Hello everyone. I was wondering if anyone else is having this problem? During my first 7 months, my restriction was great. 3-4 oz of food was plenty. But, now I can eat 8-11 oz and I'm only 8 months out! I'm not getting to the uncomfertable level either. Certain foods give me better restriction though. I'm scared that even with eating the correct foods, I will be able to eat more and slowly gain my weight back. I'm 120 lbs down and terrified.

Eat less, move more.

I know it's not the most graceful answer but there is no need to be terrified once you lost 120 pounds. If you start to creep up then clean up your diet (less preservatives, chemicals, processed foods), eat for nutrition and set realistic fitness goals for yourself.

You've had a wonderful opportunity to hit the reset button. 120 pounds is amazing. How much more weight do you have to lose?

Great job at losing 120#. That represents a lot of hard work, focus and discipline.

Do not fear eating, treat it like an enemy or give it any power in your life. We need to eat a certain amount for proper mechanics of the body. Part of moving into vet territory is coming to grips with eating in a normal way that does not elicit fear, anger or any other negative reaction. food is just energy. If you find your weight increasing a tad, cut back a little or increase exercise, but do not let food take on any more power than being fuel.

Listen to your full signal. Your body may be comfortable with eating 1/2 cup or 1 cup of food now, but is that beyond your satisfaction signal or at your full signal or beyond? Everyone has different satisfaction and full signals and these responses to eating change as time goes on. Full signals are easier as a new post op than satisfaction signals. They are burping, hiccuping, sneezing, runny nose, etc. this is important to receive these signals because a lot of post WLS folks are still learning what it means to eat. Eating past a full signal as a new post op results in best case some sliming and in worst case pain. You do not want to do this for obvious reasons. That is the power of WLS during the initial months. Later on, it takes more food to receive the same full signal and more attention to recognize the satisfaction signal. However, you always want to eat to satisfaction and not to being full or beyond. Satisfaction might illicit a sigh or some little nuance you get trained to listen for. If you continue to eat to full post 1 year and longer, considering you are near or at goal, you may want to reevaluate what it means to receive satisfaction from a meal. And by meal I mean any time you eat. I happen to eat 7-8 times a day.

Definitely make smart and informed choices about eating in terms of quality and positive impact on the body.

Quantity will not be such an issue if your food selection is clean and healthy. Your body will adapt and burn more calories by raising the BMR, especially if you become fairly active.

Dense Proteins first, leafy green veggies second and low glycemic carbs third.

Try and pick foods low on the Glycemic index that illicit a normal and steady response of insulin in your blood.

Focus on good adrenal health which directly influences the endocrine system for optimal pancreatic, pituitary gland and thyroid responses (align these and your body will improve the BMR).

I'm a little over a year out and I'm having that issue also. I really had to pull it back in because over the holidays it was far too easy for me to slip up. I'm retraining myself to eat less again, just under that 'full' feeling that I used to get with a lot less food. Once you get further out it does get tougher, but its still doable. Its going to be a life long commitment, not just depending on the restriction from our stomachs but at this point our own will power. Hang in there, I'm right there with you!

Thank you for the replies everyone. I'm just worried a little about it. I get hungry all the time now and I didn't before. I thought, maybe I stretched my sleeve somehow.

I am about 11 months post op. Down 144-146 #. I have been at the same weight for about 3 weeks now. It's driving me crazy. Weight loss has slowed down dramatically. I am right there with you. My hunger is back, with a vengeance. Its harder to make the right choice when you feel like you are starving. It's really scary. I am constantly thinking I've some how stretched my sleeve, or messed it up somehow. I'm focusing on getting back on a very strict diet. Its not that I didn't know it would get harder later on in the game. But Im scared. Like you.