Very recently, I've decided to cut back on the amount of food I eat. I noticed that if I eat to the point that I am full, my GERD kicks into gear. I'm trying to eat just enough so I'm satisfied, but not full. I started this as few days ago, and my GERD hasn't bothered me. My weight has been stable recently, and putting weight back on isn't a priority for me.

I'm not sure how to increase the intake of food, other than just eating more times a day. I personally would be hesitant to eat more food at just one meal. But this depends on how your stomach personally reacts.

Good luck!

Yes I hear you. I had no choice to cut back on my portions and have been eating 5 small meals for nearly 11 weeks now. I only slightly add to the size but will attempt more protein in an effort to gain weight wihout having to increase my portions. I feel like a bag of bones and am only glad it's winter down under and I can cover up.

I think that portion control is something you really need to take one day at a time. Eating too much can cause an attack and eating too little will not help either. As a good friend always reminds me, it I am still alive and kicking, it means something is working in there. Good luck to you both.

hi Ravenfish,
you're obviously much further down the path of healing and recovery and if so I'm very pleased for you. How long has it taken you to get that 'execellent' smiley in your mood? I long for that day. I agree it is a day by day thing. I'm constantly learning new things to try and this support group is helping me so much.
Thanks for the support and ideas.

The excellent smiley came in about mid-April, though some days it is still undeserved. My gastritis is 99% healed, but I find I come back to this board often to try to help others who I know are going through the same thing. I still have a lot of challenges ahead of me, mostly because it appears I developed some further complications as well as the gastritis, when I first became ill post-swine flu in October. But you will get there, where I am, someday. My diet is still not "normal" but I find things like stress do not upset my stomach as much as they used to and now I can take a bite of two of what I want (the fear of eating still remains). Hopefully, things will go much smoother for you than they have for me, but if not, the good news is we are all fighting the same fight- the one to get our lives back. And we will all get there in our own time!

thanks for the encouragement ravenfish. I'm sure i will be well again one day. So glad you drop by and offer support and hope. It means a great deal.
thanks

yes ravenfish is a breath of fresh air with the knowledge that is passed along. I for one appreciate every post.

Soretum have you incorporated a healthy peanut butter into your diet? It will give you a great source of protein as well as calories--that is if you can eat peanut butter. I can eat a teaspoon amount--that is right off the spoon. I do that about 3 x a week. I also eat fish and seafood--believe it or not for breakfast because I need protein first thing in the morning. I have learned since being diagnosed with cd a typical breakfast for me is out the window so I eat what I know is safe. Fish and seafood is fast to digest so it's less likely to cause distress. I dont know about you all but I seem to have a very very slow digestion and that is why they are doing the stomach emptying test to see if I have gastroparesis. I will take that over GOO--gastric outlet obstruction. I am praying it's not that.

hi sowle,
I've just dome some research on that test. I'd never heard of it before. This has been an eye opening experience. I must try some peanut butter. I'll get some pure, freshly ground from my health shop next week. I can handle the proteins ok and don't feel so strange for having chicken at breakfast. LOL. Thanks for the tip and I'll let you know how I go. I just had chicken and vegie soup for morning tea. I added Kale for a change. Off to a spit roast at work as I can eat meat and vegies. it's an outing and I don't have to cook. In 11 weeks i've had one lunch made for me. You all know the drill. Good luck with the test

Sowle-

What type of peanut butter are you able to eat? I have been having a hard time finding one that is low-fat (as it will sit easier) and without preservatives. Someone had mentioned that they thought making it might work. Just wondering...

Thanks!

if you try a good health store they should have a machine that will grind fresh peanuts into paste. It won't of course be low fat but it will be 100% peanuts only. I'm eating as much fat as my tummy will tolerate and will get some peanut butter next week but will tackle it with caution as nuts can be hard to digest. I'm assuming paste will be easier. I'm only trying it to add variety to my diet. I'm getting protein every meal. good luck finding one that suits you.

So far the only one I have found that works for me is skippy all natural, preservative free, it does have sugar, but for me I dont eat sugar in anything else, so what little I get in my peanut butter is okay. I only eat a teaspoon at a time. I don't know if comes low fat or not. When it comes to peanut butter I don't worry about low fat because fat from nuts gets used up faster then fats from oils and meats. The body metabolizes nut fat more efficiently then other fats. Moderation is a key. I have found that if I eat a teaspoon of pb I am sustained for a longer period of time. Currently I have to eat a tiny bit every 2-2.5 hours, if I don't I get very nauseated. When I mean a tiny bit, I mean like a 1/2 cup of applesauce, or a jar of baby food--fruit or veggie. I leave my heaviest meal for breakfast to sustain me until I get to work and supper to get through the night without waking up nauseated. Even then its a piece of meat alone. My bad food of choice that I can still tolerate is my wavy lays potato chips. Thank Goodness I still eat them in minimal amounts.

Here is the ingredient list for the all natural creamy skippy

Ingredients
Roasted Peanuts , Sugar , Palm Oil , Salt

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size : 2 tbsp
Serving per Container : 13
Calories : 180

Amount Per Serving % Daily value*
Total Fat16.0g 25.0
Saturated Fat3.5g 18.0
Trans Fat0.0g
Cholesterol0.0mg 0.0
Sodium150.0mg 6.0
Total Carbohydrate6.0g 2.0
Dietary Fiber2.0g 8.0
Sugars3.0g
Protein7.0g
Vitamin A0.0 0.0
Vitamin C0.0 0.0
Calcium0.0 0.0
Iron0.0 4.0
Vitamin E0.0 10.0
Niacin0.0 20.0

i'm not going to try peanut butter now. After consulting my naturopath she said peanuts are the nasties of the nut world as they grow underground and have toxins that can cause problems. Great if you can manage it. Since I'm not a lover of peanut butter I have not lost anything. good luck with it.

Thanks for the advice. I found, as I healed, my stomach tolerated a lot more. Like a bite or two of this favorite food or that. Because of the bacteria infection I am fighting now, I am back to trying to find foods I can eat with success again. I will give the skippy natural a try!

I agree I know peanuts are not the best thing to eat but at this point I am so limited that my GP wants me to eat whatever I can. Having all the intolerances I have I cant be as particular as I used to be. I use to eat almonds every day but I can no longer tolerate them, even ground to a pulp is an issue. That is why I limit how much PB I eat a week. I won't eat it on a daily basis, that's for sure. Have you ever been to a nutritionist or dietician--they will have you eat all the junk in the world just to maintain calories.--I wont do that!!!