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Will My Stomach Stretch? Interesting information



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I for one HOPE, yes "hope" that my stomach stretches. I will take care of the calorie-content meals, and cut back and stuff, but my greatest hope and desire is to have a stomach big enough that enables me to occasionally go out with my family and have dinner; I'm not talking about a big dinner, and no buffets, no seconds, etc. but to have a decent dinner, and not one from the kid's menu. If I could do it all over again, I would have asked for the surgeon to use the biggest bougie available, or to just cut off ONLY one-half of my stomach. Anyway, if anyone has anything (scientific-based) to add, I would love to read it. thank you

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Sounds like you are all pretty early out when the stomach is still swollen. It takes about 6 weeks for that to go down and then over time you will develop more capacity. By a few months liquids are not restricted at all so watch those liquid calories.

Liquids will not stretch the sleeve.

The stomach will stretch somewhat over time but most of the part that was stretchy was removed so you will never be able to eat the volume of solid food that you did before.

I remember in the beginning eating solid meat and chewing forever and praying for the day when it would not hurt to eat after 2 bites. But those are the days when you are losing the most so don't wish it away.

In time you will be able to eat a small entree at a restaurant and feel full but not uncomfortable when eating enough to not feel hungry.

I am 16 months out and can eat everything but portions are what they should be not enormous like my old life. I can eat 4 ounces of steak and some broccoli etc when I got out to dinner. My daughter is happy to eat the rest of the steak. Yesterday when I went out to lunch I had a personal 8 inch brick oven style pizza (left off the end crust). I was able to eat most though focused on the toppings. I felt full after but not uncomfortable. I am in maintenance so fit it into my plan. I will never be eating 3-4 slices of a pizza like my old life. I will never go back for seconds.

Take advantage of your restriction. Choose dense Protein. Stop a bite or two before you think it is enough. Chew a lot and eat slow. These are things I have to remember every day.

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Good info. I've read both, that my stomach can strecth and that it can't. Makes sense to me. Altho I'm a little bummed to find out its true.

I also eat everything (1 yr out) but never as much as I did pre op. While I can eat more than I could at say 3 mths, its pretty steady now. I can eat about 2 oz of meat, 3 to 4 bites of each veggie and starch. Sometimes Ill "top off my tank", taking a couple bites more than full just so I'm not hungry 2 hrs later. Guess I need to stop that...

Thanx for the info...

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My surgeon said it can't stretch. So I'm not convinced yet that it actually will. I think people who gain their weight back just find ways around it. Eating junk and slider foods, for instance.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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