Changes at 7 months...

So far, in my own eyes, I have done very well.  I am down 115 pounds, and have gone from a size 26/4x, to a 14/XL. 

Now I am almost 7 months out and have been noticing changes in the way I am able to eat.  I have read and understand this to be par for the course.  I am wondering if any of the veterans have any personal info about any changes they may have noticed at this stage.

The reason I am asking is because I have noticed that the volume of food I can eat has increased.  I have, however, been measuring my food religiously and eat between 1/2 to 1 cup depending on the nature of the food (eg. meat protein would make me filled to the brink at a half cup, whereas I could eat a cup of yogurt no problem.)  My concern this evening is bread.  I have tried it only a handful of times since surgery.  Today I ate a small, whole grain english muffin with PB, and it sat perfectly fine.  Is that outrageous?  It seemed like a lot to me and I should have stopped at half, but I didn't.  Do I need an ass kicking or what?

different days i eat different amounts.

But i measure out my milk for a protein shake, and the protein powder for it.

When i make a "casserole" - chili, beef and barley soup, chicken etc.. i measure out 3/4 of a cup as as serving (and at times i have thought i need to go down to a scant 3/4. Last time i didn't measure (a month ago) - i had too much and got to have a personal discussion with Ralph where I spilled my guts to him. Like the ass he is he took what i had to share and just discarded it.


Yogurt lately i don't measure as much other than when its greek yogurt but the containers i put it in hold no more than a cup - so i don't eat more than that - and mostly its 1/2 yogurt, 1/2 fruit and a container about 1/2 empty.

Sometimes i eat a 1/2 bagel and it sits well, sometimes i eat less and it doesn't. Also depends how fast I chew or what else i've eat that day.

I work on eating slowly, keeping portions reasonable, feeling sated (not full or stuffed) and always having something with me so i can make a decent food choice.

Lately i've noticed my body likes less food but more frequently so i'm indulging that - But I am careful to eat the same amount of food just in a different time frame.  

My only advice is avoid bread and muffins as much as possibe. Great on the taste buds but not giving you the protien or vitamins that you really need. Eat some, must figure out what a portion is.  A 1/2 whole wheat english muffin with PB .. sounds good (other than the PB).. but how did you balance your needs the rest of the day? Its sometimes not each item that matters its the daily mix.

Eat til you are sated .. don't eat til you get that ugly full feeling), eat foods that nurish

Thanks for the candid advice.  I too, seem to notice that I can eat different amounts of the same thing on different days.  These days I favour eating small meals more often through the day.  It is summer vacation now, so off the work schedule and I have more day to fill.  eating smaller meals more often helps me to avoid snacking.  I have the typical B/S/L/S/D/S.  My clinic requires me to have 60 grams of protein per day and by dinner, I have almost always achieved that and then some.  I usually save end of the day snack fro things like fruit and veggies that I find harder to get in during the day when I am trying to meet my protein quota.  :)  Today I had a protein shake in the morning (tummy was not in the mood for solid), snack was yogurt, lunch was roast chicken pieces and some cherry tomatoes, 2nd snack was 5 melba rounds with 30 grams low fat cheese melted under the broiler and a dollop of salsa on each (mmmm nachos), dinner was steak, carrots and green beans, a bite of mashed potato, then evening snack was the aforementioned english muffin. I had just come back from a session with my trainer and then an hour long aqua fit bootcamp class, and I was ravenous.  Hopefully all the hard work I did will compensate for the bread I mowed down.  :)

Another NUT visit today (3 months out).
Re: Breads.

At my last NUT visit, she recommended that I ADD some bread to my diet, because "your brain needs carbs".
I did some research, and it turns out that complex carbohydrates promote feeding of sugars to the brain - which would otherwise go elesewhere in les complex carbs.
Make sense?
So a little bit is probably a good thing.
But that's according to the HRRH nutritionist, yours might say something else.

BTW - great progress, my dear!
I can't believe the size difference!
Sorry I won't see you tonite in Mississauga - can't make it.

I have been told to eat a sandwich for breakfast, my program is against mushy soft foods like yogurt and cottage cheese. We are to fill the pouch with dense proteins , including whole grain bread. I find I feel much better with good carbs in my system, but I dont eat pasta or rice, just the whole grain bread. I need carbs because of my activity level as well, gym/weights. Moderation and nutrition is key.