Hey Everyone!

So, I think I'm close to a comforable fill level and would appreciate your feedback about the quantity of food I ate today to see if when I felt full is typical or if I should feel full sooner. WHAT I ate today is not necessarily typical, but the quantity is about right. Thanks!!

Morning: 3 pieces of bacon, coffee (wasn't full just stopped)

Lunch: (restaurant) 3 ribs, 1.5 small chicken strips, about 5 steak fries and about 1/3 of my dinner salad. (stopped when full)

Dinner: 1 leftover chicken strip, coffee (wasn't full-chicken got stuck so stopped!)

Mattie - keep in mind that you said your friend's "husband." Men - stereotypically tend to lose at a faster rate then women. My husband has lost almost as much as me (since surgery), by just changing his eating habits to eat what I eat and going to the gym and he didn't have to undergo surgery. So trust me, I understand your frustration! lol

And as far as food, my doctor's office wants you to be able to eat 1/2-1 cup of food and maintain atleast 3-4 hours. What I have learned personally though, I don't eat until I'm full. I eat until I'm no longer hungry. That's such a lost concept for so many people now-a-days and it takes some getting used to. As a fat girl, I didn't know what "full" was. I knew "overly full" and "stuffed." It's all a learning process for us all and we're all on the same journey. You'll figure out what works for you and it'll get easier. Good luck on your journey!

And as far as food, my doctor's office wants you to be able to eat 1/2-1 cup of food and maintain atleast 3-4 hours. What I have learned personally though, I don't eat until I'm full. I eat until I'm no longer hungry. That's such a lost concept for so many people now-a-days and it takes some getting used to. As a fat girl, I didn't know what "full" was. I knew "overly full" and "stuffed." It's all a learning process for us all and we're all on the same journey. You'll figure out what works for you and it'll get easier. Good luck on your journey!

Amen.

Today I went out to lunch and I ordered a reuben sandwich on rye. I ate half. It was so good. I looked at that second half, wanting to keep going (I haven't had a sandwich since surgery 7 months ago!) But then I asked myself if I was hungry, and the answer was not.at.all.

Was I stuffed? Absolutely not. But I didn't need to eat more, so I didn't and I'm definitely not hungry. It's a hard learning process and I'm still struggling with it.

Stateofzen: That is exactly what I would eat now also, half the sandwich today and be perfectly satisfied vs the whole thing before AND the fries AND the side salad.....LOL. I think for me though, it may not be enough for substantial weight loss so I don't know if eating even less will help.......or what. Still figuring it all out.....

I'm new at this but DON'T drink with your meals. Avoid drinking 1/2 hr before and an hour after to keep food in your stomach as long as possible.

re: "Was I stuffed? Absolutely not. But I didn't need to eat more, so I didn't and I'm definitely not hungry. It's a hard learning process and I'm still struggling with it"

Perfect!!!!

This is the way Normos eat....they STOP when no longer hungry.

That is the most crucial thing I have been able to recognize. Somewhere, there is a little voice that finally has been trained to recognize ENOUGH!!!!

It is a GLORIOUS sensation!

I can't drink with meals anymore... not at all. It causes food to get, or feel like it is anyway, stuck in my band. No fun!