4 onz of food?

[skinnyfeelsgood 2]

I'm 5 weeks out of VGS... do you guys still eat at 4 onz every 4 hours?

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[Arabesque 6,443]

I never ate that much for months. A quarter to a third of a cup was the norm for me. It would take 3 days to eat 2 scrambled eggs. I ate three times a day & at about month 3 I started slowly adding an afternoon snack of yogurt &/or fruit.

At 19 months out I eat about 3 oz of Protein. I do eat more vegetables than when I was losing (about 1/2 cup now) & have more Snacks. Last night I had a bare cup of bolognese ( mince beef, onions, celery, carrot, tinned tomato) over 35 mins & it was more than enough. At 5 weeks I could eat about 1/4 cup of the same.

Don’t push yourself to eat to a specific amount. Just make sure you’re meeting your protein goals. We can only eat what we can eat. Eat slowly until you feel like you’ve had enough. (It takes time for the message you’re full to get through.) You don’t want to eat too much or eat until you’re over full. I can take 20 mins to an hour to eat. I’m a believer in putting my fork down between bites, waiting before I take another & asking do I really need (not want) that next bite.

Some people can & do eat more. Others less. You just have to work out what is the right amount for you & your body within your program.

Good luck & congrats on your surgery.

[skinnyfeelsgood 2]

I never ate that much for months. A quarter to a third of a cup was the norm for me. It would take 3 days to eat 2 scrambled eggs. I ate three times a day & at about month 3 I started slowly adding an afternoon snack of yogurt &/or fruit.
At 19 months out I eat about 3 oz of Protein. I do eat more vegetables than when I was losing (about 1/2 cup now) & have more Snacks. Last night I had a bare cup of bolognese ( mince beef, onions, celery, carrot, tinned tomato) over 35 mins & it was more than enough. At 5 weeks I could eat about 1/4 cup of the same.
Don’t push yourself to eat to a specific amount. Just make sure you’re meeting your Protein goals. We can only eat what we can eat. Eat slowly until you feel like you’ve had enough. (It takes time for the message you’re full to get through.) You don’t want to eat too much or eat until you’re over full. I can take 20 mins to an hour to eat. I’m a believer in putting my fork down between bites, waiting before I take another & asking do I really need (not want) that next bite.
Some people can & do eat more. Others less. You just have to work out what is the right amount for you & your body within your program.
Good luck & congrats on your surgery.

I ask because I haven't been able to meet my 70 grams of protein following 4onz every 4 hours 3 times a day like my nutritionist said, but I'm worried that I'll stall that because I'm not meeting my protein grams.

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[Arabesque 6,443]

First, just about everyone stalls at least once on their journey regardless of their Protein intake. It’s just your body taking a breath to catch up with the changes.

I wasn’t getting my protein in either to begin. My goal was 60g. I couldn’t tolerate Protein Shakes at all - so grainy & blah! Shudder! But they’re the easiest way to meet your goals if you can tolerate them & they contribute to your Fluid goal too. I added a high protein yoghurt/yogurt drink to my diet to up my daily protein intake instead. My dietician also suggested adding milk powder to my milk to make it extra rich & double the protein except I found it too sweet. I add it to my chia pudding now.

[Starwarsandcupcakes 1,892]

4oz of certain things are much more dense than others. For example 4oz of fresh spinach is about 4 cups(3.4g Protein, ~30 calories). Meanwhile, 4oz of chicken breast (25.7g protein, ~140 calories) is about the size of your palm. Also, 4oz of eggs is roughly 2.5 large eggs (15.75g protein, ~180 calories). Then you have things like regular cheddar cheese where 4oz is about a cup shredded (28.4g protein, ~460 calories) and 4oz of fat free cottage cheese (13g protein, ~70 calories) being 1/2 a cup.

Im almost 4months post VSG to RNY revision (and a year VSG) and I couldn’t imagine trying to eat 4oz of chicken at one go. But cottage cheese and Protein Bars (usually around 2oz, 15g protein and ~160 calories for the ones I buy) I can do no problem. And 4oz (1/2 cup) of unsweetened applesauce with a scoop of unflavored Protein Powder was a lifesaver at 5 weeks post VSG for only 90 calories and 10g of protein.

I’m also team “protein shake as coffee creamer” so I know I’m at least getting 20g of protein that way throughout the day depending on the shake I use. I also get the protein Soup packets from the bariatricpal shop and have those most days I work. Just mix with hot Water and go for around 100 calories and 15g of protein.

Find what works for you even if that means getting your protein as liquids throughout the day.

[Mr Alley Gator 263]

Do not get hung up on oz and grams and weight - Focus on getting healthy, not driving youself nutz with all the measurements. Life you life while getting healthy and happy!

[ms.sss 14,634]

12 hours ago, skinnyfeelsgood said:

I ask because I haven't been able to meet my 70 grams of Protein following 4onz every 4 hours 3 times a day like my nutritionist said, but I'm worried that I'll stall that because I'm not meeting my protein grams.

4oz of food EVERY 4 HOURS seems like alot at 5 weeks? I don't think I was getting 4 oz of food A DAY by until about 3-4 months (though I was probably only hitting my 60g protein goal maybe 75% of the time)

Just to clarify: is your nutritionist asking you to consume 4oz of food every four hours? or 4 fl oz of Protein Shake or similar?

Edited to add: I looked up what I what I was eating at 5 weeks, and I it looks like I was hitting my protein goals, but in the form of Protein Shakes. I recall I was going through a food aversion thing around that time and was eschewing solid foods...and I had no problem drinking liquids, so that's what I did.

My food log screenshot at exactly 5 weeks:

Edited December 8, 2020 by ms.sss

[skinnyfeelsgood 2]

4oz of food EVERY 4 HOURS seems like alot at 5 weeks? I don't think I was getting 4 oz of food A DAY by until about 3-4 months (though I was probably only hitting my 60g Protein goal maybe 75% of the time)
Just to clarify: is your nutritionist asking you to consume 4oz of food every four hours? or 4 fl oz of Protein Shake or similar?

These are my guidelines after completing the first three stages of post op diet... when I say 4 onz of food it is measure by volume, so anything I can fit into 1/2 cup measuring cup.

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[GradyCat 3,692]

I didn't weigh and measure. I just did what my body could tolerate and followed the dietician's guidance on 60-70g Protein, 64 oz Water, etc. I can't eat much so I know that my portion sizes are correct.

[Deb9386 110]

14 hours ago, Starwarsandcupcakes said:

4oz of certain things are much more dense than others.

I agree with Starwarsandcupcakes. I still can't eat chicken or meat at all - too dense for me, but can easily eat 4oz of high Protein yoghurt.

I was told to prioritise Fluid intake first (at least 2 litres per day though my dietitian said I'd be working up to this for the first few weeks and that I should contact her if I couldn't take in at least 750ml per day). And secondly to prioritise at least 60g of protein per day. The diet plan I was given didn't have measurements of food, it was for calories per day. I'm 6 weeks out from RNY bypass and supposed to now be having at least 800 & no more than 1000 cals pd.

As with your diet plan I was told to work towards having 3 small meals and 2 Snacks but I still have to have a Protein Shake to get my protein in. I wouldn't be able to do it with food alone. As an evening meal I've just had half of a small baked potato [30g/1oz] (only the inside, not the skin), with 60g/2oz of canned tuna and teaspoon of low fat Mayonnaise. That seems to be similar to your meal plan?

As a snack I'd have for example the protein shake (146 cal/22g protein) or maybe 50g high protein yoghurt with about 10-20g fruit puree.

Reading the various threads here I'd say everybody seems to have a different tolerance for what and how much they can eat? So I'd say aim for the regular pattern of eating, but eat what you feel you can tolerate.

[ms.sss 14,634]

On 12/8/2020 at 10:28 AM, skinnyfeelsgood said:

These are my guidelines after completing the first three stages of post op diet... when I say 4 onz of food it is measure by volume, so anything I can fit into 1/2 cup measuring cup.

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There seems to be a very wide array of instructions to be followed among WLS patients and their surgeons.

The common theme is to try to meet the goals, as stated in point #5 in the image provided: “Work your way up to 70g of Protein a day”.

We are all so different and we will all inevitably reach certain levels at different times (some may not even reach them at all). Do the best you can and you will most likely get there eventually.

As an aside, I am not sure that not meeting your protein goals results in stalls. Though if u are really concerned about your lack or protein at this juncture, perhaps get your labs done and see if there the concern is warranted? And maybe in the meantime add a Protein Shake or 2 to your daily diet?

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, and for a definitive opinion/answer its probably best to consult one.

Good Luck!

P.S. congrats on your surgery!