5 day pouch test

Oh I am with Anita - the nighttime grazing routine was happening EVERY night and some days too!   All those little bites of this and that were putting my calories well over 2,000 a day, easy, I bet - not that I was keeping any sort of track!  After having a baby 7 months ago and not losing the weight, I had to admit it was not "baby weight" anymore, it was my eating habits and poor choices.  I was also having very bad spells of hypoglycemia (sp?) several times a day and felt tired, cranky blah blah blah. Wallllaaa...came back here to OH saw a message about the same symptoms and read about the 5dpt.  Started it that very day (last Tuesday) and finished Saturday. I did only water and protein drinks the first 2 days - oh I had a leftover packet of protein soup once day.  All liquids was hard, but I did it.  I feel SO incontrol now and lost 8 pounds.  I eat so many fewer carbs now and make better choices and eat far less but feel more satisfied!  I am so pleased with the results and will do it again in the next few weeks, I think.  Good Luck!  I FEEL so much better and have loads of energy now - no more 4pm slump/graze fest.  I even walk in place as I fold laundry now - offer to take the dog for a walk, jump and dance around with the kids for an hour - it is night and day!

Congrats on starting the 5DPT!!  I did this a month ago w/awesome results.  It was all about getting back to basics.  It made me remember to listen to my pouch and how it feels when I'm full.  I lost 5 lbs, just in time for an appointment with the doctor!!  Well, I've managed to gain a good 6 lbs, and have planned on starting the 5DPT again to get me back into the right frame of mind.   Good luck!!!

I have trouble feeling full.  Do others feel like the nerve center for fullness doesn't work anymore?  Is it possible the nerves didn't regenerate?  It's been three years since my RNY.  I know how much I should eat, but can eat a lot more than what the pouch should allow without feeling full or hurting.

Here I am reading all of your wonderful posts and thinking that I am not the failure I thought I had become. I snack all day and all night. Last night I told my husband that I felt like a bottomless pit. I want and need to do the 5 day pouch test but I think I'm just not disaplined enough. I wish I felt like I did right after surgery. Is there anyone willing to help me stay on track with this? I need someone to give me what they did for the 5 days. I guess its just alot of planning and I can't wrap my mind around the "I can't have anything bu****er and protein drinks". I think I would have to do this everyother week for 3 months to get the 40lbs I want off.  Ok, I think I have sounded about as pathetic as I can. Thanks for being here for me to vent to.  Michaelle

You can't feel like a failure, it's not something you just wake up and do - you HAVE to be psyched to do it, be prepared with the right foods, etc.  I waited a few weeks before I actually did it, I made sure there were no events, etc that would through me off (and I actually had a dinner I cancelled on b/c this was too important to me).  Just think, it's ONLY 5 days, post op you were restricted for much longer - My first 2 days were protein shakes (around 3 or 4 each day - powder that I mixed w/ skim milk) and only clear broth and water - a few tricky times during the day, but you can do it.  Day 3 was soft protein, scrambled egg, cottage cheese, yogurt - all in moderation - I think I had 1 protein drink.  Day 4 and 5 were just protein - poultry, fish, low fat cheese - steak.  I woke up on day 6 and felt wonderful, in control and would NOT allow myself to graze.  Get rid of all food that is tempting, for me it's pretzels and crackers - I only allow 17 calorie Wasa crackers, you can only eat so many of them.  As I said, you have to be prepared, psyched to do it and just go to bed early if you're hungry and feel week - when you get up you'll be very proud of yourself!  Hope this is helpful - you need to reach out for support - lots of success stories on this site - I read them over and over to get through some harder times during it!   YOU CAN DO IT!   Susan

Thank you very much for your very great and detailed menu. I have a big problem with the munchies at work because I sit at a computer all day. I do have my protein shakes here to mix up but I need to do that more often and stay away from the garbage.  Thanks again. I'm going to start tomorrow.  Michaelle

Get rid of all tempting foods - make sure you are ready (in the head) and you'll be successfull.  Keep me posted and good luck! 

Dear Michaelle, Did you do the 5 day pouch test?  I'm starting it today - just sipping my first (of many) protein shakes, snuck a few too many small Easter candies these past few days... this is the ONLY system that helps me get back on full track!  I brought them and some broth - 2 days of nothing else.   Hoping you were successfull and found it to be OK.   Susan

Michaelle, I'm a creature of habit for the most part....on the 5 day test the first 2 days I had chicken broth and protein shakes, 1 s/f jello only. Day three was tuna and egg with a tad of light mayo and protein shakes. Day 4 I had grilled chicken with protein shakes Day 5 I had some yummy steak. I guess I don't get bored easy with food.......but I felt for those 5 days and not wanting to throw any food away I planned to eat the same thing for the entire day. You can do it......prepare yourself mentally for 5 days and after that you should feel good about your control over the carbs and the limited amount of food it takes to feel the pouch. Good luck!

That sounds like what I'm going to have to do. Boring keeps me focused if I wonder is when I get into trouble. Thank you.  Michaelle