How's your restriction?

I had the DS 16+ years ago. I have minimal restriction (I eat like a "normal" person - 6+ oz of protein plus whatever else I put on my plate - small amount of veggies and/or starch). I still graze most of the day. What keeps me within my original goal weight is the malabsorption.

I can eat on par with the same amount that my genetically thin sister does. It was interesting to see that when I spent vacation with her last winter. I ate nearly exactly the same as her portions. Not eating all day long, every day is super important now for maintaining.

For me it all depends on what I'm eating. If I'm eating protein-forward, like I want to eat most of the time, I've got quite a lot of restriction. If I eat other things, I don't feel the restriction so much.

Depends what I'm eating... If it's dense protein less, popcorn A LOT! I eat about every 2 hours and jus****ch my carbs, that's it. Love my DS!!

I had bypass surgery in 2005 the amount I can eat depends on what I am eating. If it very fibrous like steak I cannot eat very much. If it is soup I can eat like about a cup. I can only eat half a sandwich and that is only if it is on bread. I stay away from buns,rolls etc. They fill me up way to fast! Overall if what I am eating is soft I can eat at the most about a cup. ?

Five years out-Oatmeal, rice, beans, grits, mashed potatoes, ground beef, scrambled eggs, etc, fill me up pretty quick. I can now eat a whole slice of pizza, used to only be able to eat 1/2 of a slice. Still can only eat 1/2 sandwich. Played golf the yesterday, walked 4.5 hours, had 1/2 an eggplant sub and only ate 1/2 of that, eating the other 1/2 today. Like Grimm, very aware that I do not drink calories. Will have a light beer once in awhile but can only drink 1/2 of that, but for most part just drink water. Yet, what is strange is that I can eat movie popcorn-I'll eat some from my 12 year old son's container but I'm careful since the kernels get stuck to roof of my mouth. My bad food are Twizzler's, still love those!!! Used to eat a boiled egg and a slice or two turkey bacon for breakfast. Since my cholesterol was a little high I changed over to oatmeal or a 1/2 bowl Cheerios Melody with almond milk-it affects my hypoglycemia and I get the jitters, fruit does me the same, so back to the eggs and bacon! Low carb, lots of protein works for me. Pouch restriction works for me on main meals, but I have to just be careful that I do not graze all day-that's what cows, horses and elephants do!! No matter what I do, it all comes down to low-carb, higher protein, non-packaged foods, exercise and caloric restriction.

My pouch seems like it's always been bigger than the average. I'm a revision from the band and I was very sick at the time of my 2nd surgery. My surgeon said she was not going to make it too small because she was concerned about my years of poor nutrition from band related complications.

I was very compliant in my first year and didn't test it, but once I was below goal, I started trying to test it more than I should have. I know I can eat a lot more than most others have described and it's scary! It means it's all on me to make great decisions and keep the regain monster at bay.