Water Loading at six months

Is anyone starting this procedure yet? According to the Pouch Rules for Dummies, we should be starting this. Just wondering if anyone is doing it and if it helps with those nasty plateaus.

Sandra, It's so funny that you posted this. Just this morning I pulled out my information from the surgeon and was reading abou****er logging. I don't know if it will help with a plateau but I sure as heck hope so!! I haven't lost anything since the 9th and I'm sooo frustrated. I'm going to start to do this and see. If nothing else, it will help to make us not be so hungry so soon. Good luck and tell me if you decide to try this. Deb

What is Water Loading? I'm just past 5 months.. had my surgery November 23rd and I have never heard of this. I am currently on a plateau.. and anything I can do to help break it.. I am willing to try. Can someone please enlighten me? Thanks so much! Tracey 289/195/140

Do a search for "pouch rules for dummies". It is a lot of good reading and printing, but makes a lot of sense. I started this weekend and am indeed much more full than before. I got worried because I could tolerate more food. It basically entails, sipping fluid 2-4 hours after a meal. 15 minutes before your next meal, you gulp 3/4 of your max and 6-8oz then finish by sipping to your max (8-12oz). Wait 15 minutes, eat (protein first then veg/fruit) then no fluids for 1.5-2 hours then start all over again. It pretty much is supposed to help you through head hunger as well as physical hunger. The water before the meal makes the intestine squeeze and the food that follows the water stays in your pouch longer and it signals the brain that you are not hungry. You are to do this for all meals and if hunger returns before a meal (not likely). It is very important that you start sipping at the 1.5-2 Hr timeframe or the actual loading won't work.

I never rec'd any info on water loading...What exactely is it?

Water loading is primarily a tool to fill your stomach up so you don't feel hunger and therefore dont eat too much and stretch your pouch. The best thing you can do if you are on a plateau that I have found is increase the liquid and protein you consume. Eliminate the carbs or reduce them to also help. I don'****erload but if the scales don't move in a couple of weeks, I may try it. But I'm not actually more hungry. I'm just slowing down... Alice From Dallas 11/10/04 285/195/170

Thank you Alice!! I am rarely hungry anyhow right now, but I may try this if I start feeling hungrier!!! I drink quite a bit of water anyhow, usually about 100 ounces per day!! I have a bottle of water from the time I wake up until I go to bed!! All day and all evening!!! I only eat 3 meals per day and try not to snack at all in between and it sure seems to help me....Maybe its the water that is keeping me from being hungrier!!! Thanks for the info!!