Pouch Resetting (Time Out) Roll Call!

In my previous post I explained my need to start this roll call. I do not want to steal the idea or act like it was my idea but after much research, prayer and meditation (seriously) I decided to embark on this journey to reset my pouch. I had been out of control for awhile and need to get a handle on it! Yesterday I drank 3 Nectar Protein Shakes and drank a ton of water...that's IT! Plus I had my morning coffee with sugar free creamer and a bulion cube in ho****er for dinner with my family. I am down 4 pounds this morning. I started this program on Friday and am very excited about taking control of my pouch once again!  Thanks to Patty Butler and her wonderful doctor for the inspiration to do my own research! Since I do not live anywhere near my surgeon I have taken this into my own hands and am very confident. Molly 252/161/135

hi Molly, I read your last post and so much of what you said reminded me of me!!! It's sad.  I don't have a pouch to reset ( I haven't had WLS), but at 22 months out, we all have to get back to our basics.  I started last Monday and so far have lost 6.6 pounds.  So I'm back on track and i can also attest that it does work!!! Good luck! Donna

Hey Donna! Wow, that is wonderful. In my research online I came across lots of non-op people who were undertaking the liquid thing and some of them had done quiet well. A lot of it is just showing your self that you can get in control again.  Thanks for your reply! Very cool.

Hi, Molly.  I have been reading the posts about the Time Out and have been trying to get up the guts to get started on it.  I'm so afraid of hunger that I keep talking myself out of it, telling myself it will be too hard.  But I know I REALLY need to do something, too.  I'll be 4 years out in September, and have put back about 28 pounds from my lowest post-WLS weight.  I would love to lose half of that at least, and instead of being at 187 (today) I could be really happy at about 172-173.  I think I felt the best there (even though it was short-lived!! LOL).  I don't have the excuse of not having protein drinks to get started with.  I have on hand some ProScore 100 chocolate, and some Nectar cappuccino.  Both are very good and I could start tomorrow.  It certainly makes sense that this would work.  It's just like when we were very new post-ops.  It's just that I fear the hunger so much.  I'm going to think about this today and see if I can get my nerve up to start it tomorrow. Good luck to you, and please let us know how you're doing.  THanks also to Patty Butler for bringing the idea to our attention. Carlita

(Carlita) Sigh...I feel ya on the whole weight gain thing. My lowest was 145 and I started my liquids on Friday at 165. So, I never got to my goal weight. I risked A LOT to have this surgery. I went to MEXICO, dished out almost $10K and it is a crying shame to regain this weight. I am regaining my confidence by going on the Time Out plan. I almost hate to refer to it as such because Patty's Doctor must have coined that term and he is not my Doc. But anyway, you see what I mean I am sure! Yes, I also understand your fear of starting and I had that fear too. Night time is the hardest for me.   I sell new GAP clothes on eBay and the largest size they have is 18 or xxl. Lst week I was running an auction on something and couldn't get a good picture of it so I put it on to see if I could get a better picture of it and it wasn't overly huge on me. I almost cried! I am officially a size 14 in GAP clothes and last summer I was a size 10. This was another big eye opener ! Anyway, I wasn't kidding when I said I prayed about it a lot before starting this program. Good luck! Molly

Yeah, the clothes issue is depressing for me too.  I was a 12 jeans at my lowest and now I'm back in 16's.  None of the clothes I bought 2 years ago fit now! As for a goal weight, my doc never really set one, and I didn't come up with one for myself either.  I didn't really have much to go by - the last time I had been under 200 pounds was in my very early 20's, I think (I'm 49 now).  Remembering back to high school, I weighed about 175 at one time, and looked and felt really good.  But I'm one of those people for whom "normal" weight doesn't apply.  I was heavy all my life, beginning at about age 5 I think.  So as I mentioned above, getting back into the170's would be great for me, but not just getting there, staying there too!  Keep us posted on your progress, please.  You said you started on Friday - how is your hunger at this point?   Carlita

Ya know Carlita, The hardest thing for me as far as hunger is night time. That has been my biggest downfall. But I am convinced that it is a matter of habit. I cannot sit and watch tv with my DH without wanting a big bowl of microwaved popcorn or something. So, instead I just go to bed or surf the net since TV is my trigger.  But the real hunger has not been that bad. Yesterday at the BBQ I saw a big stack of smoked provolone and a bunch of juicy lookin' steaks that I was dying to wrap my teeth around. I didn't though. The heartening thing is that both of those would have been great choices. High in protein, ect! So, the brownies and cookies didn't bother me at all. I was craving the good protiens!!! So, that is a good sign because that is what I am planning to go back to after this time out (South Beach style). So, hunger has not been that bad at all! Whew!

Molly, I am glad you started this roll call.  I actually did have the same surgeon as Patty and I was questioning her in that original string about the "time out" plan.  So, don't feel like you are stealing anything.  We share things on here that help.  I was just happy to find something that was approved or recommended by my surgeon because although he is super friendly, I didn't want to see him again having not lost the weight I had regained.  I also live about 6 hours away from him now.  Anyway, I have been trying to follow the plan for days, but have yet to have a full day on liquids.  I have added a little protein and a little salad on most days.  Then, my daughter had a slumber party all weekend.  That totally blew it for me.  Salsa and chips is definitely a trigger and I may just need to throw it out and never buy it again.  I don't eat flavored chips like doritos or ruffles or any of that.  It's the tortilla chips and chunky salsa that get me.  Plus, it grinds down to nothing so my pouch never complains and I can eat ALOT of it.  Then, they made cookies.  Again, not usually a trigger but I was already feeling guilty about the chips.  Then, it was on to Whataburger.  Just blew the whole thing in one night.  Today I am back on track.  I had a protein shake and 2 scrambled eggs so far today.  Yes, I would rather have had just the shakes, but I wrote myself a little promise in my food journal.  I said that no matter how long it takes, everyday I will try to do the Time Out plan and if I don't I will at least try to stay at 1000 calories or less with the best food choices I can make.  Yesterday is the past and those 2000 calories are already absorbed and I have to move on.  Every morning is a new chance to start again.  Thanks for doing a roll call and let's keep it going.   Angela

Wow, Angela! I can so totally relate to you! The thing about blowing it and majorly falling off the bandwagon is to get back on right away. I feel like I fell off at Christmas and stayed off til now! So, this is kicking my butt back into gear. Chips and salsa are a big trigger food for me too and all my friends know it. So, it is hard to turn them down. That is another one of my TV foods I must totally abstain from --or else! I am a Texas (west Texas, panhandle) girl too and even in elementary there was a salsa bar in the cafeteria at my school. IT's not the salsa that is our downfall...it's the "carrier" chips, quesadillias, ect! Akkk!  hugs! We can do it!  

I am sooooooo in.  I am just barely a year out and the last month the hunger returned with a vengence.  Before then, there was weight loss galore.  I NEED to get to my goal and stay there.  I am only 25 pounds from goal but have stayed at 170 for a month now.  I have been eating junk too often and I know it.  Last night we went to the drive in and I usually eat a bit of popcorn.  WTF, I ordered myself a large and ate the whole thing slowly over the course of the two movies.  Today, I am a gas balloon waiting to pop.  I have some shakes on hand to get through a few days and I can order more tomorrow.   So, count me in!!!!!!!!!!! Rachael