How do you determine if you've eaten enough?

[Maribelle 0]

I had surgery about a month ago and my first fill 4 days ago. I am into the regular diet stage now. The fill gave me a little more restriction (I got stuck for a second on a bite of biscuit but I could handle well-chewed chicken today). What I am wondering is, as you are adjusting to the band, how do you gauge how much you should eat? Do you follow a specific measurement or go by a feeling? I ate about 1.25 cups for dinner and I felt satisfied and very slightly full (not uncomfortable at all). I was reading on one site that you should never feel your restriction and always stop eating before you can feel it at all, but isn't that how people determine that they are full? Am I that far gone into Fattyland that I can't remember how normal people eat? LOL. Should I just be eating certain measurements now?

[susieca 0]

Hey Maribelle!

I was banded by Dr. C about two weeks ago. I just got back from my meeting with the dietician. Although I have not had my first fill yet, I am still trying to eat just about a cup of food each time. And I am also writing down everything. My hardest thing to do is make sure that I get enough Water. I am still eating a lot of chili and I am trying to be careful so that I don't stretch out my new stomach! I hope that helps. I figured I paid enough for this that I am going to try to make it work!

Good luck

susan

[incipientesquire 0]

I had surgery about a month ago and my first fill 4 days ago. I am into the regular diet stage now. The fill gave me a little more restriction (I got stuck for a second on a bite of biscuit but I could handle well-chewed chicken today). What I am wondering is, as you are adjusting to the band, how do you gauge how much you should eat? Do you follow a specific measurement or go by a feeling? I ate about 1.25 cups for dinner and I felt satisfied and very slightly full (not uncomfortable at all). I was reading on one site that you should never feel your restriction and always stop eating before you can feel it at all, but isn't that how people determine that they are full? Am I that far gone into Fattyland that I can't remember how normal people eat? LOL. Should I just be eating certain measurements now?

Hmm ... an interesting question, I'm sort of half mushie/half liquid still (I'm not technically supposed to start until Sunday, but the dietician told me to add yogurt, etc.) so take my comments with a grain of salt ...

I have learned to stop eating when my tummy stops feeling "empty" ... the dietician told me that it should be between 4 to 6 ounces at a sitting, gradually increasing to 1c. If you're eating 1.25c and you felt satisfied (not full) I think that's sufficient.

The worst thing that will happen if you eat a cup and you're still hungry, you'll eat a little more a little later.

I've had to actually write that on a piece of paper and put it on the fridge and on the monitor in my office. :smile2:

P.S. - I'm jealous that you're eating real food!

[Lisa B 0]

I'm only about two months (and one small fill) out but I've been trying to weigh/measure things since I can't really rely on my head or stomach to know when enough is enough (huh, like maybe that's how we got into this position in the first place? :wink2:).

It's not a perfect science by any stretch, and I think there's a fairly long learning curve, but by Portion Control I can keep a good handle on things. As I learn more what a cup vs. half a cup vs. two cups feels like in my stomach, I figure I can (some day!) move away from this obsessive measuring/weighing and get better at eyeballing food.

Of course, YMMV. :tongue2:

Edited September 26, 2008 by Lisa B
typo, groan

[chicamam1 1]

I'm only about two months (and one small fill) out but I've been trying to weigh/measure things since I can't really rely on my head or stomach to know when enough is enough (huh, like maybe that's how we got into this position in the first place? ).

It's not a perfect science by any stretch, and I think there's a fairly long learning curve, but by Portion Control I can keep a good handle on things. As I learn more what a cup vs. half a cup vs. two cups feels like in my stomach, I figure I can (some day!) move away from this obsessive measuring/weighing and get better at eyeballing food.

Of course, YMMV. :thumbup:

my doc as well requires we measure food precisely at every meal and to ensure how much protien intake there is. 2 0z of protien and 1z of veggies and fruits. three 0z at every meal i plan to go by the guidelines because for me. My full feeling is when I feel it in my stomach and I also dont know if that is exactly the way to know when your full. gosh ive overate for so long its like im not intuned to that feeling.