I finally told my parents that I'm on the journey for sleeve surgery. They are supportive but very concerned of the long term eating of smaller portions. I'm looking for some help to understand how that works. Help!

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You will end up eating the portions that most people should be eating anyway. Smaller than the gigantic heaps and platters of food served at an American restaurant -- but normal in many parts of the world!

3 ounces is considered a standard serving size of chicken, what people *should* be eating by nutritional experts.

3 ounces of chicken is right around what you will end up eating -- not immediately post-op, but eventually. This is just an example of course. Most people in the US (your profile doesn't say where you are from) are either overweight or obese. Most people eat too much food. You will eat healthy amounts of food, not giant platters or chowing down on endless refills at a buffet -- and that is a good thing.

I do not find it challenging in the least to meet my nutritional needs 3.5 years post op. I try to focus on healthy foods and not fill up on crap with no nutritional value. As long as you focus on healthy foods, you will be fine.

@@MLT, I don't understand your parents' concern over "small portions." If they are saying that you can't do it, speak up. If they can't conceive of smaller portions, I'll guess that they are overweight at best, in which case, they may not be able to be genuinely, unselfishly supportive as you go forward. Love you as they do, they have a stake in your staying heavy.

If you were expecting to return to your lifelong portions after losing weight, remind yourself of all the other times you did so. Maintaining weight loss is a lifelong program. Reality bites.

I agree with Bufflehead. I'm 6 years out and I basically eat portions that are considered normal. (Not normal by typical US standards, but normal by nutritional standards). My portions are slightly smaller than my "normal size" friends, due to my restriction, but what I lack in volume I make up in frequency, so at the end of the day I probably take in the same amount.

More dramatic than my portion sizes has been the types of food I eat. WAY less non-nutritive carb heavy "wasted calories", and WAY more healthy foods that contain the nutrients my body needs, not the junk my head may want. Yes, I do sometimes indulge in what I consider my "emotional foods", but never to an extent that compromises my health or weight maintenance.

You will likely experience a period of severe restriction immediately postop. The portions you eat will be scary small and your parents may freak out. But you will progress past this to a point of being able to eat more than enough to nourish your body. (If you make healthy choices)

Edited November 11, 20169 yr by Dairymary

Thank you everyone for responding. I feel better already about the long term healthy change. I've been eater much better in the past five months than I ever have in my life. I'm sure I will have my challenges but appreciate this knowledge and support.

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You will end up eating the portions that most people should be eating anyway. Smaller than the gigantic heaps and platters of food served at an American restaurant -- but normal in many parts of the world!

3 ounces is considered a standard serving size of chicken, what people *should* be eating by nutritional experts.

3 ounces of chicken is right around what you will end up eating -- not immediately post-op, but eventually. This is just an example of course. Most people in the US (your profile doesn't say where you are from) are either overweight or obese. Most people eat too much food. You will eat healthy amounts of food, not giant platters or chowing down on endless refills at a buffet -- and that is a good thing.

I do not find it challenging in the least to meet my nutritional needs 3.5 years post op. I try to focus on healthy foods and not fill up on crap with no nutritional value. As long as you focus on healthy foods, you will be fine.

Eat to live.

It doesn't take near as much to live as we have been programmed to think.

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I'm agreeing with the others. Two years out. I eat 3-4 ounces of Protein 1/4 cup of brown rice or other starch and 1/4 cup of veg. Or 1 cup of Soup or stew, etc. small but Normal portions.

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