Question about amount of food

[wintobethin 5]

I was banded on Jan. 16th and have a question about the amount of food I should be eating. I thought the diet clinic told me that I would only be able to eat 1/2 cup at a time. Well I am eating about a cup at each meal. I have had one episode of slimming (with pain) ate a piece of corn bread, I know that is a no-no, but I just thought I would try it, NEVER AGAIN, the pain was awful until I got rid of the bread!

I am still putting everything through the blender to make sure it goes through my band. I am still having some discomfort in my chest area, I think I had a hernia repair but won't know until I see the surgeon for my first appt. next Monday. I have lost 14lbs so far!:ohmy:

[plain 12]

Hey win. Congrats on the 14 lb loss....keep it up. As for the amount of food everybody eats, that's a complicated subject. Your clinic may have given you some guidelines, but everybody is a little different.

The thing to keep in mind is that you will be able to eat a little more until you start getting the fills. Now is the time to follow your docs rules and to start to develop good habits.....so step away from the cornbread, LOL.

Also, as fatties, many of us have gotten the feeling of "full" mixed up with the feeling of "stuffed". You should eat until you are not hungry. Not hungry is very different from stuffed, and it takes a lot less of a portion. I would advise you to eat very small portions very slowly (while following your docs plans....not quite 2 weeks post band, my doc still had me on thicker liquids, but every doc is different). It's quite an adjustment, getting used to our new life....it takes time, but you'll get it eventually, if you are committed to using this great tool. Good luck!

[inch by inch 0]

Hi-congrats on your surgery. Since you just had the surgery Jan 16 not even two weeks yet--are you not suppose to be on just Clear Liquids for 3 weeks then after first appointment gradually start soft foods? I had lap band surgery Nov. 12th 2008 and this is how my surgeon did it. That may be why you are having so much discomfort--check with your doctor. Good luck to you!

[twiggysmiff 0]

Hi-congrats on your surgery. Since you just had the surgery Jan 16 not even two weeks yet--are you not suppose to be on just clear liquids for 3 weeks then after first appointment gradually start soft foods? I had lap band surgery Nov. 12th 2008 and this is how my surgeon did it. That may be why you are having so much discomfort--check with your doctor. Good luck to you!

Every doctor is different. I had my surgery on Jan 14 and my doctor only required 2 days of clear liquids, then 3-4 days of full liquids. A week after surgery, I was allowed to add mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, etc. Now, I'm able to eat Pasta, bread, rice, tuna, fish......I can only eat about a cup of food right now which is amazing to me. I have to learn to stop when I'm not hungry instead of waiting for my old signal of full (stuffed). It's definitely a learning curve.

[crzytchr 3]

Hi-congrats on your surgery. Since you just had the surgery Jan 16 not even two weeks yet--are you not suppose to be on just clear liquids for 3 weeks then after first appointment gradually start soft foods? I had lap band surgery Nov. 12th 2008 and this is how my surgeon did it. That may be why you are having so much discomfort--check with your doctor. Good luck to you!

Each doctor is different. Mine allowed a "test meal" on day 8 if you are starving. This is a scrambled egg. I think you would be better measuring you 1/2 cup of food out. Eat that slowly and then decide if you still aren't satisfied. As "fatties" we normally will eat what we put in front of us. I am 6 months out, and I have rarely gone back for seconds of anything. I do eat now, about a cup of food at each meal, but at the beginning I ate no more than 1/2c. When that 1 cup no longer satisfies me, I will go in for a fill!

[slimandhealthy09 0]

I was banded on 1/15/09 and feel the same way. I can eat a cup of food and i'm hungry! Haven't eaten anthing I shouldn't yet -- well had lettuce today and that's not a mushie, but chewed it well and all went okay! I hear until we get filled, everything just slides down.

[slimandhealthy09 0]

How did the bread go? I've heard it's a killer. I haven't had problems with anythng yet. I was banded on 1/15/09 and all has gone and stayed down.

[slimandhealthy09 0]

Yeah, I'd steer clear of the cornbread this early on. If you hungry eat lots of small meals instead on one big meal. I hear until a fill it all slides DOWN!

[dawn7672 0]

I was banded on the 15th, and I only eat 1/2c portions. If I feel as if I am still hungry (usually evening meal), I eat something that is high Protein. This will get me thru the night. I was on clear for 3days and full liquids for 5 days, and now on mushies. I have tried sweet potato and it was good, but it also was a small portion. I have eaten collard greens, but only a tablespoon and chicken breast chopped so fine it was hard to pick up. I did however have a lapse in judgement and ate a pick of the skin from the breast and boy did I pay for it. I stayed stuck in the chest area for about 4hrs, before I felt relief. I didn't try to bring it up as I hate to vomit, but it was a great lesson for me. I will start soft solids on saturday. Good luck to ya:thumbup:

[psuki 0]

I was banded Nov. 28. As I was going through my first weeks I too was starving, so I would have fat free hot chocolate or fat free/sugar free pudding/jello to satisfy me until the next meal. I would also suck on ice Popsicle, they take longer to eat, so your mind thinks it's eaten enough... -weird hard to explain. Good luck!

[crzytchr 3]

I was banded Nov. 28. As I was going through my first weeks I too was starving, so I would have fat free hot chocolate or fat free/sugar free pudding/jello to satisfy me until the next meal. I would also suck on ice Popsicle, they take longer to eat, so your mind thinks it's eaten enough... -weird hard to explain. Good luck!

I forgot how much sugar free Jello pudding saved me during my post op diet. I would eat a dark chocolate one every night before bed if I was hungry. I still eat one if I am hungry late at night.

[wintobethin 5]

Thanks to all of you for your input!!! I am doing okay and staying on track very well! I had made a pot of Soup Beans and had a small dish today (blended in the blender) and that was soooo good after shoveling snow twice this morning! Ohio got pelted pretty BAD today! My DH can't shovel since having a heart attack at 47 and open heart then 3 stints put in in October of this past year, so it's good ole me! I go see my surgeon for first follow-up on Monday.

OH, I did not shovel the snow, I PUSHED it off the driveway, no lifting anything over a gallon of milk! Thanks again....Jan:thumbup:

[mrsebg 0]

I also got banded 1/16 and am trying to stick to the 1/2 cup rule too. My Dr had me on liquids for a week and then moved onto mushies for a week, then onto a little stronger food. My friend is a nurse at my Dr office and also had lap band she gave me some great tips... sf popsicles, sf pudding, sfjello, and lots of soup! It's been really easy~~ ok not easy, but easier since she told me that. Also, she suggested eating things like shrimp and tuna to switch it up a bit from chicken. lol. Good luck to us all!

[crzytchr 3]

I also got banded 1/16 and am trying to stick to the 1/2 cup rule too. My Dr had me on liquids for a week and then moved onto mushies for a week, then onto a little stronger food. My friend is a nurse at my Dr office and also had lap band she gave me some great tips... sf popsicles, sf pudding, sfjello, and lots of soup! It's been really easy~~ ok not easy, but easier since she told me that. Also, she suggested eating things like shrimp and tuna to switch it up a bit from chicken. lol. Good luck to us all!

Be careful with shrimp, it gives many people problems. Just chew REALLY carefully. During my full liquids I like cream of chicken Soup mixed with skim milk instead of Water, I add a little bit of sage, garlic powder and pepper. It tastes YUMMY!

[Minnah 0]

My doctor said once I move to liquids I should measure out 4 oz of food for each meal. Since I may not remember the feeling of being full, I should be consistent to the 4 oz. 50% of that should be protien. If I feel hungry, then I probably need a fill. I would just follow your doc's instructions.