Frisco -- I want to understand as much as possible about "under-eating" the...

I measure, weight, count everything I eat. I have slowly increased the amounts as I notice I get hungry faster as I have healed. Like I started that first few weeks with 1/4 cup or 2 oz. Now I am measuring out 1/2 cup or 3 oz. Even then I don't always fini****ry not to eat until I feel stuffed or at all uncomfortable. I have rarely had that issue. If I'm guessing an amount I tend to eat until my stomach doesn't feel hungry anymore. I don't go until I feel full. I have gotten good at estimating amounts now which is helpful when you are eating out and don't have your scale.

This is exactly what he is talking about.  You have in nailed down.

Oh good! I was hoping that I had that right. I had good teachers on this forum

I'm just curious - how do you get 60 or more grams of protein in each day??  My surgeon says no protein powder or shakes - 60 or more grams of protein from food but only 3 meals. 

Are you sure he means immediately post -op, or eventually?  I am going in next week, and, while all plans differ some, there seems to be a general agreement that in the beginning it's very difficult to get your protein exclusively from "real food" -- unless you really love greek yougurt (which might be pretty easy!).

Best of luck -- your NUT can explain the details of how you are supposed to do it, and you can ask from there as well!

The protein from food started on the 28th post op day.  Yes, the NUT says to eat until full and that is what is on the printed sheets she gave me to follow.  I did ask about how to get the protein all in - she said that if I eat until full - then it should be no problem.  For the most part - it is no problem for me and I'm sure as time goes on and there are more food choices - it will be even easier.  My question is to those to maintain that 2 oz of protein each meal is sufficient - how do they get all 60-80 grams a day in.  Are they eating 5 small meals or ????  I was instructed to eat only 3 meals a day - no snacks.  Not looking for an argument - just really curious since so many advocate the undereating the sleeve.

No protein shakes ever? I would imagine that he would prefer you get your protein from food sources rather than soley from protein shakes. I was told whey protein isolate is the best absorbed in a protein shake and to keep the sugars under 5g. I don't know how you would get in your protein early on without protein shakes, but you can make your own protein shakes from things like greek yogurt or blended high protein foods...add surgar free flavoring, experiment with it and research recipes on line. I still have a protein shake every morning first thing to get in my vitamins (I have trouble swallowing pills with jus****er) and start off with a protein boost. I also eat more like 5 times throughout the day, sometimes more.

You want to stay with your Drs plan but you will want to know why too...understand their reasoning so you make the best choices for yourself. I don't know why a bariatric surgeon would totally ban you from protein shakes. Do you have a bariatric nutritionist? It's my nutritionist and this forum that helped me decide what was best for my diet post-op, but you have to figure out what works and feels right for you. 

Yes, my surgeon and his program are COE and there are two bariatric nutritionists on the staff.  The reasoning for getting off the protein shakes (which I don't like anyway) is to try to return to normal nutrition and learn to eat again healthfully.  I am getting the 60 grams of protein in - it is just that I feel I eat more than most on this board ever eat.  I stay under 800 cal, under 50 grams of carbs and I get my 64-75oz of liquids in on a daily basis.  My dr's program has a high success rate - so i am sure they know what they are doing - just wondering how things work for others.  As time goes on and I am cleared for all foods - I am sure I will find a routine that works for me - either sticking with the 3 meals only a day or adding a snack here or there.  At least I hope that's how it works - I want to eat healthy and feel good and lose the weight.  Thanks for your input.

Paula

I always ate/drank under my sleeve from the beginning! It was a red light mind thing that would go on! Plus, the fear of opening my leak again! Listen to your mind! Not your visual!.Still today I can only do 3 Oz's of dense protein with a small side.. And that would be pushing it!

Hugs 

Donna

Under Eating = Common Sense

Early out I kept reading about foamies, hicups, runny nose and vomiting.

So common sense says all that is from eating to much.........

Than I read something about "Eating till your full is how we got fat"......True.....

Than from my surgeon I learn what a "High Pressure" system the Vertical Sleeve is. You don't have that huge expandable balloon like stomach (fundus) to buffer over eating.

When the Pyloric Valve is closed from eating a dense protein first...... food begins to stack up.........till it hits the Esophageal Sphincter which by design is a one way valve only going "in"

So DING DING...... it's not hard to figure out that eating less would be the key to avoiding the above issues.

What happens when you try and fill a cup all the way to the very top????? Your gonna spill sometimes.... Now try and do it blindfolded !!! and that's what your doing by trying to feed your sleeve by going for full.

Now take that same cup....... and you know from past experience that it has about a 4oz. capacity. Now fill it up 3/4 of the way....now that would be under filling the cup with a little room for error. Not gonna spill nearly as many times than going for full !!!

Under eating your sleeve is the same concept. If you have a 4oz. capacity. Eat 3.5oz. Very simple.

This way of eating has many important advantages......

- First, eating fixed/measured amounts of food gives you an accurate count for your food logging for meeting nutritional values.

- Eating under your sleeve capacity will reduce any of those issues listed above.

- Most importantly..... Under eating your sleeve capacity is the only thing that you can do to preserve your long term restriction for maintenance when your really going to need it.

- Constant over eating is how you stretch out your sleeve. If you understand the description I gave above you will understand the high pressure is what stretches your sleeve.

- And if you have a larger sleeve you have more stretchy tissue, so this becomes very important for long term.

Try and read my post on Pyloric Valve 101 to get the basics on the Pyloric Valve.

Hope this helps.

frisco