If I can eat a 6" subway at 5 months, how much at a year? :(

[Webchickadee 716]

Yes like I said, just because I can doesn't mean I have to. I don't drink with meals. And definitely, this really is where the "work" is coming in!! Before surgery I could eat a footlong, chips, 3 Cookies and still have room for more! So obviously an improvement, but still scary. I wish it were easier and I couldn't eat as much as I can. It was literally like overnight my capacity increased. Quite discouraging.

Firstly, you must remember that it can take up to 6 months for your stomach to full heal from the surgery. Which means you are probably experiencing extensive swelling in the stomach, not just for the first few weeks, but for up to 6 months. The "sudden" extra capacity could very well be as a result of decreased internal swelling and not any form of stretching.

Secondly, you cannot truly "know" you real capacity until you have established a baseline "normal". Which you can't do while you are healing, and is difficult to do while you are changing "variables".

Variables include:

- adding new foods/textures to your diet

- increasing/decreasing your activity or exercise level(s)

- Hormonal changes (esp. during menstruation in women)

and many more....

Don't get discouraged! It's like being disappointed in what a puzzle will look like, when you've only just seen a few pieces laid out. There is alot more ahead of you that will show you the "full picture".

As to how much you will eat at 1 year, who knows? But as you say, the element of "your choice" and "your decisions" will make ALL the difference. Making informed, healthy choices that FUEL your body (rather than your appetite and cravings) will help you reach your goal and maintain your losses.

I chose to use my first 6 months as a "training ground" to learn and establish my life-long eating habits going forward. That way I knew that future temptations, celebrations, cravings and "life" could be taken in stride without panic.

And when all else fails and I eat more than I should, I get A LOT more active and work it off.

Have faith. The tool of the VSG is only one part of your weight-loss and healthy living strategy. The best tool of all is your brain (no surgery required, but extensive modifications mandatory)!

[CowgirlJane 14,261]

My nutritionalist gave me the best tip EVER.

she said the key, the absolute key is to NEVER EVER EVER EVER and I mean NEVER EVER - eat as much as you "can". That is exactly how the feeling of restriction goes away. Repeatedly eating as much as you "can" will eventually make it so you CAN eat more and more. I am not even sure it is stretching - I think it is the getting used to that full feeling.

Pre surgery i could stuff amazing quantities into my stomach and I probably could now. I have to use my mind, my will, my determination to not do it. I have no idea what my max capacity is and i strive to never find out.

I am 18 months out and I don't have a tiny sleeve - my surgeon used I believe a 38 bougie (though my memory fades on this one).

[thinathart 197]

I haven't tried it, but I'm pretty sure I could eat the fillings of a 6" sub (minus the bread) no problem.

I'm 7 months out today. Meat/cheese/veggies all sit really well in my new stomach. I'm afraid to try bread (which is probably a good thing for me).

It seems certain days I have more restriction than others...for no apparent reason.

[ebonisekim 1,713]

I wouldn't say it's a bad thing that you can eat a 6 in sub I'm 4 month two weeks out and can't eat that much but I'm kind jealous of some of the food ppl can tolerate I was a big salad lover and still have a hard time w it and bread swell up in my stomach .. If the weight is still coming off its good and if it helps u some take one of the breads off next time u have one

[cinward2001 141]

Quit testing your limits. Seriously. It sounds, to me, like you're finding "excuses" to eat what you really shouldn't be eating. Subway sandwiches might *advertise* being healthy, but they're really NOT. Better to eat grilled chicken and some veggies than the processed stuff they call chicken. And the bread is pretty much just empty calories.

Think of it this way...if someone said "Hey, I can drink an entire milkshake...I'm so bummed that my sleeve isn't working any more!" What would you think? For the sleeve to be effective, you have to avoid "fluff" foods.

That said, even IF you're eating 6" subs, if that keeps you satisfied for 3-4 hrs (until next meal time), then it's probably FINE. The key is your overall calories/nutrition throughout the day.

I'm not trying to sound harsh and critical, but I AM trying to get you to take responsibility for your actions instead of "blaming" it on the sleeve. As I'm typing this, there's a pan of homemade brownies in my kitchen. And they're not the "from the box" homemade but true homemade. I could easily eat a brownie right now. I know some sleevers lose their taste for sweets and/or sweets make them nauseous. Not me!! So I could complain that the sleeve just isn't working that well for me, but in truth, it is what it is and *I* have to be the one to avoid the brownies.

[HatheryOnHerWay 603]

I hope to one day be satisfied with a 6" sub....I used to be able to eat a footlong sub, chips, a cookie, a large soda, and I'm sure I probably could even stuff in another footlong sub if I wanted to. My stomach must have been the size of a soccerball. haha

[DeezJeanz 1,065]

IMHO, this new you is given to us as a "tool" only. In the beginning, yes, I hear that it practically does the work for you, now w that being said, it is during those months that we shud b learning just how to retrain ourselves on how to eat better. I've read that the sleeve is alot different than gastric bypass bc gb does all the work, the sleeve, as I see it, gets you prepared to work. As som1 said, we didn't get fat over night, n tho it seems that getting skinny is overnight, its not, its a lifestyle change. So go bck to ur postop basics until you've learned how to find your own fullness cues. If you need more help than what the sleeve can provide, then think about doing the 2nd stage, gb, in the next 6_18 months so I've read. Hope it helps, but remember, this is a tool, but you have to use it properly n wisely. U can't use a hammer as a saw an expect the same results. Go look at old pictures n find ur motivation to continue ur New path. Good luck!

[JProx 161]

I could eat a 5.3 oz yogurt at 3 weeks and maybe more , but I don't I measure my food in a 4 oz container I bought at gfs and just don't eat more than that.

[Readytobeskinny 13]

To the person who asked why its discouraging I can eat so much more now..... Because its much nicer to have more restriction' date=' simply. I want my stomach to give me a stop signal way before it does.

As to the type of sub.... One was ham with only lettuce and mustard on a flatbread. The other was oven roasted chicken on wheat.[/quote']

Jen,

I'm only 2 weeks out so I can't speak from experience. However, I went to the post-op class with the nutritionist yesterday and one thing she said is that at 6 months your pouch will accommodate about 1-1 1/2 cup of food volume and likely stop there. That's about 8-12 ounces of food. Certainly a 6 inch flatbread with lettuce and deli ham is less than 1 1/2 cups of food. I wouldn't be too concerned. Like someone else said if it was meatball marinara with all the fixins on white bread I would worry.

[anayortiz 16]

Im 8 months post and when just ordered a blt for lunch and i could only eat half of the sandwich and a few chips :-)

[anayortiz 16]

That was on whole wheat bread :-)

[Jen35 283]

I am only 1 week out and really wish I could eat! Seriously, I think a 6 inch sub is not horrible. It is an improvement over what I know I could eat before (a lot!). I all comes down eating in moderation and making good choices. When you are talking fast food, a healthy option at Subway is better than a McDonalds Big Mac. Subway has healthy and not so healthy options, so the key is to know what they are before you go and have a plan. Eating at home is much healthier, of course, but there are times when we are going to eat out. I'm not swearing off restaurants for the rest of my life. But I will have a plan - knowing at least a few healthy choices at each so if I find myself there, I have the knowledge to stay on track.

Regarding pushing yourself and eating what you can. My brother is 2 1/2 years out and he said that he's become used to the full feeling and it doesn't bother him as much. So he eats more than he should. He lost 150 lbs. and has gained 30 back. He went back to liquids for 3 days and he said it made a huge difference in feeling the restriction. Your brain can get used to those full signals and you can ignore them. So eating less than you "can" is usually better in the long run. (Even after 2 1/2 years he still can't eat the amounts that he used to - but you can eat more often to make up for that)

[HatheryOnHerWay 603]

I worry I'm going to be one of those people that can still eat like a cow, even with their sleeve. I'm only a week out and I can already drink liquids pretty quickly and can gulp with no pain. I'm really looking forward to solid foods so I can feel the restraint of my sleeve!

[fluffylibra30 323]

I am 18 months now. I can eat all the filling from a 6 inch sub. Veggies meat all the good stuff. I can eat a 6 inch meatball, with half the bread. I usually cut the part that is less messy, then fold it in half. Going back to liquids for a few days does help. I had the flu for a week an only did liquids, once I was able to each I could tell the difference.

Also to put it in perspective, when I was 6 months I could eat 1 chicken wing. At a year I could do 2. Now I can do 3 and a bite of celery. Still pretty good!!

[jerseygirl31 2]

I'm one week out and I'm surprised at how much liquid I'm able to drink