How Many Meals/How Much?

So, I'm a few years out so I feel like I should know this already, but I don't! Of course, anyone is welcome to answer, but I'd be especially interested to know what others a few years out are doing...

1) How many meals do you eat per day? Some do a strict three and others have found that 5 or 6 work better. Or do you do something else?

2) How much volume do you consume in one sitting? Not how much could you Iol, because I already know the answer to that! But how much should you...

3) Why do you do it the way you do? Was it doctor recommended? Or did you find you lost better or felt better? 

4) Do you also do protein shakes? If so, how many? And why or why not?

I know that's a lot of info to ask for, but I did great for my first year (lost well over 100 lbs), okay for my second year (maintained and lost a few more lbs), but started slipping in this third year. I gained 13 pounds instead of loosing the rest of my weight. I know the basics to go back to, and what my doctor wants: very low carb  (at least until done losing and then just a few good carbs), protein prioritize, add protein shakes (4-5 for me), no drinking with meals, measure meals, get all supplements, drink tons of water (he recommends 3 quarts), and excercise.

But I'm feeling a little lost on the amounts. We were advised on new post op amounts but I'm wondering, for those who are still doing good, what do you do this far out?

* I will also ask my doc when I go in for my next labs in a few months on the amounts for this far out, but curious now!

TO CLARIFY: I think I have been misunderstood... I DO know what I need to do start losing again! And have been, already lost half of the weight gain (lost 6 lbs as of this am). That isn't what I'm asking. I know those who answered and gave advice on what to do to get back on track meant well, and I'm open to ANY advice, but I just want to clarify for anyone else who may want to answer...I just can't find steady info on quantity and wonder what those who are successful are doing in that area...

AND regarding my protein shakes, I'm following doctors orders with low cal, low carb protein as required...I'm thinking after reading some of these posts that he has us do it in lieu of snacking maybe. But I'm going to ask him. I know different docs do it different ways so I'm just going to follow his guidance on it. He hasn't steered me wrong yet. :D

I eat 3 meals and 2 or 3 snacks per day - always protein first and no supplements. At this stage we can easily eat 80-100gms protein per day with good choices of food source and those good choices will then limit the amount of processed carbs we can eat!!!

Did I read right? Your surgeon wants you to do 4 or 5 protein shakes per day? What the heck for? Wouldn't that be, like, 1000 calories per day in shakes??? Is there some reason you can't eat protein? I would think that a liquid diet will compromise your metabolism - I'm sure you remember Slim Fast and Cambridge diets? They work in the short term but ruin your metabolism ... as does any yo-yo dieting! This might be an ok plan for a newbie but at your stage why can't you eat???

If you are not maintaining well or need to lose some extra, surely you need to adjust your lifestyle? Eat to a good protein first diet, take your vitamins, and get your body moving - good quality calories in vs calories out - there really is no mystery to all this and you have the added bonus of a good tool to help you ...

I know this may sound harsh, but I really think you know what you need to do ...


ETA: I eat a whole chicken breast, a salmon steak etc - about 4oz usually - I'll also eat vegetables and maybe a bite or two of sweet potato, quinoa, cous cous - I rarely eat ready prepared food - I cook most days ...

The shakes he insists upon, 4-5 for a medial. It isn't a liquid diet, we still eat, it's just supplementing what we eat with additional shakes. He says even long after post op we just dont absorb protein as well as the average joe, and he doesn't want us trying to eat mass volume in food to make it up. Eatting 100g of protein doesn't mean we get 100g protein and he also says we absorb the whey isolate better than food protein. (he also makes us use only 4 oz liquid to make a shake in, so that's fun lol). I trust him, he's one of the best there is, and does know his stuff. As for the calories, they are only 110 cals each, but have 27g of protein, 1 carb, 0 sugars. It wasn't the shakes I'm wondering about, I'm confident with his instructions there. For others seeing him, who have "obeyed" orders, they are doing great.

My issue and reason I was gaining is that I made the mistake of snacking on bad carbs and reintroducing bad sugars, drinking with meals etc. Crap in! Bad choices! Not following the rules! So, yeah you are right, I needed to make changes. I didn't take what you said as harsh because I believe if it's said to help, and it's the truth, it needs to be spoken..besides it's what I've already told myself lol. I am making great changes and already down 6 more pounds as of today. I know the rules to follow, and the things to avoid, and am "back to the basics"and doing the things I was doing before, the things we are to always do, and getting some self control back in the picture...wasn't asking how to lose, to me that's just a "duh" thing rofl! You are right, we already know!

What I WAS asking about was portions/frequency.

In the beginning he did say 3 meals and 4-5 shakes a day, although I can't find any "portion" size in my book. I plan to ask him when I see him next. I'm thinking maybe the shakes are why he didn't suggest snacking? Seems like people either do planned snacks or protein shakes so that part makes sense to me...The snacks would probably equal the calories in the shakes... dunno *shrugs* I'll ask him.

So this is why I was just wondering what others do! Thanks for your input, I appreciate it, and look forward to hearing what others do too!

I was banded in 08, so I have had a high protein meal thing since then...just in smaller amounts for RNY.

1) How many meals do you eat per day? Some do a strict three and others have found that 5 or 6 work better. Or do you do something else? - I eat every two to three hours, and that can be food or a shake; I don't eat much, if any, processed foods.

2) How much volume do you consume in one sitting? Not how much could you Iol, because I already know the answer to that! But how much should you... There is no difference for me for how much I *could* eat and how much *should* eat. I eat between 2 to 2.5 oz of protein (sometimes if I am having a filet mignon, I have been known to eat 3 oz, sometimes 3 oz of chili too). I also have a couple of bites of veggies and carbs. That is all I can eat, whether I want to eat more of not. I feel full and stop eating. I don't measure, except every once in a while to see if I am on target and I always am; I eyeball good!

3) Why do you do it the way you do? Was it doctor recommended? Or did you find you lost better or felt better? Honestly, I don't recall my doctor's eating plan. I tell him what I eat, how often I eat and he has told me it's working for me, so keep it up.

4) Do you also do protein shakes? If so, how many? And why or why not? Ideally, I like to have a shake and a quest bar a day; it guarantees me at least 50 grams of protein. I do not eat enough food to get in that much protein. Some days, I don't do either. I don't know if it's mind over matter, but I do feel better and don't crave the carbs when I do a shake.

And I agree with Kim, why would you drink 4 to 5 shakes PER DAY??

I have been maintaining for over a year and a half now, within a couple of pounds. I did slip with the carbs and the scale shot right up a couple of pounds, so I stopped. Not only do I feel better, I am right back at 108 again!! You know what you need to do.

ETA - after reading your reply to Kim, by any chance does your surgeon's office sell these shakes you need to do? Just curious.

I already answered this in my last post, but to clarify, yes I DO know what I need to do. That's mostly common sense and reading back through the booklet my surgeon gave us to remind myself of the "rules" he set. That wasn't the question for me. I started getting lax on the rules and as a result gained some weight. I've already lost half of that (6 lbs) by tightening the reigns again.

I just couldn't find any info for amounts this far post op. I can eat varying amounts depending on what I'm eatting (obviously yogurt or cottage cheese and soft veggies will go in differently than steak or chicken and salad). I was wondering what amounts other later post ops are eating. I guess to find out if I should simply stop when I get my soft stop (full notice), or if I should eat LESS than that. That's why I asked.

So, your answer is helpful in seeing how much  you can eat this far out, thank you!

As for why the protein shakes, I answered more thoroughly in my response to Kim, but the short answer is because my surgeon says so, and provided solid reasons to do so, so I do it! (I quit doing it and that's when I started snacking and gaining weight, so I have to agree with his method here)

Anyway thanks again, the info is helpful!

At your stage, I think you should be eating about 1-1.5 cups of food per meal (3x) plus a couple of snacks.  I was told that people with long term success use the protein supplements at least once a day (snack) not meal replacement.

Hope this helps.

Yes, thank you, it does help. Yes, the protein supplements aren't a meal replacement, they are in addition to the three meals a day, and he suggests no snacking (and after reading these posts I'm thinking it's because the shakes ARE the snacks lol).

I read all you post about the shakes but remember calories in vs calories out is what helps you lose the weight.


I would be concerned with the calories taken in with the protien shakes.  I eat a very small breakfast calorie wise like a egg, toast, fruit, shake or protien bar.  so around 200 calories.  So usually I do a protien shake or bar before lunch


Lunch consist of 2 to 2.5 oz of protien, veggies. occasionally bread. 


Snack protien (solid protien stays in the pouch longer as you know)

Dinner protien and veggies

The thing that bothers me with you doing the shakes is mine are 160 for 1 shake and if I had 4-5 shakes/day that would be 640to 800 extra calories. 

I only eat 1000 to 1200 calories or I would be gaining weight!!!!

Tamara

As I said before, mine are 110cals so it's between 440-550 a day in shake calories. I will ask my surgeon when I go in again. I will say that when I saw him last, he told me to up them again because I was only doing one a day and I doubt he's going to tell me anything different 10 months later.