Eating and Stomach Expansion

Specialbear · Mon, March 1st, 2004, 08:33 PM

This sounds kinda dumb, but do most ppls stomach really expand after a meal? Like in the morning, i look super lean. After a meal, i get pretty big, and then maybe an hour, back to lean again. How can i change this, or is it just normal?

daveo · Mon, March 1st, 2004, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Specialbear

This sounds kinda dumb, but do most ppls stomach really expand after a meal? Like in the morning, i look super lean. After a meal, i get pretty big, and then maybe an hour, back to lean again. How can i change this, or is it just normal?

Don't stress it. It's called "digestion"

Seriously; unless your pants are fitting before breakfast, and not afterwards, don't stress it.

teencraft · Mon, March 1st, 2004, 10:22 PM

you could eat less bloating/gaseous foods...but I mean it shoudln't really make that much of a difference, just don't eat alot of broccoli before you go to the beach.

Two Step · Tue, March 2nd, 2004, 12:07 PM

Yes, If you are pretty lean to begin with you will be able to notice an expansion in your stomach immediately after a meal. This is especially true if you eat a lot of fiber - as it tends to expand as it absorbs water during the digestion process.
Dinner is usually my largest meal of the day and I can usually notice some "bloating" afterwards, but by morning it is all gone again.

In short, don't sweat it. If you are going out where you want to look lean and ripped - just don't eat large meals and/or drink large quantities of water.

Chris · Wed, March 3rd, 2004, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Specialbear

This sounds kinda dumb, but do most ppls stomach really expand after a meal? Like in the morning, i look super lean. After a meal, i get pretty big, and then maybe an hour, back to lean again. How can i change this, or is it just normal?

Of course it's normal

that food your just ate has to go somewhere while it's being broken down into nutrients, energy and waste.

:: kna :: · Wed, March 3rd, 2004, 03:37 AM

Definately a normal process.. I had some mashed potato last night and I thought I was going to explode for an hour or so!

As you progress with weight loss, you'll regularly find that you're more bloated and 'full feeling' if you eat things which are generally classed as 'filling' (Like pasta, mash, etc..) which you may have been able to eat loads of before.

It works well for me now as I eat smaller portions to stop myself laying on the sofa like a beached whale.

guava · Wed, March 3rd, 2004, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teencraft

... just don't eat alot of broccoli before you go to the beach.

That is the strangest advice I have ever heard yet.

Not that I'm doubting it's good advice, I just thought it was strange.

Debujanai · Wed, March 3rd, 2004, 10:52 PM

I'm not doubting a stomach full of potatoes isn't bigger, but isn't part of the 'full' feeling a result of carb intake and the resulting insulin rise? I thought that is why a big meal makes you sleepy...

:: kna :: · Thu, March 4th, 2004, 02:48 AM

I totally agree, I'm sure it is also (even primarily) due to the carbs.. I'm just thinking that if you physically put that amount of food in your stomach, you're going to look bigger, especially the leaner you get.

I would also put it down to your stomach shrinking as you lose weight and find you can't eat as much as you could before, however I've heard conflicting things that suggest your stomach doesn't shrink at all.

goldenegg · Thu, March 4th, 2004, 01:25 PM

I really hate that feeling of stomach 'expansion'. I just got back from lunch where I had a chicken tortilla wrap (no cheeze or mayo) and currently have that feeling. While I understand this lunch wasn't unhealthy and won't hurt my weight loss progress, it still FEELS like a step backwards.