5 Day Pouch Experiment

So, I decided to try the 5 day pouch test.   My weight has stayed in the same 5 pound range for the past 6 months so I am proud of maintaining but I was only at a "normal" BMI for about 3 days many months ago.  This has bothered me some so I decided to see if I could "reset" my weight set point.  I have lipedema which causes a lot of fluid retention and my weight bounces around a lot in that 5 pound range.  I took a gamble when I had weight loss surgery as the little research about lipedema states that most WON'T lose weight below their waist with the thought that you would be a size small above your waist and a size 16 below.  I have always struggled with my weight but when the lipedema started, it became almost impossible.  Anyways, I have been blessed in that my pant size is an 8/10 and I never thought that would happen.

SO, I did the 5 day pouch test and initially lost 1.5 pounds the first two days and then regained .5 and ended with 1.5 off.  My weight fluxuates so much that this really didn't do what I had hoped it would.  It did help me with knowing how easy it is to graze and to get back to basics.  I have stayed on a high protein, low carb diet since surgery and have been very compliant and still have not tried sugar and have no clue if I dum*****t.

So the reason I write this post is there are those among the lightweights who may not get really small (the size 0/2/4) and it seems like the ones who have struggled post surgery with not achieving the weight loss they hoped, leave the board.  I really think that staying here can be helpful for ALL of us and not achieving a goal weight (which thankfully I never identified one) shouldn't mean one has failed.  The pouch test has helped me realize that I am at my "set point" and that it is okay that I am 3 pounds from a "normal" BMI.  This week I was able to do a boot camp work out, hike a hike that I NEVER would have attempted pre surgery, and had a yearly physical that went beautifully.  No one should stay in the land of discouragement just because they may not be as small as the majority.

Thanks for listening!!!

~~Jennifer

Thanks for posting this! I am new here, and just at the beginning of this whole process, so it's nice to see the reality of it all!

Jen

Great post Jennifer.

We need to look at the bigger picture than that number on the scale. I am so grateful that I have my health back. A little disappointed that I am not wearing a size 2, yes, but that is ok. No more diabetes, high blood pressure or fatty liver is all I need!

~Maria

BMI as we know, doest take bone structure or muscle mass into account.  For my goal weight I picked a weight that I remember feeling good at a dozen years ago.  Even though i will never be a normal BMI, I will be ecstatic to be at a size 10 or 12 again, started at a 20.  To tell the truth I dont think my bone structure will allow me to be a tiny size.  I dieted my way down to 125 pounds at 20 years old for my wedding and I think I was a size 9 juniors then.  Now at 42 years old and two children later, I will not set myself up for failure trying to get to a weight or size that my body cant handle.

PS I think a size 8/10 is small and any thing below is tiny.  So you are small not tiny

Hi Jennifer. Thanks for writing this. Many lightweights start at lower numbers and ultimately get to low scale numbers and very small clothing sizes. I had to really learn not to compare myself to others. It was a struggle. It took me a long time to reach a healthy BMI but it's a challenge to stay there. I have a three pound range of 141-144 that I consider safe. For me that means daily Myfitnesspal, daily exercise, eating low carb with very occasional treats.

I still, at 33 months pst op, struggle to not feel like a failure because I wear 6-8 in everything rather than 4-6. It's crazy, I known. We all have our own version of insanity. 😉

It's important to remember that a lot of us in size 0/2/4 range are also very, very short. For me, being a size 4 is comfortable but somewhat puffy. For someone else, particularly above an average height, a size 4 is SKELETAL!

Sizes are relative, not absolute but I think a lot of time we treat them like they are absolute. Like when people talk about size 2 as if only anorexics could reach that size or on the opposite end as if anything over size 12 is fat! It really depends on how tall you are and what your bone structure is and how your weight is distributed.

Thanks for the comments.  I am thrilled for those that have achieved significant weight loss.  As lightweights some of us were judged at the beginning of our journey and the last thing I want to promote is any sort of judgment.  I wanted my health improved post surgery and to be able to not be "weighted" down anymore.   My three goals post surgery were: to run a mile for the 1st time in my life, to be able to do a spin class without embarrassing myself, and to climb the Grandfather Mountain Profile trail (3.5 miles up and back down).  I did all this within 9 months post surgery.  I also fit into avg size clothing for the 1st time in 20 years, no longer have hypertension, and feel a freedom that I never have before.....

My hope is that people will stay in whatever support they need post surgery even if they did not achieve some number, size, resolvement of a health issue, etc.  It took great courage to pursue surgery.  We tried, we continue to try, and we hope. 

Blessings,

Jennifer

Great post Jennifer.  I believe in the 5 day pouch test if for no other reason to get control back if lack of control became an issue.  I greatly admire you for not testing the dumping issue.  Keep it that way!  I tested at 1 year post op to the month for the first time and found I do not dump.  Prior to not know, the fear of dumping kept me away from sugar.  Now, once again, it can quickly become my downfall.

I want to do the 5 test in order to take back control.  I have been for too lenent with my food choices, and I have no one to blame but myself.

You have a healthy outlook on this.  I want to drop 5 pounds due to clothes that are no longer fitting correctly.  I simply have too many pants haning in my closet to ignore.

You have done great for 3 years post op.  I would try the 5 DPT or just going back to all protein to get back out of the sugar/carb combo.  I NEVER thought I would go this far without sugar, bread, pasta, etc.  This is the best thing for me....the longer I believe it will make me sick the better. I already know I feel sick when I eat too many carbs in one sitting.  I also know that I am hungry often so already struggle calorie wise and need no other challenges right now in my weight battle.   This board is to help newbies but also when we ALL struggle further out.  To hide with our struggles is not good for us and for each other.

Isolation is never good.

My biggest issue has been dealing with my sever reactive hypoglycemia.  I am 5'5" and when I arrived in Israel a year ago I lost some weight (we walked everywhere and work was 1/2 walk each way).  I got to my lowest ever at 110 and was wearing a boy's size 16 and sometimes a boys size 10/12 for sweats.  I wasn't pleased with that.

Since then I have been put on anti-anxiety meds - for a variety of reasons but mostly anxiety and seizures since I also started having grand mal seizures after I arrived here.  The cost of the medication is that I now weigh 136.8 pounds and of course, none of my clothes fit so I feel "fat" - I am still in a normal BMI range and haven't had any seizures since I gained the weight but there's always that fear that I am on a train going downhill out of control.

I tried the 5 day pouch test kind of halfheartedly but I always fail because of my glucose issues.  Oatmeal in particular makes my sugar drop exponentially.  And when I feel gross like that I eat crackers (these are like air filled crisps and are 25 calories a piece) and tea biscuits to feel better.  Meat is a luxury in my life at the moment although I do keep cans of tuna in oil (tuna in Israel is a whole other subject) for an emergency.

I don't really know what to do but I'd like to drop below 130.

Does there come a point when the malabsorption and our pouch cease to work???

Bridget