FIVE DAY POUCH TEST - DAY ONE!!!

Today is DAY ONE of the FiveDay Pouch Test!!! Today is 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. 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. If you notice symptoms of carbohydrate withdrawal you can eat a small piece of melon or an orange. You can also try a dose of Emergen-C which should reduce headache, dizziness or cramping from carbohydrate withdrawal. What was your weight this morning? Do you want to check in with our weight each day or just wait until the end of the test to see how good you did? How are you feeling today? Any headaches? Upset stomach? Crankiness? Do you have any favorite recipes or tips for drinking your protein shakes? Did you exercise? If so, what did you do? What do you hope to achieve from doing the Five Day Pouch Test? Aside from Water and Protein shakes are you having anything else today? Did you plan a menu for the week to make sure you had everything on hand you need to get through these Five Days? Do you think this is going to be harder to do than it was when you had the surgery? Hope everyone is doing well. Hang in there. Today and Tomorrow will be the hardest. WE CAN DO THIS!!! Hugs, Tabby

I am ready for this. I really need this to jump start my losses again. Seems like when I lose a pound or two, I end up gaining it back that week. I finally hit the 100lb mark, and again, I'm back up 2 pounds again. 1. Starting Weight this morning: 220 2. I will post each day my weight, even if it's not for the positive. I need to be more honest with myself. 3. I am feeling great, ready for this challenge. No headaches, nothing (yet) lol. 4. My only shake that I drink is a Designer Whey chocolate shake with 8oz of skim milk. Nothing fancy, It tastes good to me and I can drink it well. 5. I did get up and exercise. I only did 10 minutes on my gazelle, but it was 10 more than I usually do. My goal is to do more each day. 6. I hope to acheive the mindset and will to stop snacking and grazing so much during the day. I don't need to. My head is sometimes stronger than my will to not eat. I need to control it and use it again. Eat only to survive. 7. I already had my protein shake for the morning, and I have my shake ready to take to work for lunch, with milk too. I do plan on getting a decaf coffee on my way to work. I love the flavored waters, so I plan on drinking a few of those today too. Dinner will be my shake again I have to work from 7pm-11pm tonight at my part-time job, so that helps with not snacking, but then again, it doesn't help with my fluid intake. I have to get it in before i go. 8. Nope, no plan really for meals. Shakes today and tomorrow. I do have tuna, crab, and shrimp in a can for the soft foods. Also some chicken in a can. I have my ground beef and chicken for later in the week. Just have to plan my meals for me, my family won't even know lol. 9. I know this is going to be harder than before. I couldn't snack before, my stomach wouldn't let me. Now, being almost a year out, I can, and It's scary. It's harder to stay on track. I am really looking forward to this and hope we are all honest and do well. Even if I don't do well, I need to retrain myself to know that I don't NEED to snack or graze during the day/evening. Have an AWESOME LIQUID DAY ALL!!!! Molly 318/220/150

GOOD LUCK MOLLY!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!! *huggles* Felicia =0)

Good luck, Molly!!! We can stop these stupid grazing/snacking habits that have creeped back into our lives. We CAN do this!!! I am totally ready to be honest with myself. Getting ready to log into my fitday now. Good luck, Tabby

Good Morning Tabby and all Octoberites! I am going to join you on this test. Yesterday morning, I weighted 165. I forgot to check this morning before I was completely dressed, shoes and all. I will post each day if I can remember to weigh, otherwise, I will post at the end of the week. (My scale is downstairs and I get dressed upstairs.) So far today, I feel like every other day. I do not think I will have any carb withdrawl as I do not eat many carbs usually. I always mix my protein with water. I have one in the morning on the way to work with my vitamins and 20 oz of water also. In the afternoon, I mix my chocolate shake in the magic bullet with 2 tsp of International coffee S/F Mocha and ice. This is my "Iced Coffe" break. At night, since it is cooler, I have been having my chocolate protein warm, sometimes with another 2 tsp of the International coffee, or some SF DaVinci syrup added. The key to "hot chocolate" protein is to mix up the powder with cold water in the mug to a paste, then add the hot-not boiling water (2 minutes in the microwave) to fill the mug. I will add a shake or two today for lunch and dinner. Water in between, maybe with some crystal light added. I have not excersized yet today, but plan on some walking this afternoon. I am doing this test to see if I can jump start some weight loss. I have been stuck in the same place for a long time, and even gained 4 pounds---my first gain since surgery. Besides the protein shakes and water above, I have had 2 mugs of decaf chicory/french roast with 2% milk and Splenda. I will get the things that I need for the next two stages when I visit Trader Joe's later today. I am hoping that it won't be any harder than it was before, although now that I know I CAN eat, I may want to. Good luck everyone! Dawn

GOOD LUCK DAWN!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!! *huggles* Felicia =0)

Hi, Dawn. Glad to see you are joining us in this challenge. WE WILL GET THAT SCALE MOVING!!! You will get those pesky 4 pounds back off and get the scale moving in the right direction this week. It'll be hard, but we need to do this for ourselves. Good luck this week, Tabby

GOOD LUCK TABBY!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!! *huggles* Felicia =0)

Thanks, Felicia. I KNOW I CAN DO THIS!!! Tonight at work will be the real test. Ten hours at a desk with a HUGE JAR OR PRETZELS on my co-workers desk right behind me and NOBODY ELSE IN THE BUILDING TO CATCH ME!!! I will have to hide them under his desk to resist temptation. They call my name each time I walk past his desk and see them. Out of sight, out of mind. I'll take a protein shake and some protein chicken bouillion soup with me. I've got to flush these darn carbs. Good to see you back. Your pics of your trip and Joshua's birthday were nice. Looks like you made his day VERY special. Welcome back. Hugs, Tabby

I am like Molly -- I AM READY FOR THIS!! I have 15 pounds to lose to reach my goal and lately it seems like I am only losing 1 or 2 pounds every couple of weeks! 1. Starting Weight this morning: 150 2. I will post each day my weight, as long as I remember to get weighed each morning... 3. I am feeling great, ready for this challenge. 4. My only protein shake that I drink is EAS 100% Vanilla Protein from Walmart with 8oz of skim milk. Nothing fancy, It tastes good to me and I can drink it well. 5. I haven't exercised yet today, but plan to do my walk video tonight.... 6. I hope to stop snacking and grazing so much during the day. 7. I already had my protein shake for the morning, and I had one for a snack this morning as well. I have one left for lunch and will have one for dinner tonight as well. I have found some flavored non-carbonated water that I really enjoy and I brought three of them with me to work today! 8. Shakes today and tomorrow. I do have tuna, yogurt and cottage cheese for my soft foods. I have my ground beef and chicken for later in the week. My family is being very supportive, so they know they may be on their own for meals for a couple of days!! Holly