Question:
I know I can eat more than 2 oz. at a time now. Feeling sad and worried!

I read that between 6-8 weeks, your stomach should be completely healed of swelling or scar tissue, which normally results in not feeling full as fast. I know this is normal, but it scares me to eat more than two oz. (when I shouldn't be) and stopping at maybe 1/2 c. and still not feeling even slightly "full". I used to feel that if I took one more bite, I felt like I had to burp. That forewarning feeling hasn't been around in a while. I'm sure if I ate more, I'd feel it eventually, but...I was one of those persons who celebrates when they can't finish an egg, or half of a banana. Tonight, I ate part of a salad (maybe 5-6 bites) and had to make myself stop so I could eat the chicken from my husbands fajita. I ate two pieces and COULD OF EATEN MORE! Why? How could that of all fit and me not feel even slightly full? I felt satisfied, but had to tell myself "That was a lot more than 2 oz. so STOP!" I am 8 weeks out and down 41 lbs. I am happy with my success so far, but concerned my stomach can hold more so early on. What do you guys think about this?    — Michele B. (posted on September 6, 2003)

September 5, 2003
Michele frist of all congrats on the 41 weight loss in just 8 wks. I know the food seams like allot but if you are chewing it up very good then it is not that much. I used to think the same way untill one day i put the same amount in a food procser and it all grinded up was not that much but it was enough to make me feal full.I did not start eating more when i seen it was a small amount. It was about 2 oz mabe a lil more at times i was eating
   — wildbrat

September 5, 2003
I think what you are experiencing is very normal! It really takes time to really know what your pouch feels like when it's full. Even then, sometimes at 10 months out, I feel like I can eat much more than I should really be able to! Personally, I think it sounds ike you are doing just fine. Trust me, if you overflll that little pouch, you will know it and your pouch will "give it back' (throw up). You are doing very well if you recognize the satisfied feeling. I think that is what stops "normal" people from overeating!
   — koogy

September 6, 2003
Relax Michele... I think you're doing fine! I'm 7 weeks out, and some days a bite or two makes me full and others I eat what seems like a lot....but honestly, it really isn't. Some foods just get much smaller when chewed, so you may not feel as full....BUT>>>> if you always eat your protein first (solid protein, like meat) rather than your salad or vegetables first, you'll get full on the right amount. Don't stress, just keep listening to your body... it's hard to learn we don't have to eat until it hurts!! You can do it though, and you can still revel in how satisfied you can be on so little! (I know I do!)Keep up the good work.
   — Kelly B.

September 6, 2003
First of all calm down. You are doing great so far. I would suggest that you start measuring what you are eating instead of eyeballing it. I am still at almost 8 months post op regularly surprised how wrong I am about food amounts. I always think is less or more than it really is. I still measure and it is a great comfort. I would stop eating salad and concentrate on the protein alone. Salad is completely deceiving and most of us can eat more of it than would have been thought possible. You are not completely healed at 8 weeks. You are on your way but still need to baby your pouch. You want it to work for a good long time and there are definite ways to prolong that "honeymoon phase". One of them is to measure and be sure that you are not overstuffing your pouch. I have certain days during the month when I can physically eat more and it freaks me out and then I realize that I am totally premenstrual or a day away from my period. What time of the month is it for you? That can really change your hunger levels.
   — Carol S.

September 6, 2003
Congrats on the 41 lbs. You are doing great. Some people never get a full feeling and for those it becomes important to learn to recognize what is an appropriate portion for them. One woman in our support group has never gotten a full feeling so she measures or weighs everything. She is more than satisfied but not full. I did lots of measuring and weighing the first couple of months to learn portion sizes. It did help a lot. I do get a full feeling which also helps but some foods I can eat way more of, like shrimp, so it is better to know when I should stop even if my pouch isn't telling me so. <p>Like someone else said, the protein needs to go in first until such a time that you know for sure how much you can eat and know that there will be room for enough protein. It's really best to eat the protein first for the rest of your life. Next time have 3 strips of the chicken and then see what else there is room for. 2 strips of chicken from a fajita were likely an ounce or a little more. You need to get in the majority of that 2 ounces you as supposed to eat as protein at this stage yet. I would think at least 75% at this point. What does your eating plan say? You can do it just focus on the rules of eating. I assume you are not eating with your food, otherwise it is washing the food on through and that is why no full feeling.
   — zoedogcbr

September 6, 2003
At first I never felt a feeling of being 'full'. My head kind of told me I just plain didn't want anymore to eat. As my tummy was healing (those first 2 or 3 months), I could eat so little. You know, the 2 or 3 ounces. I would say I can eat approximately 3/4 to 1 cup of food now. I try to get in 1 to 2 ounces of protein and then a little veggies, salad or fresh fruit. I don't want to be a slave to a scale etc. I was never a good 'dieter'. I just listen to my body and try never to push that envelope. I have never been sick. I have eaten too fast and felt discomfort for a few minutes. When I do that, that becomes the end of my dining experience. It feels like a load of cement hit bottom...waaaaaay before I've eaten hardly anything. Also there are days I can comsume more food at a time than other days. I just go with what my body tells me. It's workin'....I celebrated my 10 month WLS anniversary August 30 and I have lost 191 lbs.
   — Ginger M.

September 6, 2003
How many calories a day are you eating? It's time to start taking a look at the bigger picture. It's not natural, or healthy, to eat as little as we do in the first two months, forever. You simply cannot live on one egg per meal, or half a banana. In the long run, most pouches will allow for consumption of six to ten ounces, in the long run. How successful people are with the surgery is a function of *what* they eat, not whether their pouch holds six versus ten ounces. Time to focus on eating habits, and not on holding on to an artificially small amount of food intake. In other words, it's about making those necessary, permanent lifestyle changes, not about the transitory excitement of a "diet" that represents eating habits no one can sustain for a lifetime. JMHO!
   — Suzy C.

September 6, 2003
Most of my meals at first were 4ozs...dinner would be 6ozs. I rarely feel full, I just know I can only have a certain amount. I've learned not to eat until I am full, but when I eat I feel satisfied. Now I'm 5 months post-op and can eat 1 cup of chili, my meals will sometimes equal a cup...1/2 chicken, 1/4 potatoes, 1/4 veggie.
   — Sarahlicious

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