Restriction question

I am just over 6 weeks post op, but I'm afraid I'm not feeling the restriction I should be. I believe my surgeon used a 36 fr bougie sewn to a 34. Bear in mind I do not have a food scale (but will be gettin one soon), and I have been estimating on solids or measuring them in a fluid oz cup - I think some people on here may not realize that fluid ounces are not equal to solid ounces. I will give some examples of what I can eat and feel satisfied but not over full or hurting at a setting: 4 oz salmon with 1/4 cup green beans; 1 slice ezekiel bread topped with ground beef/sloppy joe style and sprinkled with bleu cheese crumbles; 3-4 oz chicken breast with 1/4 cup broccoli, topped with 2 TBSP alfredo sauce and 1/8 cup shredded parmesan cheese.

At first I was confused about what I was suppose to feel like when I was satisfied or full, so I just kind of ate and when it became uncomfortable I quit. I never ate to the point that I vomited, though. I didn't measure or count cals or anything ( I know it was a mistake but I didn't have any one-on-one nutrition counseling so please don't beat me up now - too late for that!)
 
Anyway, I feel like my list of intake is comparable to those who are years out now. I've heard the new stomach is not easy to stretch like before, and I have only been on solids for 4 weeks now. Please let me know your thoughts on the matter. Thanks.

I have a 36 oversewn to a 34, and I can eat 2 ozs. tops(sometimes less) of dense protein @ nearly 6 months out.  No veggies, sides or bread.  I just have no room for them.

I am exactly like (nolonger)fatguyinalittlecoat but I'm 8 months about.

Honestly...my thoughts are you should measure. What you think you are consuming in one sitting seems like alot.  I am 7 months out and don't think I could eat all that in one sitting.  I am not trying to alarm you, but think if you measure you may find that you aren't eating as much as you think you are. Also, we all heal differently. You could be one of the speedy ones that doesn't have as much swelling as others and may not be feeling great restriction.  But I feel measuring may really help you especially since you are confused about your full signal. I am not so much worried about stretching as I am worried about you hurting your new staple line.  It would also be helpful to you if you logged what you eat when. Even a simple diary scratched on a peice of paper so you have an estimate of what you are taking in. I didn't do it at first, but found it really helpful when I did.  There are some good sites out there. I log on Livestrong/mydailyplate and it gives me a nice run down of everything, cals, carbs, fats, sugars. 

Hi,
I'm a bit farther along than you by a few weeks but I just went through this same thing last week. One board member posted that my sleeve was no longer swollen from the surgery and this was why I wasn't feeling as restricted any longer. I have to agree. When I was still healing everything made me feel very full. Now it differs depending on what I eat or drink. The gold standard though is dense protein. When I eat fish, chicken, ground turkey, etc i can't get any more than 3 oz in before I say UNCLE.
Welcome to the club!!!! ....Craig

PS: I wasn't measuring my portions at 1st but now that I do I find that I'm not eating as much as I thought I was...

I also think you should measure my friend, you may NOT be eating as much as you think and if you are, something I would offer you is - you dont *have* to eat as much as you *can*

For me, personally? Trying to find *full* is trouble, it changes depending on hormones, the weather, my mood, so safety, especially closer to surgery date is in measuring. 

Salmon for me slides right thru, meat WITH anything else slides right thru, BREAD is a huge slider food for me and slides everything I am eating thru my tum much quicker, the cheese and alfredo sauce WITH broccoli for your chicken breast would make it so I could eat much more.

And yea, that intake you listed *is* comparable to some folks who are years out and some newbies might say "that's cool, that's what I eat too" but here's a situation that is dangerous - when you get used to *full* being a feeling, instead of "some" being enough, when you hit the first 3 month bump, teh 6 month bump, the 1 year bump where you CAN eat more - then full is going to be even more than that.

What you have mentioned above are standard reasonable portions and those are great, but if you can try and just back down a bit and not eat until it is uncomfortable, then that will serve you well in the long run.  If you could serve yourself HALF even of what all you listed as meals, you would probably find that while it doesnt give you the full puppytummy sensation, that its enough.

Good luck!

I also had the same surgeon and feel that I can eat more than most at this stage. I'd love to see the xrays of some other sleever's to compare to mine. Both the upper and lower portion of my tum look "normal" with just a small section that is sleeved. Maybe this is how they all look on film, maybe not. I don't know but I work for a radioligist who also looked at my film and said she's never seen it before.
On average I eat about a half of a cup per meal. Whatever it is I'm eating that's what I use as a guide.

What does your friend mean by saying she's never seen it before??? Have you noticed that the diet sheets pretty much recommend as much as I'm eating even though everyone else can bearly eat it???

Like this?  Like an hourglass?



http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/failed_wls_second_time_aro und/4173170/Round-Three/#34154923

That's JoyceP's tum that looks like what you are saying yours sounds like.

I would keep up the eating measured portions and hope you keep on doing superbly!!

Mmm sort of ish but not really! If i had a clue how to post it here I would but I did just upload a pic to my profile page. I tried the copy and paste thing here but it wouldn't let me do it. Oh well!