I see posts on a regular basis that say "my Dr says to eat 1/2 cup of food at a time". I think most of the time what the Dr is actually saying is "Eat 4 oz of protein" at a time.

Here is what I think happens. The Dr says "Eat 4 oz of protein" at a meal and he means for you to weigh it on the scales but doesn't say that. Then because liquid measuring cups say "4 oz = 1/2 a cup" people think they should be able to be satisfied on 1/2 cup of food, then when they are still hungry after 1/2 cup of food they think, well my band must not be tight enough so they have it tightened over and over again and end up too tight, living on sliders and liquids and then they are constantly hungry because the band it too tight for them to eat. Eventually they lose faith in the band, when the whole problem was the Dr wasn't clear on how much they should actually eat.

Does anyone have any written literature from your Dr that says "You should only eat a 1/2 cup of food total, at any meal"? If so please post exactly what it says. Thanks!

Edited October 18, 201015 yr by LeighaMason

My literature says that when proper restriction is attained that I should be satisfied with half a cup to one cup of food in volume.

I double checked with my doc, nut, and support group and they all agree with the half a cup to one cup of food in volume. They also said to first eat a four ounces in weight of my Protein, then my veggies and if I still feel like I am hungry to then eat my starch.

I don't have proper restriction yet, so I don't know if the dietary guidelines about the amounts are true. I assume they are since the volume of food I eat now with a 4cc fill is a whole lot less than what I ate with the 2cc fill.

My doc said until I get proper restriction to eat when hungry, make good choices, and to chew everything into liquid.

I'll have to see what the exact wording of my literature is because my Dr made it clear over and over to go 1/2 cup by volume and NOT weight.

I live by those little ziplock 1/2 cup containers, that is what I use for all my meal measurements and have been fine regarding restriction.

Twinkles-- You only eat 1/2 cup a meal 3 times a day? Or 1 1/2 cup of food a day?

Yep. My Dr has stressed it over and over and over again, so I've basically got the crap scared out of me regarding stretched pouches. lol

I eat 1/4 to 1/2 cup for Breakfast (1/4 egg beaters with a thin slice of ham chopped up and mixed in)

1/4 cup of chicken breast and 1/4 of Beans for lunch.

And usually 1/4 of steak or something with 1/4 of veggie or beans for dinner.

I do drink 4oz of a bariatric Protein drink mid morning and mid afternoon, Optisource strawberry, which is 100 calories and 12 grams of protein per serving. Strictly to boost my calories and protein counts.

Going for my first fill on Wednesday because I'm just now starting to feel a little hungry in between meals.

Just wanted to add, this is how my Dr explained it.

So, pouch size is about 1/2 cup in volume, right? If you go by weight and he tells me to eat 4 oz of food per meal, if I choose something like rice cakes, you can fit a heck of a lot by volume to equal 4 oz in that food vs if you choose something with more weight by volume, like meat. That's his reasoning by no more than 1/2 cup by volume per meal. The lighter the food, the more quantity by weight, the more likely to stretch.

I will add that my Dr is VERY strict, more strict than I've heard a lot of others, but he's also got a very high success rate, so I've gotta trust him.

Obviously, IMO, it all comes down to making good food choices and being smart about it.

Hopefully, that makes sense, but I'll still dig through all my paperwork to get what is on his instructions.

Wow! According to my calculator that is around 500 calories a day. I'm glad your doing well. I hope it stays the same for you. If you get a chance please update us with how your instructions from the Dr are worded.

Anybody else's Dr say 1/2 cup a meal?

Bariatric center here in Greece said that you should eat as much as you feel without of course overdoing it.They suggest 8 to 12 tablespoons per meal preferably 3 times a day.Half a cup seems so little to me..at least when i see the cup i bought from US.And also there is a difference in liquid cup and the non liquid ones.

1/2 cup = 4 Fluid ounces = 8 tablespoons = 118 ml

(from ://curezone.com/conversions.asp)

Edited October 18, 201015 yr by DIRKT32

I am pretty sure my instructions from the weight loss center say 1/2 - 3/4 cup of food volume per meal for the first year, and eventually after one year I will be able to eat up to a 1 1/2 cup per meal max (without stretching pouch)

Okay - Here is what is in a couple different places in my paperwork.

In a section regarding continued diet 3+ months after surgery.

• Continue same portion sizes (1/2 cup, 3 meals per day, Protein rich foods first and meal variety)
  
• Eat slow
  
• Chew 20-30 times for each bite of solid food
  

It goes on and on with the 'standard' bullet points following surgery.

Then in another section, he has a weekly sample menu. At the bottom it says:

*Maintain 1/2 cup total food volume per meal.

Leigha, you are right about on regarding my calorie intake. In fact about 4-6 weeks after surgery, I was feeling not quite right, after I figured it out, I was only consuming about 250 calories PER DAY TOTAL. I called my Dr and nutritionist, their goal they want their patients to be at is about 800 calories per day. So, I've been trying to get more healthy higher calorie foods and I haven't been so picky regarding calories. But I track, literally, anything that passes my lips, I have yet to hit 800 calories and I'm generally around 600. I, for one, cannot figure out how to get more calories out of 3 meals that are 1/2 cups. I asked my nutritionist and she said that as long as I feel good and I'm losing, not to worry about it. Which I do feel great, better than I have in a long time. I guess the other plus to it all, even if I could eat more, there's no way I could, I'm pretty full after those 1/2 cups, lol.

Edited October 18, 201015 yr by Twinkles

My suggestion, put hot fudge on everything, you will get there in no time! :smile: J/K DO NOT DO THIS BANDSTERS!!

My doctor makes a distinction. Solid Protein is weighed, and some other foods (such as veggies) are measured.

I couldn't eat four ounces of protein in a sitting if my life depended on it!

I couldn't eat 4 oz of Protein either but by no mean do I eat only three times a day. I have three meals and one snack, usually. For dinner as an example I will have 2 oz of protein (I have done this it is usually 1/4 cup) and a 1/4 of a side and that fills me.

4 liquid oz = 1/2 cup

4 tablespoons = 1/4 cup

My doc said I should be able to eat only 1 cup when I have restriction but when I went to the meeting with the nutritionist and she showed a plate of food with a typical meal, I almost laughed in her face because it was very obviously about 4 oz of protein, 1/2 cup of vegies and about 1 cup of mashed potatoes. She's apparently doing her own thing.

My pouch does all the measuring. I'll check my doc's site and see what it says about volume.

This really puzzeled me too. I am pretty sure I am eating more than 1/2 a cup. I mainly eat protein. I have lost 28 pounds since surgery 5 weeks ago. I have not had a fill yet because I am satisfied with my food amounts (can go 4 hours between meals, no snacking) and have steady weight loss. I can't imagine eating less than I already do.