I was wondering....how long until you are able to eat a small child's meal size rather than a couple of table spoons at a setting? LOL Not that I want to be able to eat that much...I just didn't like the way my hubby's family "noticed" how little I ate at lunch today. They were nice and not nosey...I just don't wanna be noticed for that. Sound dumb?

doesn't sound dumb at all....I've had the same isue, trying NOT to stand out in a crowd when eating with a group of people. it's kinda hard 'tho because i eat REALLY slow and take very small bites, so even if you 'move things around' on your plate it's still sometimes noticed how little you're eating. I've tried to just shrug comments off by saying "I have a bit of stomach flu I think" (that gets nice responses...lol... like "oooh-why are you here? don't make me sick!" ugh. if all else fails, go ahead & get the child size portion and eat your 2-3 TBSP and then eventually take the rest home. saves on meals that's for sure!!

You could try the old "hide it in a napkin" trick you used as a kid to feed the dog the foods you didn't like! LOL - j/k

I think I was up to about 3 oz at 4 months out . . . now I can eat 5-6 oz total at about 7 months out (depending on how dense my protein is). It still doesn't look like much food. When I go out to eat with people (like work clients that don't know about my surgery), I usually order a salad with grilled chicken on it. I can usually eat most of the chicken and some of the veggies, and I just push the rest of it around until we're done. It works pretty well!

I can eat more soup so I tend to order soup when out with people. Some days it seems I can eat more than others too.

My entire family is judgemental of how much I eat and should I be eating that and 2 T is to much and well they try to discourage me...but it takes me the same amount of time to eat 2 T of cottage cheese that it takes them to eat a full plate of lasagna and salad an bread meal.

Just gotta go with is it any of their business what you eat or don't eat...

Soup is a great idea, as warm seems to go down easier...

I am 14 months post-op and people still notice how little I eat. I told no one about my surgery but I did say that I had changed my eating behaviors. My friends see me put down my fork after each bite, chew thoroughly, and eat slowly. Sometimes when I feel like I have eaten enough I will wait 2 or 3 minutes and then eat a bite or two more. With people who don't know me I just say that I only eat half of what I am served. (Sometimes I eat less than that, but no one argues with me.) In restaurants, I sometimes ask for a half-portion and I can usually finish half of it depending on what it is. I have been doing this for over a year now and no one says anything. People will get used to how you eat eventually.

I feel like starting at 5 or 6 months I could eat semi-normal amounts of food. :-) still a fraction of what it was but its now not worrisome to others.

My entire family is judgemental of how much I eat and should I be eating that and 2 T is to much and well they try to discourage me...but it takes me the same amount of time to eat 2 T of cottage cheese that it takes them to eat a full plate of lasagna and salad an bread meal.

Just gotta go with is it any of their business what you eat or don't eat...

Soup is a great idea, as warm seems to go down easier...

That is just scary control over a person. People have NO Business obsessing over YOUR food. Even family IMHO. Good for you.

I can't eat an entire children's meal in one sitting... I'm almost 3 months out... I find that my restriction varies from day to day.. Today, I ate half a sandwich for Breakfast, the other half for lunch and some cheetos (I feel bad about them.. ;( .. I will make a better dinner choice)...

My friend always complains that I'm not eating enough and that I should force myself to eat, it's all in my head, etc.... I told her to stop or we won't be dining together any longer...

I'm almost a year out and can't eat that much in one sitting. I like subway and can eat about 4 inches of a sub...

I always loved subway, I'm 3 months out and still can't eat the bread. Hope that changes eventually!

I just love this place! Thanks so much for your stories and suggestions. It really helps!!!