From what I have been told, no, however after your stomach heals post surgery you will be able to eat a bit more, and for me personally, I can consume a slightly larger quantity of soft or liquid type foods, like soup, or yogurt. I am over 5 years post surgery and I cannot eat the same amounts of food as I could prior to surgery.

No. It is IMPOSSIBLE to stretch your stomach that much. It IS possible to stretch it some, but you would have to be eating yourself to sick full constantly. Depending on your surgeon, 75%-85% of your stomach was removed. The stomach is a muscle. You cannot stretch it out that much.

Now, being a muscle, your stomach has a memory of sorts. As you eat larger portions, it remembers the size and signals full there. If you start measuring, weighing and logging your foods, you will force yourself to eat much smaller portions. If you are diligent with it, and find ways to fend of the dreaded "head hunger", in a few weeks you'll notice that set point resetting.

It's so important to remember, we should NOT be eating to FULLNESS. We have to start recognizing when we are feeling SATIATED. If you are always eating to FULL, you are overeating.

If you want it to happen more quickly, start doing a liquid diet during the day, protein shakes, bones broth, herbal teas. Then have a dinner of a lean protein (about 3-4 ounces) and a small serving of a low carb veggie. DO NOT EAT IT ALL if you feel FULL, STOP.

Logging every bite and every sip, so every calorie, is so important. I'm awful at it and know I need to get better.

Head Hunger is awful!!!!!!! I made myself a sticky note... "Drink Water. You are NOT hungry!!"
afternoons seem to want to be snacky times. I just think i'm bored, and want to eat. I must not give in!!

fit_chickx wrote: »

Grazing gets confused with stretching. It’s easy to eat around your surgery.
Grazing is eating several small meals (healthy and unhealthy choices) that total over your calories and macros for each day. You don’t feel surgery restriction eating small meals. The sensation is as if you never had surgery. You will gain weight back.

This has totally been my experience. I still have the restriction, fortunately, and when I eat regular meals it's still one of my checks and balances, but the restriction isn't effective in controlling grazing (in my case). It's been a struggle I have to admit. I honestly don't get as hungry when I don't graze, and I do think I graze out of habit/head hunger. I have really had to check myself with this, and look at my eating throughout the day to make sure I am eating enough satiating foods.

@Turbolinky83
It only is it POSSIBLE to Stretch your sleeve, but you will only know if your doctor orders an X-ray.

I know this because My sleeve was performed in August 2015, and stretched my sleeve so that the radiologist could only tell I had a sleeve from the surgical incisions. This was in October 2018.

Anyone who believes it can’t happen need to realize that they will begin to gain weight once it is stretched, regardless of their diet or habits. You can also stretch it to your pre-surgical size and bigger.

Fortunately I was able to have a revision to bypass and the weight I gained (40lbs) is gone and more. With the original sleeve surgery I lost 145lbs (half my original weight). After stretching my stomach I gained 40lbs. carbonated beverages were what did me in, the gas and bubbles stretch your sleeve. My eating habits and exercise regimen were never changed, I was still following my nutrition and exercise plan.

With the revision to bypass in December 2018, I’ve lost 53lbs. This brings my total weight loss to 153lbs and still going down.

Please watch your food intake, carbonated beverage intake, continue to drink the Dr recommended amount of water daily.

Very rarely can someone get a revision paid for by Insurance, so you will be stuck with a stretched pouch unless you can pay for the revision out of pocket.

Good luck. Feel free to ask me any questions you may have and good luck with your continued goal for your fitness and health.