Question:
I had surgery in Feb 2003. I feel like i am eating too much.

I feel like my pouch may have stretched. i want to know if I started doing the right things and eating less is there any chance that my pouch will shrink? I really need to lose more weight. i lost 80lbs. Like I said I had surgery Feb 2003, has it been too long for my pouch to shrink. Thank you    — Sharon V. (posted on July 6, 2004)

July 5, 2004
According to my support group leader (she's been doing this for several years). Our pouches have memory. Go back to the basics and you should be fine. She also said you would have to double the size of your pouch to start gaining your weight back (unless of course you are grazing on high cal foods...then it doesn't matter what size your pouch is).
   — Rachelq

July 5, 2004
I also had surgery in Feb of 2003 and yes I think that it is possible, only because I had some complications starting May 21st and was on liquids/soft foods for almost a month, and when I tried to go back to eating solid foods it was just like I had just had WLS all over again. If I ate too fast or did not chew well I threw up, just like I did in the beginning. I would not advise not eating for a month but I would try doing liquids for 2 days or so and kind of resetting your pouch. I am just now getting back to "normal". I still have issues with beef that I never had before. It is just so strange. Oh but on the bright side I have been at 165 for the past few months and now I am down to 150, so I guess there is a bright side to what I have been through!!! Good luck!
   — Haziefrog

July 5, 2004
I've heard that doing protein shakes for 3 days will shrink your pouch. Just an FYI though, the mature pouch size is much bigger than the initial pouch size. You can eat much more at 18 - 24 months out than you can the first 6 months. Stick with high density protein food that fill your pouch and stays in there longer. This will help you continue to lose. I've found that for ME, it's not how big my pouch is, it's what I put in it that counts. I can eat as much as my thin friends at 3 years out. Still much, much less than pre-op, but much more that immediately post-op. I've found that the list of foods recommended in phase I and II of the South Beach diet really help me to lose, and the quantity does not seem to impact the loss.
   — mom2jtx3

July 6, 2004
Again a totally empty profile...you had surgery over a year ago and nothing in the profile..HELLO? I went to the profile to see if I could find out what and how much you are eating..what is too much? You may not have a stretched pouch at all. It may be what you are eating (carbs and sugars??), not getting in enough fluids? exercise? Lots of reasons why you may have not be losing..give us more info so that we can help you continue to your goal...
   — Cindy R.

July 6, 2004
Sharon~first of all, I'm glad you are posting. That is a good step. Second of all, it's time for some honesty with yourself. You already know what you are doing - it's now time to start accessing. Read "Pouch Rules for Dummies" and start tracking on fitday.com. Go to the basics. Get exercise. Eat balanced. Drink water. Get your protein in. Get your lab work done. Get counseling if you need. Start reading. I had LAP RNY on May 2, 2003. I can eat approx. 1 to 1 1/2 c of food at a sitting - completely dependent upon the density of the food. Some days I can eat 1500 calories, other days, I can't break 800. Some days I exercise well, some days, not so well. But I keep working my plan for my healthier life. Do you have such a plan? Are you truly involved with your life and the direction that you are taking? I ask this very straightforward question, because it is a very tough question - and one that we all need to ask ourselves. During my whole life of struggling with obesity, I often felt victimized, like I did not have control over my eating - because I didn't. I am now the captain of my ship. I am the one in charge (not in control, but in charge). I CHOOSE to do things right or I CHOOSE to do things wrong. While not easy necessarily, it is just that easy. Start being honest with yourself, start becoming involved with yourself, start being in charge of your self. Best of luck on your journey. This is your personal journey, not a race. You have already lost 80 pounds, good for you. However, how healthy are YOU? And I mean in the complete sense of the word: mentally, physically and spiritually. Time to take your personal inventory and start working on it. This website is invaluable for that. Keep up the work. Jodie Lap RNY 05-02-03 336/158/??
   — Jodie P.