Sugar abstinence/pouch size

I can pretty much eat like a normal person, but I guess "normal" are subjective and relative terms.  ANYHOO, I lost 30 lbs about 10 months ago, eating protein, some fat and barely any carbs (did get carbs from veggies).  NOW, I have gained most of it back and am eating sugar, again, my nemesis.  I was reading the Thin Commandments, and I truly beleive that sugar is something that I cannot have in my life, ever.  I think I am willing to accept that.  Cutting it out completely is more like a strategy and while it may sound dramatic, if I do have a taste, I am out of control.  That is what happened when I regained it back.  I ate a peice of cake for my bday and that whole bday weekend, I went crazy.  That weekend turned into the gained weight....  I am venting, and also, want to hear your thoughts about sugar abstinence

Do the pouch rules really work, even as I am 5 years out?  I do not practice drinking just before and after my meals, as I get really thirsty as I am eating and no, I do not fancy salt much.  But I am wondering, any of u post ops, if following "that" rule of no drinking with meals makes a huge difference? 

I bought the 10 minute trainer by Beach Body and will do it soon.  Have any of you tried it?

It's a loooong post but need feedback as I am out of control again.  Thanks for listening!

Hi there,

I can so relate. I even stopped taking my vitamins like an idiot. ( I am back on the vitamin wagon, so to speak)
I will watch closely this thread and see what kind of replies you get. I wonder at 2 1/2 years out if the pouch rules will work for me as well.

At least we recognized our out of control behaviour and want to do something about it now.

One of the people I most admire is Michelle (Vitalady).  Her downfall is fudge.  She gave sugar up totally a year and a half ago (if I remember right).  She firmly believes that if she eats sugar she'll gain again.

So yes, I do believe that some of us shouldn't eat white carbs at all.  I know I'm one of them.  I just wish I had the determination to do it.

I also keep to the no drinking 30 min after rule.  My pouch feels weird if I drink too soon after eating, I think it's just habit now.  I do drink before eating though.

Michele

I believe some people are successful when using "moderation" , but for others moderation will not work~they need to completely cut out whatever their vice is. If you feel that one bite of sugar will lead to a week long, month long, year long binge, then I say avoid it completely.

Yes, I do believe that the pouch still works if we work the pouch and following the pouch rules is key!!!!! No drinking w/meals and 30 min before/at least 30 min after is a very beneficial part of the rules. You lost the 30lbs by following the eating rules of pushing protein first and avoiding the bad carbs, so you know that will work again. I do allow some good carbs in my diet from whole grains, fruits, veggies b/c I need that fuel to burn for my workouts.

Good Luck and keep us posted on your progress!!! Support is also a key part of the process~whether from friends, support group, here at OH, wherever~support helps!!!

I was no told the no eating/drinking rule was one of the biggest ones I needed to follow - a local surgeon who does revisions/repairs says the biggest reason he has RNY patients comming back is for a stretched stoma due to their drinking with meals. Drinking causes the food to be forced out of the pouch quicker which not only causes you to be hungry sooner, but also allows you to eat more - in addition to possibly stretching the stoma.
My surgeons rules were 30 min before and after, however I now follow the 5/30 instead... I find that works good for me. I will be honest and say I sometimes do drink with a meal (usually when out) but really try not to, seen too many people regaining and going under the knife again... no more surgery for me unless its by a plastic surgeon!!

I would say yes the pouch rules work... you can make a big difference if you stick to them.... you will notice a change in your pouch if you follow the rules and eat mindfully.

Havent heard of the Beach Body. I did do the "fastest body makeover' workout from MSN (link on my profile) and loved it... got great results and it was very easy.

Hi Mari,
Time to get back on board sister and you can do it.
Stop drinking with your meals, you really need to follow that rule, you don't want to stretch out your stoma.
Get back to basics and you all ready found your culprit for weight gain and that's sugar.
So for you it sounds like you need to "detox from sugar".
Are you really eating "normal", look at thin people are they eating sugar everday?
Maybe some do but thin people cut back for the rest of the week.
 

Time for you to stop drinking with your meals. Glad you are exercising, that will help.

Maybe you should call your Nut for a follow up appointment. Get back on track, you can lose the weight. If you have damaged your stoma by drinking with meals you do have options to correct this.

i was never told about pouch rules i have learned about them from reading on this site my surgery was 1998 and my surgeon retired after my post op dr visit but it makes sense to me and if i get motovated i think i'll try  laurie

I firmly believe that I can't have sugar either. I'm pretty sure that I don't dump like I used to and if I get back on the sugar wagon, I'll lose all control, so I keep no sugar intake at all. I have sugar free stuff only. If I over do the sugar free stuff, I get sick.

It's just what I live by but I highly recommend it.

Thanks so much, guys! Ive got some great answers/insights :)

I never made goal, i did lose 99 lbs...ugh, never made it to the 100 lb lost mark...and i stopped losing at 6 months out entirely...but i do follow the rules, and absoutely avoid sugar, have had no caffiene since surgery and watch my carb intake and do NOT drink with meals except in the morning with my oatmeal i have 6 oz of skim milk, i usually only wait about 10 minutes after eating for that, but  otherwise, no drinking until the 30 min mark...i, too, was told this was a HUGE no no