Question/thought/curiosity

Even at almost 5 years out I can still only eat 3-4oz dense protein.... volume of a meal 8-12oz. Most meals. Not hard and fast rule though as there are so many variables. Are there 'big pouch days' when I can have more? Absolutely. Depends on the food too. I eat a lot of cooked spinach, easy to throw in the pan and fast but basically a slider veggie, very easy to eat.

I also eat 6 times a day. Some days I feel like all I do is eat. I get 140g of protein a day. Eat at least 3 servings veggies and 0-3 servings fruit. WLS servings- some days smaller portions some days larger. Most days at least 2 fruits. I buy the smallest apples in the bag that normal people don't like to buy because they are so small. Our hunger is never going to be exactly the same everyday...

At this point I only worry about 'protein first' if I am concerned about getting enough in for the day. Does not mean I forget about it. If I make something like a stir fry and the meat is mixed in... if I can tell I am starting to get full I stop eating the veggies and pick the meat out. For me my three vegetables a day are as important as my protein and water. That's much easier to say further out when you can eat more. Early on meat and a few bites of veg occasionally were about it.

Maintenance is not for sissies and there is a learning curve. Weight loss phase is pretty standard issue- pretty much the same for everyone...I see huge variations in what people do to make maintenance work. Protein and water are the constants.

Good Luck

I can't imagine eating 8 to 12 oz in a sitting. I am hitting about 6, sometimes and a max of 3 oz of meat but usually, 2 to 3. That's why I make sure the vast majority of my snacks are also high in protein and so I average about 130g of protein a day. I guess I need to love my veggies less and I usually stay fairly low on carbs and make sure they are always low glycemic carbs. I love quinoa and farro because they are complex carbs that also have a good portion of protein which of course, adds protein and are filling, also and digest slowly.

Well, that seems a bit judge-y and rude response.

NYMom has been incredibly successful and is here day in/day out helping to support the rest of the community and I'm very appreciative of the time she takes to give such a measure detailed response of what has been successful for her.

???

I don't think it is a big deal to only eat one thing for a meal. I think it is fine to eat a chicken thigh and be done.

We need surprisingly little food to stay alive. I think trying for a balanced diet like a non op is a recipe for regain and carb creep.

Ahh, the good old days, when I was early out and thought I had all the answers. And thinking that every meal had to be some perfect ratio of protein, carbs, and fat. A chicken thigh is what I had for dinner last night.

I love a chicken thigh dinner.

Gimme all the dark meat please.

Yummm, delicious. Nothing wrong if a veg accidentally goes down once in a while...

How about pork shanks? An Irish pub near us have that on a menu. I usually get 3, eat 1.5 or 2 if I am really hungry, and the rest home. so good. Ugh , now I want that.