too much. I think about a cup is the most I've eaten at one time and that was thick Soup, the more solid the food is the less of it I can eat.

Edited September 1, 2008 by ShrinkyDink