Eating tiny amounts with gastric bypass

Tweet

Over time the stomach (about the size of your thumb) can stretch out to hold 6 to 12 ounces. This is not a good thing, really, because the purpose of the bypass is to limit food intake. It is easy to gain weight if you eat more than your body needs. I've been staying constant for the past 6 weeks, and I know it is because I have stopped measuring my food intake to be less than 4 ounces in volume. I was eating over a cup in volume at one time and that's not good. I put my meal on a dessert plate so you could judge how small it is. It is more than enough, actually, because I am just as satisfied with a little as I am with a lot. I used to have to measure like this after having surgery because it would hurt to eat one bite more than my stomach could comfortably hold. Now it doesn't hurt so I can eat more before I feel full or feel sick, whichever happens first. I feel much better and have much more energy by eating like I did when I started eating solid food post surgery. I'm looking forward to weighing next Sunday, because I believe the weight will get jump started again. I have to eat less because I have been at a plateau now for 6 weeks or more. Tired of it. You may think I can't feel full with that little bit or you may think that I would be hungry. No I don't get hungry after eating a small amount. It seems that eating a larger amount stimulates insulin and makes me feel hungry. But eating a small amount doesn't stimulate hunger. Basically, I'm going back to square one. My surgeon would ask if my portion sizes are the same as when I first got the bypass. I had to admit I was just eyeballing my portion sizes. I know this is the wrong thing to do since I am a gastric bypass recipient. The surgery saved my life in 2001. I know I wouldn't be here now if I hadn't had it. I considered going back and having it redone, but I said no. I will just go back to eating the way I am supposed to. If you had a gastric bypass, did your tummy stretch out over time? Tell me about it please.