Okay...I am really curious. Since I have been able to graduate to "normal" food and increase my portion from 1/4 cup (2oz) to 1/2 cup (4oz)...I feel like there is tons of food on my plate. 4 oz is actually quite a bit of food. I never finish it...I have had one fill so for.

So here is my question. Are 1/2 cup measurements truly equal to 4 oz measurements? For example - I weighed out scrambled eggs, 1 turkey sausage link and half piece of hard toast and it came out to 3.7 ounces...which is right in line with my guidelines...however visually looking at that on a plate...I know that will not fit into a 1/2 cup measuring cup. Or maybe it will if it was all squished up.

I just want to make sure that I am not stretching my little pouch without realizing it.

Also - does that limit apply to Protein shakes? I drink a 10-12 ounce Protein shake on my way to work every day. It only takes me about 30 minutes to get to work....should that be split to 4 ounces as well.

Just curious....Thanks in advance for your feedback.

My general rule for measuring is... Protein I do with oz's so I have 2 oz's of protein and I measure out with a 1/4 cup my veggies and salads.. If i put on the scale salad to 2 oz's it's way to much food so I just use 1/4cup for that.. Fruit depends on what I'm measuring. If it's strawberries, blueberries, or any berries I use the 1/4 cup. If it's any kind of melon I use the scale and measure those in oz's.. I eat 1/2 cup of good per meal so I just try and stick to 2 oz's of protien and 1/4 cup of veggies or salad..

I don't measure at any liquids that I drink because I can have as much of that as I want.. I have no limits on liquids, I just need to follow the 30/30 rule..

I highly recommend you read Jean McMillan's article "Restriction, the Holy Grail" in the magazine article section on the right side of this page. Click on View All: http://www.lapbandta...-holy-grail-r51

The oz and cup measurements really shouldn't be your only guideline. Satiety should be your goal. Once you feel satisfied it's time to stop eating. Pay attention to the signs. If you've eaten 2 ozs of meat and feel full and satisfied it's time to stop.

If you can eat far more than the oz and cup measurement guidelines, you may need a fill or need to find nutritous foods that satisfy.

tmf

My general rule for measuring is... Protein I do with oz's so I have 2 oz's of protein and I measure out with a 1/4 cup my veggies and salads.. If i put on the scale salad to 2 oz's it's way to much food so I just use 1/4cup for that.. Fruit depends on what I'm measuring. If it's strawberries, blueberries, or any berries I use the 1/4 cup. If it's any kind of melon I use the scale and measure those in oz's.. I eat 1/2 cup of good per meal so I just try and stick to 2 oz's of protien and 1/4 cup of veggies or salad..

I don't measure at any liquids that I drink because I can have as much of that as I want.. I have no limits on liquids, I just need to follow the 30/30 rule..

30/30 rule?

Okay...I am really curious. Since I have been able to graduate to "normal" food and increase my portion from 1/4 cup (2oz) to 1/2 cup (4oz)...I feel like there is tons of food on my plate. 4 oz is actually quite a bit of food. I never finish it...I have had one fill so for.

So here is my question. Are 1/2 cup measurements truly equal to 4 oz measurements? For example - I weighed out scrambled eggs' date=' 1 turkey sausage link and half piece of hard toast and it came out to 3.7 ounces...which is right in line with my guidelines...however visually looking at that on a plate...I know that will not fit into a 1/2 cup measuring cup. Or maybe it will if it was all squished up.

I just want to make sure that I am not stretching my little pouch without realizing it.

Also - does that limit apply to Protein shakes? I drink a 10-12 ounce protein shake on my way to work every day. It only takes me about 30 minutes to get to work....should that be split to 4 ounces as well.

Just curious....Thanks in advance for your feedback.[/quote']

There are liquid ounces and weight ounces. Think of it this way, a pound of feathers (16oz) takes up a lot more space than a pound of lead. Two totally different things. When measuring your food, concentrate on the physical volume. If it fits in a 1/2 cup container (regardless of how much it weighs) you're safe. As for the shakes, they pass through the pouch, so no need to divide them up into smaller portions.

I generally do the same as hedder14. However, I think in terms of what the size of that pouch is. If my doctor says no more than a cup of food, I picture my pouch as being the size of 1 c. measuring cup. If I look at it that way, the weight of the food doesn't matter as much as the volume of food. I know now that my pouch will not hold more than a cup of food. If I go over a cup, I'm miserable. But it might've taken four ounces of fish and a 1/4 c of green beans to get to that cup. That's a lot of food on my plate but, I'm satisfied and not too full after I eat. May not work for everyone that way. I dont know.

Okay...I am really curious. Since I have been able to graduate to "normal" food and increase my portion from 1/4 cup (2oz) to 1/2 cup (4oz)...I feel like there is tons of food on my plate. 4 oz is actually quite a bit of food. I never finish it...I have had one fill so for.

So here is my question. Are 1/2 cup measurements truly equal to 4 oz measurements? For example - I weighed out scrambled eggs, 1 turkey sausage link and half piece of hard toast and it came out to 3.7 ounces...which is right in line with my guidelines...however visually looking at that on a plate...I know that will not fit into a 1/2 cup measuring cup. Or maybe it will if it was all squished up.

I just want to make sure that I am not stretching my little pouch without realizing it.

Also - does that limit apply to Protein shakes? I drink a 10-12 ounce protein shake on my way to work every day. It only takes me about 30 minutes to get to work....should that be split to 4 ounces as well.

Just curious....Thanks in advance for your feedback.

The portion control for limiting your meals are measured strictly by the volume, and not the actual weight. 3oz of protein is 3 ounces marked off in a measuring cup; there is no need to weigh your portions.

The shakes like other liquids will need to be measured when you mix them. I use 8oz of skim milk mixed with 1.5 scoops of my Protein powder, and then mix it together in the blender, which does add air, which is rapidly lost before I drink it.

30/30 rule?

Probably no drinking 30 minutes before or after a meal. Not positive so hopefully the poster will reply...

yes"! it's no drinking 30 mins before or after a meal.. each dr. is it's seems is a bit different how how many mins after, but mine says' no fluids 30 mins before a meal and no fluids 30 after..

One of the biggest thing I've learned from my dr and p.a is not to rely on my band so much.. Yes! it's a tool and it's there to help, but the band can't do it all.. I stop eating weather I feel full or not, I stop when my portions are eating.. I can eat normal, I don't need to chew chew chew, or take sips with my drinks, but I also don't feel hungry after.. IT's not to say at times I don't get hungry, I do.. But I've learned that if I eat my 1/2 cup of food ( which sometimes I feel I could get more ) move away from the table, wait 30 mins take a drink I usually feel satisfied and I can wait unilt my next meal.. I don't want to rely on the band to make me stop eating.. I want to stop eating, I need to stop eating....

My doctor has never told me to eat by volume. He said to eat 3 oz by weight of solid protein; and then low fat/cals veggies until full.

It's kind of hard as some go by weight and others by volume. I know that eventually it should come down to satiety....but right now I am measuring and like a few others posted...If I eat my portion and I am still "hungry" then I still don't eat more. Which honestly that has only happened once or twice. Now I have had head hunger many times after my portion. It is just confusing to me....which guideline should be used 4oz or 1/2 cup. Clearly they aren't always equal. Hmmmm...

AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH! I get into this every time I eat with my hubby. He doesn't seem to bake/cook much. Liquids are measured in measuring cups, solids on a scale. I talked to my doc about this and he just laughed. He said meat protein should be weighed, while my veggies can go into a 1/4 cup. Fluids and soft foods (tuna, pudding etc.) go into measuring cups.

AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH! I get into this every time I eat with my hubby. He doesn't seem to bake/cook much. Liquids are measured in measuring cups, solids on a scale. I talked to my doc about this and he just laughed. He said meat Protein should be weighed, while my veggies can go into a 1/4 cup. Fluids and soft foods (tuna, pudding etc.) go into measuring cups.

Makes sense.... so with that in mind...would you do 2 oz protein and 1/4 veggies? to stay under your a total of 4oz or 1/2 cup.

My nutrient it's said I should be able to fit my whole meal on my hand or a small side plate. Most of it should be protien then veggie with 10% carb.

Thanks everyone for responding!!!