Question:
I think ive stretched my pouch.

I am 7 months post op gastric bypass. I have lost 150 pounds total. my starting weight was 408 and i am 258 as of yesterday. i feel i can eat much more than before. i can probably eat 1 cup of food per meal, and i find i nibble all the time. i am scared i stretched my pouch. i havent lost weight in 3 weeks. PLEASE HELP ME!!! i dont want to gain weight back and i need help to get back on track. any suggestions???    — jackie L. (posted on August 1, 2009)

August 1, 2009
It has only been 7 months.You are not at a point where you should be worrying.Your tol will work for two years.The 150lbs that you have lost already is a blessing.Think about that much weightloss before the surgery.Quit being hard on yourself and your body.The surgery is working like it is supposed to.The inside of your body is trying to catch up with the outside of your body. Give it time for your body to adjust, ok!
   — Consuella G.

August 2, 2009
If you are stressed about your "plateau" (and all of us have them), and your ability to eat a whole cup of food, and to nibble (or graze) all day...you might want to do the 5-Day Pouch Test (http://www.5daypouchtest.com/index.html). According to others, it will jump-start your weight loss and get you back on track. This is something pro-active you can do for yourself, instead of just trying not to worry. But I will tell you the 150 pounds lost is absolutely GREAT. I'm at 5 months, and have lost not quite 100 pounds, and I'm exercising like mad, don't "graze", and stay way low on my carbs and fats, and always get in all my protein. I am lucky if I lose 1 pound a week right now... and that is really frustrating. I'm getting ready to do the 5dpt myself! Good luck to you... you'll do fine!
   — Erica Alikchihoo

August 2, 2009
You are not the only person to worry about stretching out your pouch! I am 11 months out now (I had the vertical gastric sleeve) and tried the 5-day pouch test, and felt more on track afterwards. It is so easy to slip back into our old habits - especially the grazing! This is something we need to try and curb or we can end up back where we started! My surgeon said the goal was to NEVER go over 1 cup of food at a meal - and I am good about that - actually can't eat any more than that - but you can consume so much more with the grazing and not stretch your pouch out - by eating a little here and there, the food passes on through by the time you eat the next "little" bit and you end up eating so much more. I kept track of what I was eating for a couple days without changing my eating habits and was astounded at how much I was actually consuming! It scared me, and helped me get back on track. That doesn't mean I never have a snack - I am human, like everyone else, and find myself grabbing something, especially if I am stressed or overly tired. So I am trying to learn to refocus my attention to something else - either a hobby/craft or something physical like a walk or working out with weights, etc. Exercise is not my most favorite thing to do, but I am finding out I feels so much better after just 15 minutes of walking or working out. It is definitely a "lifestyle" change. Don't believe those who say we have chosen the "easy" way out!
   — Wendy M.

August 2, 2009
I forgot to add - you have tremendously well losing 150 lbs in 7 months! And we all come to those plateaus as our body readjusts! Congrats on your success! If you don't see the results on the scale, try looking at the non-scale victories - for example, able to tie your own shoes, fitting into a booth, seatbelt fitting, etc. And take your measurements once a month - you may be losing inches!
   — Wendy M.