Portion Size

[pcosmommyof4 13]

I have been told a .5 cup to 1 c. of solid food, never more than 1 c. I measure with measuring cup and I do not eat Pasta or potatoes. I have to have 20 grams of Protein in a meal. It is hard to get 20 grams of protein in a .5 c of food. This worked great until I ended up with H1N1 virus in November.

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

Sorry missy going to correct you here, the pouch doesn't hold one cup of food, it only holds about a tablespoon of food.< /p>

The pouch is above the band and that's where the food you just swallowed ends up till its squeezed through the band hence the one minute rule between bites, sometimes it takes an extra minute depending on what we eat. If one cup of food were to sit in the pouch above the band we'd all be in big trouble.

I asked my surgeon, my nutritionist and my fill person about how much sits in the little pouch and they all told me the same thing, about a tablespoon.

To the op no question is dumb and as you've found out you've had wonderful and helpful replies from great people on this forum so ask away.

Well that's not what my surgeon and nutritionist said, they specifically said a cup of food. I guess it's another example of different surgeons saying/doing/recommending different things.

[Summerrain 520]

Well that's not what my surgeon and nutritionist said' date=' they specifically said a cup of food. I guess it's another example of different surgeons saying/doing/recommending different things.[/quote']

Missy I'm not disputing the one cup amount as that's what I've been told to eat also per meal and no more.

What I was getting at is that that cup of food does not sit in your pouch above the band, each bite we swallow is squeezed through the band then we can take another bite. Below the band our stomachs are unaltered. If that half cup of food or that one cup of food were sitting in the little pouch above the band we'd be pbing and sliming like rabid dogs.

[toritz 64]

I have been wondering about this as well. I was told the same as Summerrain that there is no pouch and each bite is squeezed through but I hear lots of people here talking about a pouch? Confused?

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,722]

Well that's not what my surgeon and nutritionist said, they specifically said a cup of food. I guess it's another example of different surgeons saying/doing/recommending different things.

yes i agree mis, all dr's say different things.

i was gonna input what my dr said, but its different then some i read on here but what i am doing works for me.

i guess do what (our) doctors/nutritionist says to do

[ireallywannabthin 286]

wow! it really is amazing how different all doctors and nutritionists are! Thank you all for your input! It's been a huge help!

[Jewelsm1127 351]

Again tremendously different. My surgeon and nutritionist days yes there is a pouch and it holds about 4oz. I also have the 1 cup rule. I always weigh any meat I eat. I will also weigh cheese or basically anything dense and heavy. If its a veggie I use a measuring cup but I don't squash anything down (too much) :-). Always go with doctors orders and if they are not clear than pester them with questions until you are sure you understand. You paid them...they are working for you! :-)

[Frederic 500]

My understanding is this.

The band serves 2 purposes

It creates a smaller passageway for the food we eat slowing the time it takes food to pass and it creates a pouch near our satiation receptors. Food can easily enter the pouch but leaves it slowly so we feel full sooner.

The pouch is normally placed to provide 1 tablespoon of capacity but will naturally stretch to be approx. 1 cup and still be effective. The more and faster we eat the more the pouch stretches until eventually we expand the pouch to be as large as the whole stomach was originally.

Our dietary guidelines may vary but they ultimately serve the same purpose teaching us to eat slower and use smaller portions so the pouch can tell us we're full before we over stretch it.

[ladylaine 5]

Thank y'all for this information. I was doing this all wrong I was eating 4oz of Protein and a whole cup of veggie and starch. Thank yall

[KateP 359]

Sorry missy going to correct you here' date=' the pouch doesn't hold one cup of food, it only holds about a tablespoon of food.

The pouch is above the band and that's where the food you just swallowed ends up till its squeezed through the band hence the one minute rule between bites, sometimes it takes an extra minute depending on what we eat. If one cup of food were to sit in the pouch above the band we'd all be in big trouble.

I asked my surgeon, my nutritionist and my fill person about how much sits in the little pouch and they all told me the same thing, about a tablespoon.

To the op no question is dumb and as you've found out you've had wonderful and helpful replies from great people on this forum so ask away.[/quote']

Interesting. This is what we are now taught in Europe and have been for about three years now. When I was banded in 2006, we were told the original view of food being held above the band and mimicking a full stomach. But the understanding now, based on reseach studies, is that the food remains, as you say, above the band for about a minute. The diminution in hunger comes from the brain counting the additional number of pushes required to get food through the band. This is why, as long as we wait at least a minute after a mouthful, over here most docs now say srinking with meals makes no difference unless you eat too fast and things back up.

I know some US docs now say this, I was pointed to the website of Dr Terry Simpson (know nothing about him!!) and he makes the point that understanding has developed and food passes through in under a minute.

[KateP 359]

I have been wondering about this as well. I was told the same as Summerrain that there is no pouch and each bite is squeezed through but I hear lots of people here talking about a pouch? Confused?

Are you the Toritz from the UK board! If do, this is how Brits docs now teach.