How Do You "mentally" Get Over The Lack Of...

[lml32937 65]

I am slowly very slowly able to increase from my full liquids (yogurt, thick soup) to mushies (refried Beans, mashed potatoe, mashed peas etc) BUT can only eat like 3-4 tsp and then I feel like a) i am going to explode or I need to go vomit...

I have tried to visualize my sleeve and it's new look vs the 3-4 oz that I am measureing and eating slowly imagining how what I am eating is filling me up and the 2 don't equal each other.... Because If I measure 3 oz I eat maybe 1.5 or 2 total. ( I waste soooooooo much food!!)

I am so happy I did this BUT it is so hard to physically and mentally realize HOW much I ate before surgery and watching my hubby or friends eat is just absolutly disgusting now... Did or does anyone else have any issues with this??

I cannot "eat" without taking Reglan or I will throw up- Doctor says it's is just me being a slow healer.... but it is soooooooooooo frustrating-- I seriously (not joking) do not know how anorexics and bulemics deal with the emptiness/fullness signals they think they have.... I am 4 weeks out so the "1st month from hell" that others warned of is about to exire.... (lol)...

[juli916 6]

I am 3 weeks post-op and my diet is all pureed Protein. My portion size is 1/4 cup and I sometimes can only eat half. My nutritionist had us stay away from anything with skins or seeds for 3 months. Could those be causing you irritation?

I agree with seeing how much others eat. I feel like I have time to do other things because I am not eating eating eating.

[Lissa 2,631]

I just dealt with it by eating what I could and putting the rest away, either as leftovers or as garbage. I hurt when I get too full, so I learned really quick to avoid that issue!

As for watching others eat, my 21 year old son gags me when he eats. He is 6'3 and can put away two or three plates of food and then finish mine most of the time. He's also skinny!! It's not fair! LOL

I try not to sit at the table when it's mealtime. He inhales food, almost literally. He chews 2 or 3 times and then swallows. Meanwhile I'm trying to look anywhere but at him!!!

We're getting there! Good to "see" you!

[MegInNOLA 531]

I know exactly what you mean on all fronts. I had/have a very picky sleeve and had to be on Prilosec or I threw up.... didn't matter what it was. Just not a happy experience! So keep taking the med--what's to lose??

And yes, small amounts can be eaten very quickly. I used a baby spoon when I was on mushies and softs, and it helped me eat slowly and take tiny bites. Try to think of it as a positive--this restriction is what the sleeve is supposed to do, and you will experience the greatest weight loss during that opening period of time when your body weight is still high and your food intake is super low.

Eventually you won't think about food so much--I know in the beginning, my senses of smell and taste and so forth were so incredibly keen--it's because your body thinks you're starving it (well, in a sense, you kind of are), and it's going to go overtime trying to convince you that whatever food is around looks and smells great! And portion size will eventually look more normal to you--when I was first starting back on "real" food after liquids, I thought people were eating HUGE amounts of food. It sort of grossed me out then. Now I find it kind of cool that I can't eat very much--I can't actually finish a whole cookie, for instance, or I eat 1 scallop and some salad and I'm done. I LOVE MY SLEEVE!!

[Ms skinniness 3,003]

On the way home from the mountains, I realized that I can only eat 4.5 bites without getting too full. So I still have alot of adjusting to do by taking less on my plate and not over doing it. I really want to not stretch my stomach. I am changing my thoughts to more of a yay, I don't want anymore. Early on I struggled with getting all my Water and stuff. Now I just keep taking drinks whenever I can. You will be fine. Take your time and pamper yourself.....you deserve it......

[thinoneday 445]

Hi, this part of surgery takes a lot of work. . . yes, i used to find it disqusting to how much food people really eat. and to think we all used to eat that much if not more. . . really gross if you ask me. . . what i do is use a baby bowl or a small dessert dish for my food. if your wanting a plate and not a bowl, use a tea cup saucer. then add 1 - 2 tsp of each food you want. it fills it up and looks like you have lots, you'll be lucky if you can finish it! good luck!