Re-shrinking your pouch..I think it does work!

I have been doing a modified version of the time out plan, which is suppose to be only 3 liquid protein shakes and calorie free beverages.  I have added a small meal of salad or soup or bite of something, etc.  However, for the past 2 days I haven't been able to eat any solids due to a stomach flu.  Well, today a friend brought me some fresh squash from the garden so I decided to eat a real meal tonight.  I grilled one 3 oz tilapia fillet and half a squash.  I couldn't fini****  I am 5 years out and I can normally eat that much and more.  In fact, I know it's not good to even give this reference because I shouldn't be eating it at all, but I can eat 3 slices of pizza if I am drinking a diet soda with it.  So, tonight when I couldn't even finish a meal of maybe 6 oz total, I was shocked!  In a good way of course.  I just wanted to reassure those of you who are trying to reset your pouch or trying to rid yourself of food addictions.  It can be done.  I have not craved any sugar today.  I didn't have to choke down the water, it was actually refreshing to drin**** water.  I didn't really feel hunger at all, but I did have a protein shake, a small salad, and then about 4 oz of grilled fish and vegetables.  My pouch has pressure in it like I am pleasantly full, not overstuffed.  The point is, I am feeling that way on less than half the amount of food I would normally eat.  So, in my humble opinion, the pouch can re-shrink.  YEAH!   Angela

I love your experimental findings! That is awesome and soooo encouraging to hear. You tested it out with the perfect meal too. Lean dense proteins and a vegetable are perfect and the way we should eat for life (South Beach style). I am so looking forward to a meal like the one had tonight. That is so great to know! Yeah!!!

Molly, I know it is very encouraging to me too.  I can't believe that I am not craving sweets.  This is just unheard of for me.  I really enjoyed the protein and vegetable I had and it wasn't soaked in a fattening sauce or cheese or anything.  I have also enjoyed my salads lately with that low calorie spritzer salad dressing instead of the real bottled stuff.  I just have really cut out the sugar and I am not craving it.  I am thinking about having a cup of decaf coffee with Splenda and creamer, but I am not consuming anything bu****er unless I am hungry.  Normally I have something just for the taste, but that makes me want more things just for the taste.  I end up having something every hour or two just to satisfy my craving.  Today I had to make myself drink a protein shake.  Then around 3pm I was starting to feel hungry again so I made the decision to have a small salad instead of another protein shake.  It wasn't because I was starving though.  It was honestly because I have a huge bag of pre-cut salad that is going to go bad.  Anyway, the dinner tonight was also a decision I made with my mind and not my tastebuds.  I knew the fish would have the same amount of protein and calories as a protein shake and the squash wouldn't add much to that.  I honestly feel like I am in control for the first time in several years.  I know about 2 years ago I had a similar stomach flu and couldn't eat.  I lost a few pounds, but I was in a hurry to return to eating and quickly pushed the limits on my pouch to get in my favorite foods.  I think that abstaining from solid food really does reshrink the pouch and can reset our thinking.  I am not happy that the reason I was able to do it was by getting the stomach flu again, but I had been following the modified version for a week or so before that.  I am so proud of you and those who are able to really buckle down and follow it as prescribed because I know you are going to have great success.  To those that are following a modified version of it, I have to say to hang in there because I truly believe this works.  It's not just the surgeons trying to "slim fast" us back down to make themselves look good.  I think there is medical science behind it.  As long as you are meeting your needs through the protein shakes or a lean protein source and not consuming any thing that will trigger you such as sugars or fats, then it really can work.  It's not just the weight loss I am talking about because we got that with any fad diet pre-op.  I am talking about truly feeling that newly post op sense of control.  Unfortunately I don't know how long it will last, but I am assuming until I goof it up by overeating just for taste.  However, I feel like I have a secondary tool now that sharpens my first tool.  If I do goof up I can put myself in "time out" again and fix it.  I hope I stay on track this time all the way to goal and maintain that.  I will continue to use protein shakes daily in place of breakfast and another meal.  If I find that I am truly not hungry then I will use protien shakes alone, but if I am hungry I will make a good choice to get in protein for the fewest calories possible.  My obese mind is saying "that's not fair" because it feels like I am depriving myself of the foods I love.  However, my thin inner heart is telling me that I do not have the metabolism to be a size 6 while eating my favorite dishes at my favorite restaurants.  I need to decide, do I want the soothing feeling of a belly full of comfort food or the soothing feeling of sliding into a new pair of size 6 jeans?  I know the answer to that one!  Angela

Angela, Thank you so much for your thoughts on all this. I believe it is NOT a crash (yo-yo, fad, ect) diet as we all attempted preop. I looked up ALL of Patty's posts regarding this Time Out plan from ya'll's surgeon and it really does sound like the doc has it right.  I really feel odd about posting a link to all of her posts and what Dr. Warnock told her at her appointment about how this works as I feel others can certainly access that info. But, it was very interesting what he said about this being a behavior modification tool. Just like our original surgery. He instructs the patient to keep starting over on the plan everytime they show a 2-3 pound gain. Eventually they comply with the way they are supposed to be eating. I just have to laugh at the parallel of how I raise my toddlers. I am very consistant about giving them time outs (ya know sit on the stairs away from the behavior that is getting them in trouble****il they learn and comply. If they keep getting up I just keep putting them bac****il they learn the proper way to act! Same with this plan.  Anyway, I bet you anything this will work for me too. It's not like going on Optifast or something. We have a tool!!! There is no way in heck I would ever try a liquid diet to lose all my weight if I were not blessed with this surgery. I am sure I would regain it without my pouch.  Well, we can do it and I am very excited about it and the new lease I have on life. Literally!

My favorite line from "The Devil Wears Prada" is said by one of the stick-thin girls.  The says, "I am just a stomach flu away from my goal weight."  My daughter and I quote that all the time and it always cracks us up.

That's great to know Angie!!!  Since I've been drinking liquids the last 3 days I really can't tell because they just flow right thru me and I can't tell the difference...well, my toilet can...LOL Great job with your food choices too!!   Good luck!       

That's super awesome and encouraging.  My hunger was a whole heep less today than Monday-Wednesday.  I had forgotten how darn easy it was to eat right when you are doing protein shakes!  That's how I lived for many months at the start of things and I didn't have a hard time meal planning and sticking to the plan because the shakes were so obvious.  I was thinking how the plateau buster that was posted a few posts ago would be a great way to transistion out of the time out thing.  What do ya think? Rachael

Rachael, I think the plateau buster diet or any "back to basics" mentality would be a great way to come out of the Time Out.  Really, we just need to use the Time Out to really focus on how we should be eating for the rest of our lives.  For instance, today my meal choices had less or equal calories as a protein shake and I was satisfied.  If you would have told me that 2 weeks ago I would have thought "only with a revision!"  I think we should really try to eat as close to "protein only" as possible.  I know I love vegetables and fruit, but if I let that proportion tilt to far and the protein gets too small then I start craving not only fruit and veggies, but cheese and crackers, then rice and pasta, then it's a chicken sandwich with a bun and before I know it I am eating granola bars and wheat thins all day wondering why I can't stop snacking.  The protein shakes have brought my appetite to a halt.  I honestly don't feel that hungry and because they are only around 100 calories (Nectar with crystal lite) I don't feel guilty drinking one to knock out any munchies or cravings that pop up.  Those tiny packets of "100 calorie" cookies, granola bars, crackers, etc just leave me wanting more and more.  100 calories of a protein shake and not only am I not hungry before the next meal, but I have energy!  I never really did the protein shakes in the beginning post-op, but I am going to drink at least 1 or 2 everyday for the rest of my life.  Especially for breakfast because it's a no brainer.  I usually skip breakfast, drink a few cups of coffee and end up reaching for some pretzels or toast mid morning.  Now I sail through the morning after my protein shake and I drink alot more water than I was drinking.  Yes, I am in the bathroom alot, but I just imagine I am releasing the toxins and excess pounds!  I didn't really do the true Time Out plan that my surgeon recommends, but I did do 2 days of liquids only because I was sick.  The first thing I was able to keep down was a carb, saltines, but I intentionally chose a bland cracker that wouldn't trigger a carb binge.  It didn't and I only had 6 of them.  Actually 5 and a half because a serving is 5 but there was about half a cracker left in that package so I finished it off.  Then, I had a chicken nugget with the skin off later.  I tasted 5 fries the whole time we at McDonald's while my kids played, which was over an hour.  Then, I realized that I was only snacking on them out of boredom and tossed them.  I am using the mental picture of my body as a sleek little sports car and gas prices (calories) are high.  I want to make sure that each meal is a chance to refuel my tank with the highest quality gas for the lowest price.  I want the fuel to cost the least amount, burn efficiently, and give me lots of mileage.  Now if I want to be a big ole city dump truck and I don't care about the cost of my gas or how far it gets me I can just fuel up with cookies, granola bars, and those sneaky meals that I tell myself are healthy but truly have more carbs than protein.  I really don't want to be a dump truck because I really want to feel like a sports car and look like one too!  I am so glad you et the same feeling with the protein shakes.  I can hardly believe how much they knock out my hunger for something so easy and so low calorie.  I think as long as you continue to supplement with protein shakes and control that hunger then you'll do fine with your food choices.  Best of luck!

I think we weight loss surgery folks are kinda like hybrid cars!  We can run on food, but we don't have to!  Anyway, i would rather be a sleek hybrid suv that was sleek and powerful at the sametime. rach

Pfffft! Those 100 calorie packs are of the himself. I swear, giving me one of those things is like giving an alcoholic a mini ariline bottle of alcohol and calling it moderation...it only leads to trouble!