[gidget]

Hi All,
I feel like I'm eating way too much lately, and need everyone's opinion on whether you think I've stretched out my pouch and what to do about it!!!
Even though I am still having a problem getting in 3 ounces of something solid like chicken (I think it's all in my head!), I find I can eat a whole cup of black bean soup or a cup of refried beans followed by a whole pear! I think my pouch is only meant to hold a cup right now, so the combination of the two things equal more than a cup! I rarely feel full unless I have solid food like chicken or turkey, but I am satisfied with what I am eating and don't snack in between meals. Do you think my pouch is already stretched out with this food? If I have to eat solid protein like chicken or turkey burger, I don't feel like I get enough to satisy my protein requirements. I'm thrilled I had this surgery~~wouldn't change it for the world, but there is always so much uncertainty with me. I just don't want to mess up this wonderful tool..Thanks for always being there for me--this place offers me the best support--I told my surgeon about this place--he looked it up and agrees that is a good place to be for those of us WLS patients. His office has a website also, and he says he wishes his were more user friendly like this.

[Kenyar]

you are about 6 months out? i think a cup is fine. just make sure it is a cup of nutritious stuff the funny thing about my pouch is sometimes it opens up and then shortly after, it shuts down and i cant eat much at all. wierd. you would be in discomfort after eating if you were stretching it out. if you are just satisfied and not STUFFED to the gils i would think you are fine.

also textures make a HUGE difference in how much you can get in. I can get in WAY MORE in beans than i can in chicken or ground beef. keep that in mind. refired beans are soft. they wont stay in the pouch as long as a piece of steak. add a pear, which has juice (liquid) will push the beans thru also. so ur not really STUFFING the pouch, you are kind of moving things along quicker.

thats my take on it. i could be wrong...let's see what everyone else says.

[wegonefishindark]

At my checkup last month my dr. made a strong point to tell me that now I would be able to hold a little more food than before and make sure I make good choices that are fresh and those foods I have to chew (minus sugar, high fat & carb foods) He is a big fan of fresh veggies and fruit and meat not already processed. They take up more space in the pouch, thus filling you up with less food and therefore less calories. Those foods are suppose to stay with you longer b/c the stomach has more work to do. The softer foods that are basically already chewed can slide thru and you can eat more, therefore more calories and slowing down weightloss. I can see a big difference too, if I eat chicken its very little but something like soup or processed food I can eat allot more and thats scary and still hard not to do. I try to keep those words in my head at all times though. I also can notice what Kenyar said at times I can hold more and then seems like my pouch shrinks on other days and I fill up so quickly on the same.

Anyways, that's what I've been told. I can't comment on the pouch stretching at 6 months, maybe a veteran can answer that. I do think its the foods you eat that are soft and your able to hold more since chicken fills you with very little.

I love this website too & read so much before and after my surgery. The info is great.

[clancythecamper]

Seems like they used to call them slider foods coz the slide right thru. Sounds like you're on target to me~~~

[gidget]

Thanks all~~your input makes a lot of sense and is reassuring to me. While I was reading these, I was able to eat four large shrimp and they filled me up! I'm glad to have the full feeling that I don't get with the soup--also more protein in the shrimp than in the soup. The "slider" foods and foods that go through faster reallly makes sense. So far, I am glad that I haven't reverted to old behaviors, but I can see how I could. Unfortunately, I have never dumped. I say unfortunately because I would like to dump so I can have that aversion therapy effect! Thanks again for responding!
Cine

[DocSanae]

Streching doesn't happen that often, and you're still early out for that too.
It's the food choices, and the fact that your pouch can deal with food better than before.
Stick to the good choices and you'll do fine.

[tyraine]

Kenya I have those same issues. Sometimes I can eat more and then I will go right back to eating little of nothing. I go up and down. I now know what stays with me and what doesn't. All you have to do is listen to what your body is telling you after you eat. I know beans I will be hungry soon after. I know I can't eat steak at all because it's so hard to digest. Milk is a big no no for me. Trust me when I say it took a few tries to get this right and I am still learning new things. Also, if I eat a salad I better have some type of meat or I will be hungry again within a hour or two.

[judijo]

MsVickie put in a great post about the WLS diet at 6 months that is now a sticky in the diet section. Here is the link.

[LadyLisa]

Milk will give me gas but I can drink it and it for some reason makes me feel satisfied for a long time. I also have protein and fiber in there though..My pouch also can sometimes take tons of some things and then next to nothing of others. Be careful with soup try to get as much of the broth out as you can and only eat the chunky part the broth will make you empty really quick.