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Portion Control

Hi there! I’m finally on purée/soft foods and I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to portion food so that you don’t overeat. I know they say eat until you are full but I haven’t reached that yet. I can’t tell when I’m full and don’t want to overeat. How much are we supposed to have at a meal? I’ve heard 4oz is this typical?

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Here is advice my nutritionist gave me

use measuring cups, start with 1/4 cup size and use that as your guide. You will likely not eat that much in the 30 min eating window, eating for longer than that is considered grazing which has been known to cause regain

Don't try to eat more than that yet. Slowly work up to that goal

4 oz is the amount of dense protein recommended when at the solids stage and that's a ways off for you

  • Author
Here is advice my nutritionist gave me
use measuring cups, start with 1/4 cup size and use that as your guide. You will likely not eat that much in the 30 min eating window, eating for longer than that is considered grazing which has been known to cause regain
Don't try to eat more than that yet. Slowly work up to that goal
4 oz is the amount of dense Protein recommended when at the solids stage and that's a ways off for you


That’s a great tip! I’ll give that a shot!


They have these awesome plate dividers. You can get them on Amazon. They even have them for different weights. Like maybe your goal weight etc. My hubby has one. I couldn't use them because I don't have enough room after eating my protein. But that is just me. Good Luck

I eat roughly a half cup, so I still use one once in a while a collapsible measuring 1/2 cup. Useful at big eating events like buffets and family gatherings

HW 309
SW. 274
CW. 217
GW 190
Surgery 09/25/17

  • Author
I eat roughly a half cup, so I still use one once in a while a collapsible measuring 1/2 cup. Useful at big eating events like buffets and family gatherings

HW 309
SW. 274
CW. 217
GW 190
Surgery 09/25/17






So is 1/2 a cup for total food or protein? How do you measure if you want like eggs and retried beans? Hopefully that isn’t a dumb question.


So is 1/2 a cup for total food or Protein? How do you measure if you want like eggs and retried Beans? Hopefully that isn’t a dumb question.

Not a dumb question. They all go in the same cup or I do my best to guesstimate. For Protein like solid chicken I used to weigh it, now I can eyeball to within a ounce. For me I always eat the protein first then move onto veggies, and maybe a spoonful of carbs, like corn. I know when I am full when I feel a pressure in the middle of my chest. I call it my popup timer.

So for loose food I use a measuring cup.

For solid food I use a scale when at home. I get about 4 to 5 oz depending on how solid.

HW 309

SW. 274

CW. 217

GW 190

Surgery 09/25/17

16 hours ago, Ready2018 said:

Hi there! I’m finally on purée/soft foods and I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to portion food so that you don’t overeat. I know they say eat until you are full but I haven’t reached that yet. I can’t tell when I’m full and don’t want to overeat. How much are we supposed to have at a meal? I’ve heard 4oz is this typical?

I've never been a fan of "eat until you're full" because sometimes that comes too late. It seriously sucks when you go from "okay I'm full now" to a few minutes later of "okay I'm going to throw up right now!" :lol:

For the first few weeks I pretty much ate out of a measuring cup. 4 oz is typical, however at that stage there is such a difference between foods. You could likely get 4 oz of yogurt down without much fuss. 4 oz of chicken would have killed me once I was cleared to eat anything. The density of the food really matters.

Get yourself a nice little kitchen scale. You can pick one up from Walmart or Amazon for $10-15. Measure out your food and go from there. If you can comfortably eat 3 oz after a few times then try going up to 4 oz. Just keep in mind that 1 oz doesn't seem like much but it really is for us.

If you are out a don’t have your cup or scale, because let’s be honest, that’s gunna happen. I found this video by Dr. V to be helpful!




18 hours ago, Engelyn said:

If you are out a don’t have your cup or scale, because let’s be honest, that’s gunna happen. I found this video by Dr. V to be helpful!

Man O Mighty!! I love this guy!! I wish he would have been my Surgeon!! Smart Guy!! Thanks for posting his link. Very interesting for sure!! Noone has taken the time t explain things like him. I was shocked when he said the "F" bomb. LOL

On 2/6/2018 at 3:33 PM, Tealael said:

Here is advice my nutritionist gave me

use measuring cups, start with 1/4 cup size and use that as your guide. You will likely not eat that much in the 30 min eating window, eating for longer than that is considered grazing which has been known to cause regain

Don't try to eat more than that yet. Slowly work up to that goal

4 oz is the amount of dense Protein recommended when at the solids stage and that's a ways off for you

I second this! At my pre-op class we were told the same thing. Always use measuring cups and keep portions at 1/4 cup for now.

You can use measuring cups like someone else said, weigh your food or.... I just usually use them small Tupperware containers. Them things usually get the job done.

Hw-273
Sw-226
CW-138
GW-130
Size- 4 or 6, Small in sweats. Small in shirts. depends on how it's cut or made.
Bra Size- 36C

Surgery Date- April 26th, 2017
RNY
"Only those who try will become" FFX

Hi there! I’m finally on purée/soft foods and I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to portion food so that you don’t overeat. I know they say eat until you are full but I haven’t reached that yet. I can’t tell when I’m full and don’t want to overeat. How much are we supposed to have at a meal? I’ve heard 4oz is this typical?


I hope that’s true - what I’m doing too. Measuring/ weighing foods to 4 oz. I don’t feel full either and that makes me nervous- just don’t want to stretch pouch


HW 242
SW 236- December 20, 2017
CW 199
GW 160
Not a dumb question. They all go in the same cup or I do my best to guesstimate. For Protein like solid chicken I used to weigh it, now I can eyeball to within a ounce. For me I always eat the protein first then move onto veggies, and maybe a spoonful of carbs, like corn. I know when I am full when I feel a pressure in the middle of my chest. I call it my popup timer.
So for loose food I use a measuring cup.
For solid food I use a scale when at home. I get about 4 to 5 oz depending on how solid.
HW 309
SW. 274
CW. 217
GW 190
Surgery 09/25/17

Thank you! I get that pop up timer feeling too! Is that the new full feeling?


HW 242
SW 236- December 20, 2017
CW 199
GW 160

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