Question:
Something I want to get off my chest about 5-day Pouch Test

Please forgive me "5 day pouch lovers", but I don't get the hype about it. Once the 5 days are over, you don't get the honeymoon back. You may lose a few lbs, but if you haven't really make a conscientious eating change, you'll go right back to what you were eating before and the weight will just stay on. What's the difference in doing this so called bariatric diet fix in comparison to doing the 3-day diet, or the cayenne/lemon diet, or the grapefruit diet??? I mean, what makes the 5DPT better for bariatrics than anything else? I just don't get it. At the end of the day, a real change has to take place. I only lost 60 lbs in all from RNY 4.5 years ago. I've put back on 30 of them and am still trying to find my way. Is there anyone else out there that is sick of hearing about this "miracle 5-day" for GB patients or do you feel it made a real change for you? Looking for some honest dialogue.    — poodie (posted on January 17, 2009)

January 17, 2009
I have never had to do it, and hopefully I wont have a problem, but from what I hear, it helps detox you from carbs. I would think any low carb diet for a week or so would do the same thing, but either way if it helps kick start the weight loss again, it might give someone the confidence to get back on track. I know once someone starts gaining weight, they tend to go in a downhill spiral where they keep eating wrong cause they have given up. Some of the high protein diets, can help detox you from the carb craving, which can help you lose some weight and give you the confidence to get back on track. I know for me, once I got over the first few days of my pre op diet, I didn't crave the carbs like I did. Of course, over time, we tend to allow ourselves foods that we didn't allow before surgery, so if it works for someone, whos to tell them they shouldn't do it. Yes, they do need to make a change, like they did in the beginning, but if this helps them make the change then I'm all for it. Nothing wrong with that.
   — Teresa V.

January 17, 2009
Ann, I am 9 months post op and I have done the 5DPT twice. The biggest reason I did it both times was to jump start my weight loss as I was in a plateau. On the second one, I noticed that I started eating more than before (which I thought was an issue, but was actually healthy). Both times I lost a good amount of weight and have kept all of that off. In addition, it did help me get out of the habit of snacking during the day and put me back in the habit of drinking enough fluids. Everyone will have their own reaction to it, but during the two times I did the 5DPT, I lost a total of 11 lbs, so I'd say its pretty effective.
   — Brandy H.

January 17, 2009
The 5DPT is not a "diet" to lose weight although some people do...It's for people who have gotten off track and began eating sugar and simple carbs...maybe they've starting drinking with meals...are constantly craving and hungry all the time...Have a grumpy pouch and frequent gas from over eating and eating carbs...This is just to get those people back to the basics by cutting out the carbs for 5 days...and stopping all that achy grumpy chaos for starters...It forces you to stop drinking with meals...and you do a mini pouch shrinking by going from liquids to soft foods...For people who've gotten off track this way...It's just the best ...I did it after totally going off track on a month long vacation at my mom's...She would not not stop trying to feed me and would not take no for an answer! After a week, I just gave up! She had me grazing all day by putting out foods and buffets of snacks and cookies and cakes and chips and dips and It's just so hard when you can't run away and just go home! LOL I gave up! I gained 10 pounds of weight ...and I was addicted to these peppermint cream meltaway candies! I was miserable! That 5 DPT was the only thing that helped me get off that road to gaining all my weight back! It's designed SPECIFICALLY for bariatrics and for those reasons...It totally gave me back control and let me FEEL my pouch and FEEL full again last year and I lost 4 lbs and gained back two immediately after adding complex carbs (fruits and veggies and grains) back into my diet because the 4 pounds I lost were nothing but water...as is fruits and veggies! I went on to finally lose those 10 lbs but it took me 4 months to finally shed it all and keep if off by journaling my food daily and counting every single crumb I ate...and learning where to cut back etc! It was no easy task starting from scratch with NO idea how much I was eating and how much I needed to cut out to lose...Rather than you learn all that yourself like I did.... Here's a head start....If you are trying to lose weight...Figure out how many calories you eat daily (you'll need a week to average it out......3500 calories are 1 pound...To lose 1 lb a week...with diet alone, you need to cut out 500 calories a day for a week...If you do enough cardio to burn at least 500 calories a day, in addition to diet...You will now lose 2 lbs a week...Clean up your diet...Just cut fats down...use lean cuts of meats (fish particularly), no saturated fats for cooking...use olive oil...Low fat cheeses instead...No sugar! Don't drink any calories unless it offers protein or very little carbs and no sugar. Eat protein in all three meals and no more than 4-5 ounces...If you are doing cardio eat a piece of fruit before the work out...After the work out, have a meal or a small protein snack afterwards... It's simple but it takes some work and serious focus...That honeymoon period ends and if you want to lose weight again...you have to realize it's not going to be as fast as it was as a new post op...And so you have to get back on track slowly and eat the way you were supposed to....Exercise is a must! MUST MOVE you body! WEighing and measuring food...helps tremendously...Guessing what you eat and not taking time to do those things is not going to get you back on track...You gotta work! Cold hard truth and honest dialogue...sorry no sugar coating! :) It's not impossible! and it's not "easy" either! You still have the darned plateaus and just when you think it's not working, IT IS! So don't give up! You have to get back on track and STAY on track...You can't just diet and then go off again...That's the hardest part! KNOWING THAT does not make it easier but that the reality of it...WLS is not a diet...and the only diet that works are the basic rules and changes you make your lifestyle! Good luck!
   — .Anita R.

January 17, 2009
i really give kudos to Kaye Bailey for both her wonderful website livingafterwls.com, and her 5 day pouch test. Her site is much like this one, and Susan Maria's site in that it helps all who seek info. The pouch test is loosely based on my own ideas, we all think of them, but Kaye put hers to paper. I have been spending 1 week a month back on full liquids since i was 3 years post op. i swore and i typed up a contract with myself, that based on one Oprah had, what i would and wouldn't do. Being a retired surgeon, i was experiencing both sides of the operating table, and the struggles we get pre op. i flately refused to fall, even if it was eating 1 cup of food rather than the half cup i am allowed. The pouch test is to reel us back in, help us remember our lives immediately post op when the world was new and we could do it all. Give it a try- not to drop mega pounds, but to re-school your mind to going by your protocol- and see how your mind set becomes. It wont hurt you, and may even help you turn a corner, if that is what you need. I get more food on her 5 day plan than i do on my own LOL. Good luck everyone who makes the effort, you may just find it helps. Cindi M.D. retired -230# and maintaining over 3 yrs
   — DollyDoodles

January 17, 2009
You obviously need an attitude adjustment. It seems your negativity is holding you back and is the reason why you are not having the success you expected. I did the pouch test and lost 11 lbs while on it. It also helped me get back on track to eating the proper way. After all, you had surgery on your stomach, not your brain.
   — maria09elena

January 17, 2009
I get what you're saying. People do praise the 5DPT when in reality it's another fad diet. I don't care what anyone says, I still diet at 2 1/2 years post op. It is a diet. Do you know why you didn't lose anymore than 60 lbs?
   — Katrina B.

January 17, 2009
Thanks everyone. I'm really liking your answers because I didn't really understand it. Some of you have made it clear that it's primarily to show you some restriction again, not to lose weight necessarily. I guess that's the part I was missing because I was thinking what in the world makes this "diet" different from another fad. Thanks for sharing. Maria Jablonski, you obviously didn't know the intent of my question like the other members did. I guess there's always got to be "one" in the crowd though. But I did ask for honest dialogue, so thanks.
   — poodie