I'm slightly confused. I feel hungry and most of the time eat every 3 hours. There are some smash pouch days where I could go all afternoon without eating and not notice, but on those other days I usually eat every 3 hours. I do not eat large amounts by any means (my hubby can second that) I just don't want to ruin my weight loss success. I am going on 5 months post op and am already below my surgeons goal weight so I'm hoping this is. normal!! I drink TONS OF WATER so being thirsty is no concern. Any  comments please fill me in. Thank you :)  

I believe we should eat as often as we need to in order to:

1.  get enough protein and calories
2.  keep from feeling miserably hungry
3.  keep our blood sugar reasonably level

For me, that means I eat about every three hours.  I occasionally have days when I don't feel very hungry.  It's been about four hours since my evening snack and I'm thinking I should get up and make a protein shake or something but I don't feel very hungry right now.  But most days, I get hungry about every three hours.

So three hours is not gong crazy and over doing it? I had no question about this until so many people in my support group said they had no appetite (which some days I definitely agree) but others it's like clock work three three and half hours!

If you are only 5 months out and already close to goal then I would say you probably need to eat every 3 hours.  They way to know if it's too much is if it affects your weight loss and apparently it doesn't.  If you get to where you feel it is impacting your weight loss then you can decide to make changes.
I know that when I was losing weight I ate 3 meals a day, plus a protein shake at night.  And I kept losing weight so I added another meal.  And another.  Now I am eating 7 times a day, including protein shakes.  I don't even have a chance to get hungry I eat so often.  Sometimes all I have is some sugar free pudding or fudgecicle.
I know it may not always be this way and if I get to where it causes me to gain too much then I can cut bac****il I get to where I am eating the right amount to maintain the weight that is healthy for me.

I think it's more about the quality of what you eat rather than the frequency.   As long as you are making good protein-first choices, with dense protein at at least 3 of those meals per day, then eating every 3 hours is a good thing!!!   Remember not to drink for 30 minutes after you eat.

Also, don't drift into eating simple or white carbs at those meals and I think your weight loss and maintenance will work out just fine.

• These are the rules I follow: 
•  
  

• *Drink 64 ounces Liquids daily (drink up to a meal, wait 60 minutes after a meal) (I add 2 packets sugar free drink mix and 1 teaspoon Benefiber to 2-32 oz water containers)
  
• *Eat 100 or more grams Protein at Maintenance
• *Eat no fat/lowfat dairy products
• *Eat simple (fruit) and complex (vegetables, whole grains) Carbohydrates (I do not count daily grams)
• *No more than 15 grams of Sugar per meal (more grams if able to tolerate-I can tolerate a maximum of 30 grams Sugar per meal from Simple and Complex Carbohydrate sources)
  
• *Eat 3 main meals (B, L, D) no further than 5-6 hours apart
• *Eat 2-3 protein snacks at Maintenance a day at least 2-3 hours from B, L, D
  
• *18 Months after surgery (or when goal weight is reached before 18 months): Maintenance calories (BMR/RMR & Activity Level) (Malabsorption of calories lasts approximately 18-24 months)
• * I do not participate in a formal exercise program due to Rheumatoid and Osteoarthritis. I do move around a lot more and do a lot more walking.

 

My surgeons office recommends eating no more than 4 hours apart, small meals, protein forward. So your eating habits seem to align with what I do, and what is recommended in my surgeons program.

Thank you everyone for the help. Definitely staying on track with my protein and liquids. Definitely paying off since I'm past goal weight and just a few pounds away from my personal goal. My our bodies do know best and mine JYST has a routine. Hope everyone is having an amazing day