I'm going to start mushies soon and I have a question.

When you moved to mushies, did you measure what you ate before you ate it? Did you stick to 1 cup or smaller?

I feel like I have no restriction right now, but I don't want to damage anything so I'm curious.

I was going to try and stick to no more than 1 cup, but I'm afraid of the hunger and eating more if I'm able to. How did you handle it?

Is a cup too much?

That seems to be the question of the ages around here. Search for portion sizes and you will see a variety of different answers. I have recently inquired myself. From my research 1 cup is the MAX you should eat at one sitting.

I myself, have been on mushies for quite some time now due to an overfill, and have found that you can eat more than a cup at a time, but don't do it, because you will stretch your pouch... like I did. :girl_hug:

Right now, after my unfill, I have started to measure everything. No more than one cup of solids at a time. liquids I still drink a 16 oz tea with no problems. Tomorrow, I am going to try for 3/4 cup at a meal to see if that will shrink my pouch, without leaving me hungry.

If I had to do it over again, I would measure from day one. Start at 1/2 cup and see how that feels, if I am still truly hungry, move up in 1/4 cup increments. That is the best advice I can give. Hindsight is 20/20 you know...

Thank you so much. That definitely helps.

Poodles,

Would you mind sharing what specifically caused your pouch to stretch? When was it in relation to your banding that this happened? Can the pouch be "right-sized" by unfilling and refilling the band?

I would like to know because I just started eating mushy foods this week and I too feel like I could eat much more than I do. I am afraid I might stretch my pouch too. My first check-up/fill isnt scheduled till late January.

I do begin to "feel" full after a small piece of fish (the size of two fingers) mashed to a pasty consistency or after a very small bowl of runny oatmeal but could eat more if I wanted to. Somehow I am able to control myself (If I could do that before banding, I would be $15,000 richer!)

Thanks.

That seems to be the question of the ages around here. Search for portion sizes and you will see a variety of different answers. I have recently inquired myself. From my research 1 cup is the MAX you should eat at one sitting.

I myself, have been on mushies for quite some time now due to an overfill, and have found that you can eat more than a cup at a time, but don't do it, because you will stretch your pouch... like I did.

Right now, after my unfill, I have started to measure everything. No more than one cup of solids at a time. Liquids I still drink a 16 oz tea with no problems. Tomorrow, I am going to try for 3/4 cup at a meal to see if that will shrink my pouch, without leaving me hungry.

If I had to do it over again, I would measure from day one. Start at 1/2 cup and see how that feels, if I am still truly hungry, move up in 1/4 cup increments. That is the best advice I can give. Hindsight is 20/20 you know...

I did not know it was stretched until they looked at it when they were giving me a fill. They said that anything can stretch it when you are too tight. She asked, "did you feel hot/cold liquids pool and then go down?", and my answer was yes. The lady said even Water can make your pouch stretch if you drink too much and you are too tight.

That is the reason I think you should measure things. Now, I still feel things "pool" a little, but not as much. I still need to follow my own advice and measure stuff though... the 3/4 cup idea did not work, and what I can handle changes day to day and meal to meal. Sometimes I can eat a whole cup, sometimes I am good to get in 1/4 cup.

I have read that your pouch will shrink again. You just have to give it a break.

Now as for if I could feel it stretching during my overfill time span... yes, I think I could. That, "oh my gosh that was one bite too much", and afterwards feeling bruised, I think that was it. But I don't know for sure.

I am just trying to be a good girl. Carb free, and small portions. I have not scheduled another fill, but might do so in a few months just to see if my pouch is ok.

Oh, and I would not worry about it much on mushies before your first fill. There should be little/no restriction until you get a fill.

Hey, I found a zip lock x-small container that holds exactly one cup. Thought you would like to know. I have been using it today and have found that I don't eat a whole cup of stuff. I think it is good to have the Max in front of me, with the option of putting a lid on it and saving it for later.

Hope this helps you too!!!