Help - ThinnerTimes

bballmom · 10-08-2004, 03:36 PM

o.k. i've been reading some of the posts, and i would like to know what the cottage cheese test is?? also some people are saying that at aprox 6-12 mos out that they are just now able to eat a whole egg, I have stopped at 1/2 because I thought I should, but I think I could have eaten more

I am a little scared.

I am 3 1/2 weeks out, just how much should I be able to eat? also I am a little confused, in the paper work I recived at the post-op it states you should begin chicken at around 4 weeks, i have tried some already and can handle it just fine, though I do not eat alot. i am confused, please help!

Bettina

P.S. to briget, I tried to talk to you in the chat room, but for some reason I could not get through, what am I doing wrong?

bridgetgirl · 10-08-2004, 04:21 PM

ya know Im not sure... I know I have to log in and click on the thumbnail and all this other stuff... Im not sure why you arent able to... when you log in, you click the little thumnail, then register and then you should be able to go... thats how it works for me anyways......

here is my advice regarding those eating issues.... if you feel content eating 1/2 an egg, then eat that much... dont push it if you feel content at that point... pushing can hurt... believe you me.. I pushed it on my lunch today and I hurt for about a good 20 minutes... too much cottage cheese/marinara/parmesan cheese creation. I dont know what the cottage cheese test is either... cant help youon that one.

Regarding those limitations.. I know that I can consume more food now then 5 months ago, and at times it feels a bit scary... but even though I know I can eat more in quantity, I dont (with the exception of todays lunch-dont know why/how I over did it) Example. I love tacos, and I will have one. One day I tried two, and I was able to eat two... that freaked me out, and I vowed I would never eat 2 again... all I need is one and I keep it at that. We definitely need to work on self control.... oh chicken... we were just talking about that at Tuesday's support group. MANY of us cant handle it, it has to do with the texture. You are not alone on that. Since my surgery 8 months ago, I have had chicken twice and I have only eaten about 4 bites each time... chicken is a tough one... eggs are the same for me.. depending on the way they are prepared can be tough to get down sometimes... it has to do with the density of the food.... hope this bit helps ya a lil bit, Im sure you will get much more advice. Have a great weekend!

watergirl · 10-09-2004, 09:01 AM

The cottage cheese test is a method of measuring the size of your pouch. You take a known quantity, new cottage cheese container, eat until you are full/comfortable, then measure the remaining comparing to the original known quantity. This gives you an approximate capacity. At least that's my understanding. I agree with Bridget, you should listen to what your body is telling you. I think over the years we forgot how to do that. It's a good time to get back in touch with that feeling/voice/sense of comfortable, not full, stuffed, etc. Understanding that your body really doesn't need that much to survive. I bring these things up because I'm dealing with these issues myself.

Eggs, sometime I can eat a whole egg, other days I feel like I'm going to throw it up. When I could eat eggs the first time, I fixed it scrammbled and ate most of it. It's all a learning experience. Chicken, I couldn't wait to try chicken. I was very disapointed when I couldn't get it down. I'll try it again another time. It's all trial and error and like Kelly keeps telling us; try it first in the privacy of your own home.

I hope this helped.

Blueyz · 10-09-2004, 10:20 AM

Hi Bettina,
I just have to say that we are all truly different when it comes to what we can eat. I started eating chicken as soon as Kelly gave me the ok. I was in heaven. I also started eating steak early and it is the best. I, on the other hand can not tolerate ground beef. Pretty strange? I am able to eat 1/2 to a whole hard boiled egg depending on the day. Sometimes it is ok, and sometimes I have to throw it away. Just the smell of eggs makes me sick, so I don't know how I can stand to eat a hard boiled egg. I still can not handle protein bars. Eeek! It is all just a trial and error type thing.

Sondra · 10-09-2004, 07:29 PM

Hi Bettina,

I am only 2 1/2 weeks out surgery was on 9/22. Sometimes I would eat and feel like 20 minutes later I could eat again and talked to my sister and she said I need to consume more water and that has helped. I feel like sometimes I eat a lot, but I have been writing down what I do eat and it isnt a lot or too much. I just eat what I can tolerate and I am eating chicken just fine. I have even tried hamburger but not too found of it. I ate chili and tried a small bite and that was enough for me. I have been told by others to eat what you can tolerate, everyone is different. As soon as you feel full get up and dump the plate or whatever is left. I have lost 23 and that is it, this week alone i didnt lose a thing and that is depressing! But I hope the next time I weigh that it is a good loss! Good luck.

Sondra

Butterfly · 10-10-2004, 10:55 PM

Hi Bettina,
We each have different things we can and cannot tolerate at different stages post-op. There may be days where I can eat a whole hard boiled egg and others where with one bite, I'm done. I think it depends on my taste buds for that day. I have done really well with fruit like watermelon, canteloupe and honeydew melon. It's easier to eat more of those things than other items. You can usually eat more of the "softer" foods like beans, cottage cheese and eggs and less of the bulkier foods.

Hope this helps.

TabFox · 10-11-2004, 09:06 PM

I don't eat eggs at all...can't stand 'em, and chicken is NOT my friend. I hurl my guts up if I eat it. However, I can do fish, any kind of beef. I haven't tried pork, but I do eat beans and veggies. I don't do much bread at all, maybe 2 slices in the past 4 months. Like the others have said..it's trial and error. One day something i eat will do fine, the next day it won't. Our bellies can be tempermental at times.

Tabitha
Open 5/26/04
321/227/???

SublimeCJ · 10-11-2004, 09:24 PM

hello all,
for those of you who know me... and I suppose even those of you who dont.... you know that I don't come to this forum near as much now as I used to.....
BUT I had a bad day today and i could use some encouragement. I have just had the munchies all day and ate more than i would usually eat on any day and my choices were not so great. I started my day by getting a big sugar free latte from starbucks.... probably not going to kill me... but i felt bad for having the extra 200 calories. Then I had half a protein bar and a bowl of salad for breakfast..... I won't get into the caloric content, (which i am semi-obsessed about) but after that I just kept wanting to eat all day. I tried to distract myself and drink lots of water, but the normal "tricks" weren't working. I didn't make it to the gym today and perhaps that is why I am now feeling so guilty about what I ate. I guess my biggest problem is that i had a large bowl of salad and a prtein bar for breakfast and also a large bowl of salad and a small slice of meatloaf for dinner. I don't feel too full, so is it possible that my body was just needing more food today?
Does anyone else (I am 8 months out) have some days where they are just more hungary than others? I also have days where I am not hungary at all, but those seem far less unnerving.... =)
Please lend me some kind words! Thanks everyone!
continued success and good luck in every part of your journey!

Crystal
2-3-04
267/147/135

down 120 pounds

Butterfly · 10-11-2004, 09:57 PM

Crystal~
Please don't be so hard on yourself. It sounds like you had a "I can eat more" kind of day. I've only been out 10 weeks, but reading and hearing what other people,that have been out longer, can eat on certain days, sounds pretty normal.

I think we tend to be hard on ourselves and beat ourselves up so much that we start thinking negative things. You have done what several people cannot do. You have lost a total of 120 pounds! That is so AWESOME!

You have worked hard at getting to where you're at right now and believe it or not, you are an inspiration to all of us that are just starting out.

You ate salad, and some meatloaf. You got your protein in. What's the harm in that? At least you went for the non-fat latte and not the regular latte. You ate a salad for breakfast and dinner.

You are beautiful and you are successful! Don't give up on yourself and remember that you have us to help you get through these kind of days.

Keep up the great work Crystal!

Blueyz · 10-11-2004, 10:39 PM

You are doing a great job. Don't beat yourself up about eating healthy foods. Salad and protein bars are better than eating a bag of chips and a candy bar. You look great and are doing so good. It is true that for some reason you can eat more some days and other days you can hardly eat. I hope tomorrow is a better day for you. Keep your head up and keep smiling.