Volume vs Weighing your food

Manda32
on 4/29/17 11:24 pm

Hi all,

I've searched on this subject and got varying views but I thought I'd post and see what you all think.

Since I started my soft protein diet, 2 plus weeks ago (six plus weeks post op), I've done a mixture of weighing foods and measuring foods.

Last night I made chicken fajitas. I measured 1/4 cup with chicken red/green peppers. I put it on this mini tort which is no bigger than the palm of my hand. I had put this on my food scale as I sprinkled grated cheese on it, just so I could work out protein amounts. All that came to almost 3 oz of food. I didn't expect to be able to eat it all, but I did. Has me freaked out, that I just ate something about 3 oz of food, six plus weeks out.

I don't know if the mini tort would fit into a 1/4 cup or 1/2 cup...but is it more important to go by volume or weight? I realize you need to weigh your meats to make sure you can get your protein amounts, as to why I weighed it.

Do I think I could eat 3 oz of dense meant, no, but is eating almost 3 oz of food that isn't 100 percent protein any better?

I don't want to over eat or possibly stretch my sleeve. Not sure if this is too much at six and half weeks post o*****t? The whole volume vs weight thing confuses me a bit.

I do have hunger and full sensations at this point. I did not feel any discomfort at what I ate. I read on this website many times, that many post early out your nerves are cut and feeling full or hunger early out is unlikely. I have felt this since a week after surgery. I can only go by my experience and say that I do get the full feeling...maybe its not 100 effective this early out...as to why I could eat that, if that amount is even unreasonable at this point?

Advice? Thoughts?

Orientation April 2016 - Final approvals December 2016. Surgical Class January 23, 2017. Met with Dr. Reed February 7, 2017. Opti start date March 1, 2017. Surgery March 15, 2017 (Dr. Foute-Nelong).

HW 348 SW 316 CW 191

GW 160

Cathy H.
on 4/30/17 12:07 am, edited 4/29/17 5:15 pm
VSG on 10/31/16

I asked my surgeon this specific question at my 1-month checkup. I was told measure my food by weight, unless it's liquid.

So let's think about what you ate:

  • You measured out 1/4 cup of chicken/red/green peppers. Alone that probably weighed about 1.5-2 oz
  • A fajita-size tortilla (6") is between 28 and 36g depending on 100% whole wheat or white--that's right at 1 oz
  • Add cheese, depending on how much (did you measure it to ensure you know the exact cals/protein/carbs?)...another maybe .25-.5 oz

Therefore, it is easily conceivable that the total was 3 oz. The way to be absolutely sure is to weigh each item individually before you assemble it. This is also the only way to be absolutely certain about your nutrition numbers.

Also, if you had eaten 3oz of dense protein, it probably would have been too much. At 6 weeks I could eat about the same...2oz dense protein, or 3oz of mixed dense foods and softer foods. I am 6 months out and I eat 4-6oz, depending on whether that is all protein or mixed.

Another factor is the size of your new tummy. Not every surgeon uses the same guides (bougies) to create the new stomach, so your tummy size will determine how much you can eat and when. If you don't already know what your fully healed stomach will hold, I would find out, it's good to know what the max is for you.

Livin' La KETO Loca!!
134 lbs lost since surgery, 195 overall!! Initial goal reached 9/15/17, (10.5 months)!
5'3", SW*: 299 GW: 175 HW 3/2015: 360 PSW* 5/2016: 330 *PSW=Prog Start Wt; SW=Surgery Wt

M1 -31, M2 -10, M3 -15, M4 -16, M5 -8, M6 -6, M7 -11, M8 -8, M9 -8, M10 -4, M10.5 -7 GOAL

Manda32
on 4/30/17 4:37 pm

Thanks for the response.

I was told at my six week post op last week, that my stomach holds 150ml. I didn't ask if he meant now, that is what I'm assuming he meant. I'm sure if he did mean now, its a guess of the size of the stomach he made for me, and what bit of swelling would have come down in the last six weeks.

I've been told usually by six months plus you should be able to eat about a cup worth of food, so partially why I'm assuming he meant now vs six months down the road... I think in the end our stomachs will tell us what we can hold lol

When you say you can eat 4 to 6 ounces depending on if its full protein or not...how much protein alone can you have at this point? Just curious if you don't mind responding.

And if I may ask how has your weight loss been during the last six months?

Orientation April 2016 - Final approvals December 2016. Surgical Class January 23, 2017. Met with Dr. Reed February 7, 2017. Opti start date March 1, 2017. Surgery March 15, 2017 (Dr. Foute-Nelong).

HW 348 SW 316 CW 191

GW 160

Cathy H.
on 4/30/17 11:02 pm
VSG on 10/31/16

What your program says you should be able to eat and reality are two entirely different things. LOL my program said I would be able to eat a cup of food by the end of my 8 week healing phases. I found out that was VERY wrong. At 8 weeks I could barely manage 3-4oz.

I can eat 4oz of solid dense protein, no more. If I try to eat more than that I get overfull. It also depends on the day, because some days there seems to be more restriction than others.

A couple of examples:

All dense protein: 2oz hard salami and 2oz colby cheese sticks (total 4oz)

Mostly dense with some soft: 3oz sirloin with 1oz salsa and 1oz sour cream (total 5oz)

About half dense and 1/2 liquids or sauces: 6 oz of chili

So if there is a partly wet or liquid component to what I'm eating, I can eat a little more because that part goes through the stomach much quicker.

As for my weight loss, you can see my stats on my ticker and signature line, but I have lost 85 pounds since surgery (today is officially my 6 month mark).

Livin' La KETO Loca!!
134 lbs lost since surgery, 195 overall!! Initial goal reached 9/15/17, (10.5 months)!
5'3", SW*: 299 GW: 175 HW 3/2015: 360 PSW* 5/2016: 330 *PSW=Prog Start Wt; SW=Surgery Wt

M1 -31, M2 -10, M3 -15, M4 -16, M5 -8, M6 -6, M7 -11, M8 -8, M9 -8, M10 -4, M10.5 -7 GOAL

Manda32
on 5/1/17 8:50 pm

Sorry didn't notice your ticker lol Thanks for information, and examples that is helpful.

That is great weight loss, keep up the great work!

THanks again.

Orientation April 2016 - Final approvals December 2016. Surgical Class January 23, 2017. Met with Dr. Reed February 7, 2017. Opti start date March 1, 2017. Surgery March 15, 2017 (Dr. Foute-Nelong).

HW 348 SW 316 CW 191

GW 160

Gwen M.
on 4/30/17 5:29 am
VSG on 03/13/14

I'm not sure that a surgeon can give you anything other than an approximation for what your stomach will eventually hold and, even then, your goal should never be to fill your stomach. Just because it can hold x amount does not mean you should be eating x amount. But I'm sure you've read other posts here and have seen that advice.

At 6 weeks out, your diet should be mainly protein. Are you reaching your protein goal every day? At 6 weeks, there's no way I could have reached it if I was eating tortillas and veggies. I was eating 2-4 ounces of protein at each of my two solid food meals, period. So if you can't eat 3 ounces of dense protein, you shouldn't be adding in all those carbs.

But anyway. Once I started eating solid foods I went by weight, not volume.

VSG with Dr. Salameh - 3/13/2014
Diagnosed with Binge Eating Disorder and started Vyvanse - 7/22/2016
Reconstructive Surgeries with Dr. Michaels - 6/5/2017 (LBL & brachioplasty), 8/14/2017 (UBL & mastopexy), 11/6/2017 (medial leg lift)

Age 42 Height 5'4" HW 319 (1/3/2014) SW 293 (3/13/2014) CW 149 (7/16/2017)
Next Goal 145 - normal BMI | Total Weight Lost 170

TrendWeight | Food Blog (sort of functional) | Journal (down for maintenance)

Cathy H.
on 4/30/17 5:34 am, edited 4/29/17 10:35 pm
VSG on 10/31/16

I like knowing because it gives me a figure I know I should never eat more than. I, naturally, go by what I can manage but for me knowing its limits is a good thing. For all I know it may hold more but that's the max he gave me.

Livin' La KETO Loca!!
134 lbs lost since surgery, 195 overall!! Initial goal reached 9/15/17, (10.5 months)!
5'3", SW*: 299 GW: 175 HW 3/2015: 360 PSW* 5/2016: 330 *PSW=Prog Start Wt; SW=Surgery Wt

M1 -31, M2 -10, M3 -15, M4 -16, M5 -8, M6 -6, M7 -11, M8 -8, M9 -8, M10 -4, M10.5 -7 GOAL

Gwen M.
on 4/30/17 5:38 am
VSG on 03/13/14

Sure, but I doubt it's a very accurate size because everyone's stomach is slightly different, every surgery is slightly different, and everyone will heal slightly differently. So I, personally, wouldn't put much stock in what's likely an arbitrary number.

I'm three years post-op and I still measure my meals at 4-6 ounces per meal. Could I eat more? Sure. Once in a blue moon I do. But my goal is never to eat until I've filled my stomach and I'm not interested in feeling full. I eat to get the nourishment my body needs. (At least 90% of the time and when I'm not under the control of my illness.)

VSG with Dr. Salameh - 3/13/2014
Diagnosed with Binge Eating Disorder and started Vyvanse - 7/22/2016
Reconstructive Surgeries with Dr. Michaels - 6/5/2017 (LBL & brachioplasty), 8/14/2017 (UBL & mastopexy), 11/6/2017 (medial leg lift)

Age 42 Height 5'4" HW 319 (1/3/2014) SW 293 (3/13/2014) CW 149 (7/16/2017)
Next Goal 145 - normal BMI | Total Weight Lost 170

TrendWeight | Food Blog (sort of functional) | Journal (down for maintenance)

Cathy H.
on 5/1/17 2:25 pm
VSG on 10/31/16

I'm glad that works for you, and maybe when I'm 3 years out I'll feel the same way. But for me, for now, since my major issue has always been portion control and the need to feel full, knowing the max my surgeon said I should eat gives me a number I know I should always stay below. This way I don't take the chance on overfilling my new tummy, and stay within safe limits. This will be especially useful when I get into maintenance and will probably be upping my calories.

P.S. When I said "max my stomach will hold" I actually meant the max my surgeon said I should ever be able to eat.

Livin' La KETO Loca!!
134 lbs lost since surgery, 195 overall!! Initial goal reached 9/15/17, (10.5 months)!
5'3", SW*: 299 GW: 175 HW 3/2015: 360 PSW* 5/2016: 330 *PSW=Prog Start Wt; SW=Surgery Wt

M1 -31, M2 -10, M3 -15, M4 -16, M5 -8, M6 -6, M7 -11, M8 -8, M9 -8, M10 -4, M10.5 -7 GOAL

Manda32
on 4/30/17 4:08 pm

My center expects us to get 40 gram (if more yes) from month 2 to 3, and by three months is where we are to get the 60 to 80grams then. I'm getting in the 50g plus range most days.

I don't eat a lot of carbs, I was only allowed to introduce toast and wraps at six weeks. I just want a 'treat' of using a wrap. Usually just eat the chicken guts of the chicken fajita. That meal was under 100 calories and probably the only carb I had that day.

Plus, the only thing I can eat protein wise, is chicken, turkey, eggs and cheese right now. Just wanted to 'spice' up my chicken meals lol I hate yogurt (I tried to like it), seafood can't stand, and we can't have red meat for six months so my meals are very boring right now.

Your probably right to stick to mainly protein meals at this point. Thanks.

Orientation April 2016 - Final approvals December 2016. Surgical Class January 23, 2017. Met with Dr. Reed February 7, 2017. Opti start date March 1, 2017. Surgery March 15, 2017 (Dr. Foute-Nelong).

HW 348 SW 316 CW 191

GW 160

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