Post-Op : measure by volume or weight?

[SemperVeritas 18]

I'm almost 3 weeks post op (bypass). I plan to ask my NUT, but how did you measure your food, especially in the early days? Previously, when calorie counting, I would weigh my food. But now when I read the suggested meal plan it says stuff like 3 tablespoons cream of wheat and 2 tablespoons chicken (made that combo up 😅). So I've been measuring by volume because I have a one ounce scoop/or tablespoon. But there is a considerable difference between the volume and weight for most foods, so I'm curious!

[Spinoza 678]

I have a sleeve but I have never measured anything. I suspect it might be different for people with a bypass? My stomach tells me when it's had enough - it has increased steadily from a couple of teaspoons 16 months ago to about half a plate of food at each meal these days. Strangely (with hindsight - having read lots here) I was never given any goals at all - just Protein first, veg second, carbs if you need something more, and it's worked out really well for me. I hope you can relax into your surgery and best of luck with your new life 🤗

[GreenTealael 24,227]

Early on I measured by volume (1/8 cup etc), later by weight (3 oz of protein) and now by sight (palm of my hand). I think it’s easier by volume in the beginning because you can estimate how much food can comfortably “fit” when you aren’t necessarily worried about calories. But weighing helps when it comes to Protein estimation when you reach the solid food stage.

Good luck!

[SemperVeritas 18]

Thank you both for your thoughts. It's helpful for both now and thinking about the future!

[Tomo 935]

If I have a scale, I weigh it otherwise, I measure volume or eyeball it too if I don't have either. I make a point to always measure my food, whether by volume or weight, otherwise little by little my volume would increase. I can't trust myself to stay around 4 ounces like others can so I have to measure or the weight may creep back up. I try to stay around 112g (4 oz) with a meal that contains any heavy food like Protein. If it's a fruit snack, like watermelon that is mostly Water, I weigh a bowl with the fruit before and then after to get the weight I had eaten so I could track my calories accurately.

[Arabesque 5,133]

I was given volume limits to begin which is easiest in the early stages. Once on more solid foods I’d check the weight of solid Proteins mainly so I could work out how much of say a piece of steak or a chicken thigh I could eat. (I weigh befire I cook.) It just depends upon what you’re eating. Most difficult is meat on a bone like a pork or lamb cutlet. Then it’s a guessing game & experience in eyeballing size.

[summerseeker 1,204]

I track my daily calories on My fitness app. I only weigh Proteins and fats and any carbs. I cup measure everything else. I do not eat carbs really because they feel so heavy and cause me to have the foamies

[SuziDavis 478]

I use a scale and measure by weight. It's more accurate as food can be made to fit and with dry ingredients, the temps and humidity change the volume.

My nutritionist also recommended by weight.

[learn2cook 397]

Like Arabesque I was given volume to start. I got the little toddler totes by OXO in 2oz and 4oz sizes and cut up my meat as small as possible. At about 4months I was getting hungry and my dietitian said to weigh the food 4oz Protein, which if I really cram chicken in there it works fine in the 4oz volume container. I prep most of my lunches in them. In the beginning I could only use the 2oz container. I started using them because I met a 25 year RNY person who kept the weight off the whole time and she used little kid tupperware. I was soooo impressed I swore I would meal prep like her!

[GMaJen 16]

I'm still on full liquids, but I've been told to measure by volume. To figure Protein, calories and carbs though, I'll have to weigh most foods. As time goes on, I'll adjust with the advice of my team.