Question:
I measure my foods each time I eat, I take my time eating...

and I am careful not to eat too much (9 days post-op). I am thinking that I can eat too much at one time. For lunch today I had 1 oz soup, 3 oz mashed potatoes and 2 oz applesauce--it took me about 30 or so minutes to eat and now I feel slightly sick but not stuffed! My tummy does not hurt but I definitely don't want any more food. My question: Is this a normal experience? Should I cut down on food? I 'eat' 6 meals per day, three regular and three protein shakes spaced out from 8 am to 8 p.m. and I drink tons of water, okay, about 60 oz of water is about all I can handle and maybe 5-6 Crystal Lite per day. Please help me--I don't want to screw this up this early in the game.    — jenn2002 (posted on April 30, 2002)

April 30, 2002
What did your surgeon tell you to do? Didn't he give you nutritional guidelines? Different surgeons say different things. At 9 days out, I was drinking Carnation Instant Breakfast for 3 meals and for my snack, as directed by my surgeon. I was drinking 50-60 oz of other fluid in between meals. Check with your surgeon!
   — JoanneML

April 30, 2002
I don't see any protein in this meal you described. Protein is the MOST important food you should be eating. Try cottage cheese, really mashed up tuna fish, underwoods deviled ham spread on about 3 ritz crackers. Carnation instant breakfast has a whole lot of sugar in it. Try to find the sugar free kind. The mashed potatoes are straight carbs, try mashed sweet potatoes if you like them, they are much more nutritious. The quantity you described is just about right at your stage in the process. Good Luck
   — MARSHA D.

May 1, 2002
One small note: My dr recommends that we stop eating after 20 minutes. That is how long it takes before your pouch starts to empty. You will end up eating more than you really "need" if you eat past that point. Also, the liquid soup will wash down the mashed potatoes and applesauce. And I could not agree more with the previous poster--protein at every meal!!!!! At this stage you would have to be a miracle worker to get all the protein you really need. Every time you eat, make it protein first and foremost and then have the other stuff IF you have room! Good luck. It will get better when you are able to eat more "real" food. =)
   — ctyst