I have been reading how the most that we can eat in 1 sitting is 1 cup of food (guessing it's from 6-12 mths onwards) to me this would still be less than a 'normal' person. To me 'normal' would be at least 2 cups. How do people deal with this?? I look at a cup of food and don't feel 'normal'. Can anyone consume more?

At almost 6 months out I don't think a I could eat a whole cup of food. Maybe yogurt, but definitely not anything denser. I look at my tiny amount and feel great about it, knowing I will feel satisfied with such a small portion. I'd rather be "abnormal" and eat 1/2 cup of food than the 3-4 + cups I was eating before. Besides, who cares if you fit into some one else's definition of "normal". I love the new normal me, and will frankly be a little sad if I am able to eat more the farther out I get.

@Kindle I have to agree! I will be 6 mons on the 11 of June... I can do just shy of 1/2c of food - never more then that... I dont think i could even do a cup of yogurt... Truth... I am so glad i am not "normal" I never want to be "normal" again... I also will be sad the day i can eat more then 1/2c in one sitting...

@Unhappysleever Hope you find some comfort fitting into your new "normal"...

Edited June 5, 201412 yr by skinnygirlwithin

We can definitely eat more of certain foods, but we cannot eat a big salad like we used to. My husband and I share salads at restaurants and cannot finish them. I buy small containers of chicken salad at the store because I only eat small amounts, maybe 1/4 cup. I am almost 7 months postop. Sauteed saltwater fish I love, and I could not eat one cup of fish. We eat in small amounts at our house, when hungry, and I never worry about the amount. I just eat a little, get satisfied, and move on. Best wishes!

Really? You are Unhappy because you cant eat "like a normal" person, Really???

Why did you bother having the operation?

My 'normal' may not be the same as your normal. I never ate huge portion sizes but the hardest thing I find is I constantly have to now think about what I eat, where 5 months ago I ate whatever I wanted with no thought

What is it you are having to think about? Are you having food intolerances? Are you not satisfied after you eat? Are you spending all your time counting and tracking? After 3 months I pretty much started eating anything I wanted whenever I was hungry...which is every 3-4 hours. I do, of course reach for Protein and veggies first, but it's kind of habit now. Other than drinking one big protein shake/day (which I love anyways) I don't track or measure anything, so eating for me is really just as easy as it was before surgery. The only difference is now I'm satisfied with a lot less.

If you are unhappy with your diet plan, maybe you should try and develop a simpler plan. This is your sleeve and you can work it however you want. I just figured out what I am happy with and you need to do the same. There's more than one way to be successful. BTW, how's your reflux? Is that affecting your eating habits?

Kindle, thanks so much for your reply, the reflux is way better than what it was and it doesnt interfere with my eating habits. These days i dont find food satisfies me and i miss the fact that i cant have bread, rice or pasta - when all else failed you could have a salad sandwich for lunch - not now! The whole protein thing gets me a little down too, not huge on eating yoghurt, cheese, eggs, protein shakes, not alot left after those really. Most days have cereal for breakfast cause its what i like, lunch is blah and dinner well blah too. You would think that at nearly 5 months i would have worked it out by now but no i must be a slow learner

I suggest going to your local deli and try some new things...some of my favorites are BBQ ribs, roasted veggies, turkey curry salad, meatloaf, garlic sesame pork loin, seafood kabobs, crab salad and broccoli bacon salad. One small container will last me several meals. Visit areas of the grocery store you don't frequent and really look things over for new ideas. If you are miserable with no Pasta, bread, rice, etc. go ahead and eat some.....in moderation! No sense losing weight if you are miserable. Just try to make it as "high protein" as you can. There are some breads higher in Protein than others. Use a thin wrap or flat bread to make a sandwich. I eat chicken salad and tuna salad with Pita bite crackers. I pile on the salad and am stuffed after just 3 crackers.... a "full serving" is 7 crackers. If you make a pasta dish, add extra protein ( pasta salad with chicken, spaghetti heavy on the meat sauce, light on the pasta). Barilla has a "Plus" line of pastas that are higher in protein. Have Chinese food or curry with just a little rice. I've had sushi roll with rice and yum.

Visit the recipe sub forum on here for some recipe ideas that might not be so blah. Google "the world according to eggface", too. She has some incredible recipes....cake, ice cream, donuts, smoothies, etc. I am not a fan of cooking myself, (thus the deli suggestion), but I even made my own protein pancakes using Red Mill pancake mix, powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury Protein powder, Garden of Life Raw Protein and an extra egg. They are better than any pancake I ever had preop with 8 G protein. Basically, if you REALLY want something, figure out how to make it work, or at least practice serious moderation. Hell, I've had ice cream, cake, cheesecake and alcohol when I wanted some and there's nothing high protein about any of those! Hmmmm, I wonder if I could make protein cheesecake?!?

Edited June 7, 201412 yr by Kindle

I can't even eat a half a cup of food! Two cups seems like so much.