5-day pouch test round 2

Connie and I are starting this - right Connie? I have mixed feelings about it - sure don't want to set myself up for another failure...is this healthy? What are we trying to achieve? Melt off a few pounds, a few inches? WHY? I'll speak for myself here - let me know if this resonates with you - if I am feeling so panicked and out-of-control about my weight...crazy in the head, sad, frustrated, scared...about my weight - than it's not about what I'm eating, it's more about what I'm thinking and feeling. The food I'm chosing to eat is my lifelong coping mechanism for trying to calm those raging feelings and emotions of self-doubt. I am in a perpetual cycle of self-sabatoge. Pure and simple. So doing a quick-fix 5-day anything ain't gonna quick-fix a damn thing. And it sure is hell ain't gonna stop the screaming thoughts and feelings in my head. Rather, I need to (1) OWN the problem ("my head is in turmoil, I feel crazy right now, I am out of my mind with worry and lack of sleep..."); (2) FIND A SOLUTION to the problem ("I will take a walk down to the water, I will close my door, pull the curtain, and close my eyes for 5 minutes so that I can get some rest..."); and (3) OWN what will NOT NOW, NOT EVER solve the problem ("eating **** food doesn't make me feel less crazy in the head, in fact it makes me feel crazier; eating **** food makes me worry more, which keeps me awake at night; eating **** food is as bad for me as doing any other self-harm, AND I'M WORTH MORE THAN THAT!") I weigh 151 today. I want desperately to take 10 lbs. off NOW. I want to weigh 140 again. My lowest was 138 and I'd kill to get to 135. But more than anything, I want peace in my head. Connie, I don't know about starting this tomorrow. What about you??? Talk to me, people. M.

Hey Reenie, Honest truth is: Reason #1 - I'm starting this tomorrow so I can take a crap. Can't get more honest than that. I went 8 days without the comforts of porcelain and have been resorting to all things unholy and chemical to get things straightened out with limited success. I figured going on liquids for a few days might give my colon a break and let things get right. I'm hoping that a moratorium on packing food in an already crowded environment will help me feel better. Reason #2 - I have heard from others that this isn't necessarily to lose weight, but to help get the pouch back to post surgery dimension (more or less) and help to eat less at one sitting. I've heard from others that they have found it helpful. Reason #3 - I just need to keep moving in a forward motion. I'm not expecting to lose weight, I'm not expecting to do anything other than try another avenue and see what it gets me. I've always said that I can do ANYTHING for two minutes. I think I can go full liquid for 2 minutes, and another two minutes and another two minutes until I've made it through 2 days. Reason #4 - I need to take care of me. I've been on the go-go-go taking care of everyone around me lately and now it's my turn. I've made appointments with the nephrologist, gastroenterologist, dermatologist and I'm going to focus on me and what I need to get right. I stopped at the vitamin store yesterday and bought new calium chewables and a chocolate protein powder to try and get more protein in. Reason #5 - What do I have to lose? Is this going to solve your problems? Not a chance in hell. But, maybe it will give you something else to focus on. I'm going to go ahead with it, but if this isn't the time for you, don't worry about it. Do what you need to do to take care of yourself. Love yourself and parent yourself. Be good to YOU. Love you lots and wish I could hug you, C.

You poor thing - ok, but I think I will start on Saturday - am moving my horse to a new barn tomorrow and as silly as that may sound this is a very stressful thing to do with a young, extremely large, extremely powerful animal with the mind of a frightened two year old. If I get through tomorrow without being killed, I'll start the 5-day on Saturday - I still need someone to tell me what to eat those first two days - what precisely can I have in "cream soups" - what kinds, what brands and how much of it, how often? Otherwise, SF jello, as much as I want to satisfy hunger?? What about SF pudding? What about SF popsicles? Otherwise is it just protein shakes (no fruit or yogurt added) and are they limited? Please map this out for me - someone give me a 5 day diet sampler please!!! Thanks. M.

Maureen, Below is the link to the 5 Day Pouch Test. You'll need to click around through the site and go exploring. I'm not thrilled with the way the site is layed out, but there's lots of good info to be found. If you can find a link to the refresher for the 5 day pouch test, I find it even more informative. I'm at work and can't really go searching right now. Excerpts from the site below: The first two days are all liquids. You can have as many low-carb protein shakes as you like to satisfy hunger or cravings. In addition drink at least six 8-ounce glasses of water each day. The purpose of all liquids is to break any snacking, grazing or processed carbohydrate habits. In addition the liquids will work to cleanse your system and prepare you for the following three days. It is very important to drink a minimum of 64 ounces of water each day. This will prevent dehydration, will help curb cravings and will flush your body of toxins and fat. Sufficien****er intake improves kidney function and cell processes. Try to reduce your caffeine intake as well, but do not stop caffeine cold turkey or you will feel sick and frustrated potentially losing the desire to continue with the pouch test. http://www.5daypouchtest.com/plan/theplan.html http://www.livingafterwls.com/Library.html

Ok, but I'm starting Saturday. I'll be one day behind you. But I'm doing it. And get the Colace like Joanie says - it really, really works. Why are you so jammed up - has this been going on all along since surgery for you???

Connie LOL I had to laugh at your first line...I feel sorry for you but when I read so I can take a crap ,I had to laugh. The reason I am doing this is to try to get back on track, back to basics, and not eat every piece of junk I see and to be more concious of what goes in my mouth. If I lose a few in the process thats great....but its mainly to try to get some control, and if one week doesnt work ill just try it again...eventually it will sink in. On a positive note it has help cut my carb cravings abit, I still have them but I am able to restrain from them without the headache. I really think you need longer then a week to get rid of that feeling totally, Im thinking about giving myself a tight restriction one more week. Then hopefully it will become second nature.Hopefully..... Kimberly

You're right Maureen, food is never a solution to emotional problems. 'sigh' if only. It only adds to the problems. Why am I doing this...For me... I have ALOT of weight to loose still and I am re-addicted to the carbs and sugars because I scarfed donughts last weekend and its still not completely out of my system. especially since i had fruit. Is it healthy? I have alot of weight to loose and its just as healthy as it was the first time we had to fast for a month... only we are only doing it for 2 days. No big in my book... BUT be careful of that blood sugar dropping since we are doing only protein... it will probably shock the body a little. I'm sure it's not the healthiest thing in the book, but for me I totally need it or else its WAY too hard to get back on track. I always like to go "back to the basics" but don't starve yourself if you don't have to. I couldn't do it this time around so I just made sure I ate protein only. Which is plenty healthy... I mean I did add some fruit and veggies...albeit the veggies wasn't good lol... it was starchy corn ... so i oopsed but the oops wasnt on sugar. Day one for me would probably be this: Protein drinks ANY soups that are brothy (or vegetable soup) I can't personally handle creamy soups they make me nauseous and dump. I'll even have chicken soup. minus the noodles. Mashed potatoes with some melted cheese Refried beans with some cheese and salsa ... mmm. OH YEAH! I forgot about my refried beans! Shoot! I'll do that tomorrow. if you want ill start with you tomorrow since i messed up and never really started the mushy foods for 2 days. anything mushy and soft and food! but thats just me... not necessarily the foods on the 5day diet plan... But when I did it last time I lost 8 pounds! I actually dropped 12 but came up 4. Its the see saw thing but at least the 8 i lost that week STAYED off! which im glad about. Not getting on the scale since i started the protein thing till tomorrow. Maybe even monday. I'm afraid to be dissapointed. Cut out the sugar. Make that your goal. Focus on protein and don't worry so much about following an exact plan if its too stressful. Sugar and carbs is my demon right now and thats what I'm trying to cut out. Love ya! Elizabeth M

'lizbet, you're sad. I hate to hear you sounding so sad. Ok, Connie is starting tomorrow, I'm starting Saturday a.m. Why don't you start with one of us - just let us know which day you're starting. We can do this together, we really can. Hey, I did 6 days of nothing but liquids after that endoscopy procedure - 2 days is a cakewalk! Oops, sorry folks. M.

Reenie.... first 2 days...protein shakes made with ice and water as much as you want any brand, bullion any kind whenever, cream soups I had campbells a whole can at one sitting made with water, example, cream of mushroom, chicken & herbs, broccolli and cheese all cream soups as much as I wanted, all the jello brand SF jello, all the Jello bran SF pudding, and alot of water. just wait 30 mins before and after to drink with your meals like we should be doing already. day 3---all the soft protein foods...such as eggs cooked anyway, can add cheese,ham,bacon as much as you want but only allow yourself 15 min to eat and hold off the drinking to 30 min before and after....tuna cooked anyway as much as you want, whenever, 15 eating time,any other type of fish, ummmbean soup stuff like that as much as you want just allow 15 mins to eat it.protein shakes ,sf jello,sf pudding day 4- more solid proteins...example ground protein...turkey,beef,chicken...cook anyway even fried with alittle olive oil...add some salsa or 2 tps of italian breadcrumbs,cheese, fried onions its mainly no carbs thats the big idea, no limit but they recommend 4 ozs. just time limit of 15 mins to eat...30 min usual water wait. you can also have all the seafood you want cooked anyway.still protein shakes,sf jello,sf jello pudding day 5-solid protein steak,chicken, beef,seafood etc....cooked anyway...preferably grilled or broiled, you can season it,add mushrooms,onions,etc... just no real carbs,a TBSP of breadcrumbs wont hurt,4oz in a sitting. 15 min eating time, water 30 min wait, protein shakes,Jello sf jello,jello sf pudding, eat when you are hungry. Really go to the site they have all kinds of ideas and recipes that are very easy and quick and tell you what the calorie intake and such is. And has the weeks plan all spelled out. 5daypouchtest.com I hope this helps you more. Kimberly

I've kept quiet up until now on this subject..... I absolutely cannot do this diet and function as a human being at work. It just isn't anything remotely possible. I figure I'll wait for you guys to do it and see what happens. If everyone is saying that they can't eat, pouch has shrunk, they feel like they did after surgery....well, then I may try it. But no food will make me an angry person that is not fun to be around. If I could lock myself in my bedroom alone for 5 days and follow this plan....that's the only way I could to it. CONNIE-----buy yourself Colase stool softener. Take 3 before you go to bed at night. Do it a couple of times a week. It helps. And Reenie....have you ever heard of Setpoint? I've read it's a weight that your body is meant to be. Maybe your body doesn't want you to be 138...or 135. Maybe it likes 151 or 148 better. No, eating **** food will not solve any problems. BUT....finding out the real mental reason we eat the **** food can. You are trying to self medicate with **** food. Why don't you try an eating disorders therapist? I guess it is hard for me because my problem was that I could never tell if I was full....I didn't know what that felt like. Now I do. Do I still eat the wrong things and too much at times? Absolutely. But I don't feel any particular addiction. I can eat a 100 calorie pack of cookies and be done with it. I know a lot of people can't do that. BUT...I do have days when I am more hungry than others. I am still 10 pounds more than I was at my lowest weight. Would I like to lose it? Without a doubt. Will I lose it? It doesn't look promising. 5 day pouch test or not. Well, gang...keep me posted. And most of all....STAY HEALTHY!!! Joanie