To Blend or Not to Blend..that is the question, what did you guys all do?

There are a lot of soups recipes for day one and two on the 5dpt website with chunks of meat and beans, did you guys blend that? or just eat as is? If I could really eat ham and bean soup as is I could do days one and two for a week or longer! I didn't see anywhere on the site that it was supposed to be blended, but I know a lot of you guys did. What do ya all think? leslee

I only eat the pumpkin sausage soup, and I crumble up the soy sausage I use, so it's small chunks & small pieces of mushrooms.  I enjoy the texture and it definately doesn't say to blend on the site, so I'm getting my enjoyment where I can find it!

And you still got good results on the 5dpt? I.e "intouch" with your pouch..and/or some weight loss/ and or whatever other benefits go along with it?

I did.  I'm doing it again this week (just posted my food).  The first time I lost 6 lbs., the 2nd I lost no weight, and both times did feel more "in touch" w/my pouch.  I'm hoping to stick to a healthier eating style after this week--those bad carbs sure are addicting! Hope this helps,

Helps a ton! Thanks. Is there anything you did different from one time to the next that you think might account for the weight loss or lack of? I mean...the honest truth is a LOT of us are doing this not only for a "pouch test" and to get back "in touch with" But to jumpstart some loss again (as well as relearning some good habits) so we can say "oh weight loss doesn't matter" but aren't we thrilled if it happens? So how can we best promote weight loss WHILE doing the 5dpt?

Honestly, Leslee, I don't THINK I did anything differently.  I usually lose 1 week out of the month (right before my period, crazily enough, and that's only since WLS) so I can only attribute it to timing.   I think we can promote weight loss it by sticking closely to the rules, limiting or eliminating caffeine (but NOT cold-turkey) and exercising (oops, I knew I forgot something today!)  Also, I think it's important to heed the suggestion made on the site that if we feel carb withdrawal symptoms to have a little fruit--that's why I added a few frozen strawberries to my shake tonight.  If we let ourselves feel too crappy, it's just to easy to give up, IMHO.   And yes, I was  disappointed having lost nothing the 2nd time, I don't think there's any getting around that we (at least I) look for/hope for that "added benefit" of losing weight. 

Most of the 'weight' lost on the 5dpt is water weight - any time you completely cut out bread/starch you lose water - those type of carbs cause water retention. Also I would think the amount of salt youd consume would drop based on the foods they allow on the 5dpt... so that would cause you to lose water as well.  I think focusing more on sticking with the rules and healthy eating post-op would be the best promotion of weightloss... if you do the 5dpt, lose 'weight', go back to eating how you were eating before you will more than likely see that scale quickly bounce back up to back to where you started or close to it.

Hi Leslee, I made the split pea with ham soup and it was soooo good. I didn't have ham "cubes" like the recipe called for so I cut up sliced ham into little bitty pieces. I think you should be able to have cubes if the recipe calls for cubes though. I'd eat less if it was cubes. Anyways, there's only one cup of ham for the entire pot of soup. Don't sweat it and enjoy your ham!

Oh, I just noticed your quote and I LOVE IT!! Friggin' cookies!

I whizzed my chili and bean soup in a mini food processor...(I bought that at the grocery store in the hot food section)  and it was quite chunky.... But when I make my own lentil soup, I just chewed up the ingredients...All my soups were mostly broth anyway with little bits and bites of meat and fiber.  Just make it so it's more a broth than a thick stew....You'll know the difference! It had to be mostly a slider and not sit heavy in your pouch... Otherwise, your mouth is your own food processor and you should just chew all chunks really well with the broth...and that should be just fine!  If you've got an entire chicken breast in that soup, you have a stew...You know?  If you have an ounce or so...you have a soup! :)  That's just my interpretation of the diet...(to go from nothing sitting long in your pouch to gradually filling it with heavier food over 5 days, that you can FEEL the weight and fullness of)   Good luck!