At what point post op were you able to eat a normal size meal (i.e. sandwich) in one sitting?

I'm 21 years post-op. A sandwich that I could easily eat pre-op is 4 meals now.

The thing is, my concept of 'standard' has changed completely. For this thing to work long term it had to*. In the years pre-op I could do any crash diet that came along with 100% compliance for months. I can do anything for a short time knowing the short time would end eventually. That's not change, that's will power, which most of us have in abundance.

WLS is forever*.

The early "honeymoon" period shouldn't be about losing weight as fast as you can*. It should be about changing "normal" and getting weight loss as a positive reinforcement for compliance*.

Compliance + positive reinforcement + time = new normal*.

My plan was to eat the way I would after I lost all the weight. Basically, I started my "maintenance" plan the day after surgery. I eat now pretty much as I have since about 3 months post-op, though now I complete more meals than I did at 3 months. There is no "after." This is my normal, the way I eat without thinking.

WLS is forever is my opinion. Plenty of folks have done the draconian post-op diet and lost all their weight and even maintained it for years. Many track every morsel they eat forever. For me, that's no way to live. This is not how my surgeon wanted me to live.

Good luck,

Tek

* Personal opinion.

6 hours ago, LoveLearning said:

At what point post op were you able to eat a normal size meal (i.e. sandwich) in one sitting?

My question to you is why would you want too? The whole point of having WLS is to make us healthier by losing the weight AND keeping it off! What's to keep people from going down that slippery slope once again if we could eat as much as we once did? Enjoy the portion restrictions as a way to maintain a healthier lifestyle!

So, there's a normal meal and then there's what you get in a restaurant or what we've been taught to think is a normal meal. At about 8 months out, I can eat a full serving of chicken breast. That's defined as being between 3-4 oz. And in the same sitting, I can also eat a serving of broccoli, which is about 1 cup. I don't tend to eat grains often, but if someone gave me a serving of brown rice, which is 1/2 cup cooked, along with the chicken and the broccoli, I could probably eat about half of that on a good day, but not touch it on a day when I have a smaller appetite. Personally, I would be more likely to substitute a second veg or a fruit.

What I've just listed would be considered a "standard" meal by a nutrition expert. It has about 280 calories and 24 g protein, and provides balanced nutrition from several food groups, along with fiber. But most people would probably think it was way too small, and if you went to a restaurant, you would get 4x that much food, plus half a gallon of fat and sugar laden sauce on top. And probably cheese, just for good measure. Could I eat that? No. And hopefully I will never be able to.

A sandwich is tricky because of bread. I find bread too filling. I was out this weekend at a sports stadium and had to order my lunch from a food truck. I chose the grilled chicken pita wrap and ate all of the insides but treated the pita like a plate that got thrown away at the end. I do the same with a soup and half sandwich combo from a restaurant, eating the sandwich filling and the soup but ditching the bread.

Exactly as others have reacted. What is your definition of a normal size? I can eat about a recommended portion size and that took me well into my 3rd year. Sometimes it depends on what I’m eating or if I’m feeling hungry & then I can’t eat the whole portion. Not unusual to have leftovers in my fridge.

As an example I can eat about 3ozs of protein plus a cup of vegetables for dinner, 2 golf ball size rissoles/meat balls & cup of vegetables, about 2/3 of 2 scrambled eggs, a tub of yoghurt, 1/2 a large apple, 8 macadamia nuts, 8-10 grapes.

If I go out to eat I can eat about 3/4 of a main meal in a fine dining restaurant when meals are pretty much recommended portion sizes. In Australia our servings aren’t as large as some of the American servings though they are getting larger in the casual eating places. For example, I ordered a small salt & pepper calamari meal at a pub & took half home for dinner.

This is an Australian site (below) but I’m sure there’ll be US sites about recommended portion sizes to give you an idea. However, you need to work out what size portions will provide you with the appropriate nutrients and calories your body needs to function effectively and for you to maintain your weight.

https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/how-much-do-we-need-each-day/serve-sizes

Your nutritionalist will help advise you on this too.

Not that familiar with the switch surgery but I presume it would be the same for all surgeries in that after the surgery there is a new "standard" to meal sizes. If you went back to eating what would be a normal size meal pre-op you would probably make yourself ill and uncomfortable as you can't fit the food in.

I am almost a year and a half out (sleeve) and if I had to have a sandwich I would have half per meal but I am trying to stay away from bread/pasta/rice as much as possible as they take up space in my smaller stomach that should have proteins as the priority. I was in the US recently and was happy to see that Pret did half portions so I just got their one half chicken and avocado to have when on the go.

For me I still find that for breakfast a yogurt, for lunch and dinner 150ml/3oz of food with a small snack a while later is sufficient for me main meal wise. I think have protein drink or bar as snacks if needed.

When eating out I usually just have a starter and would not always finish. If ordering a main course I usually manage 1/3, or 1/2 if it is a small one, and bring the rest home.

I've read from many DS posters being able to eat regular portions post-op. I thought I had posted on the DS board. My apologies. How do I move this to the DS board?

On 11/5/2024 at 5:10 AM, LoveLearning said:

At what point post op were you able to eat a normal size meal (i.e. sandwich) in one sitting?

as others have touched on above, it depends on what you call a "normal sized meal".

can i eat my "normal sized" pre-wls meal from my obesity heyday? hecks no. but, let's be real, those meals were bigger (and not as often-consumed) as the meal sizes of not-obese people.

now...can i eat enough food to maintain my current weight, feel satisfied AND not feel like i'm depriving myself? yecks, YEAH. from the outside and to those not in the know, it probably looks like i don't eat enough, but its enough for ME. my restriction is still very much in effect, so i don't eat alot in VOLUME at one sitting. but i did* manage to get my 2300+ calories in by eating often, and choosing higher calorie foods. (NOTE: i exercise ALOT, so my caloric needs are probably higher for your average 5'2" person, but still)

*clarification (and to go off on tangent): i WAS able to do this, but lately am not eating as often - for other reasons** - so my average calorie count has been dropping, but i'm working on it....

** i got braces and my pure HATRED and annoyance of having to clean my teeth after eating ANYTHING has effectively stopped me from eating. it's in my head, i know. i'm working on it....

20 hours ago, LoveLearning said:

I've read from many DS posters being able to eat regular portions post-op. I thought I had posted on the DS board. My apologies. How do I move this to the DS board?

It is on the DS board, but it also shows up on the recent topics list, which everyone sees without knowing which board it is on, so that's why you are getting responses from people with other surgeries. Although, since the switch includes the creation of a sleeve as one half of the procedure, those answers are probably closest to what you should expect capacity-wise, with bypass experiences being maybe a little different.