Search the Community

The 5 Day Pouch Test by Kaye Bailey Does my pouch still work? Have I broken my pouch? Have I ruined my tool? These are questions many weight loss surgery post-ops find themselves asking occasionally during their journey. Perhaps it feels like we can eat more food or we know that we are eating more food. Sometimes these questions are asked when there has been a weight regain. This is the 5-day plan that I have developed and used to determine if my pouch is working and return to that tight newbie feeling. And a bonus to this plan, it helps one get back to the basics of the weight loss surgery diet and it triggers weight loss. Also, it is not difficult to follow and if you are in a stage of carb-cycling it will break this pattern. Sounds pretty good, right? Order the 5 Day Pouch Test Owner's Manual The 5 Day Pouch Test should never leave you feeling hungry. You can eat as much of the prescribed menu as you want during the day to satiate hungry and prevent snacking on slider foods and/or white carbs. You must drink a minimum of 64 ounces of Water each day. A reduction of caffeinated beverages is suggested, but do not stop caffeine cold turkey. Weight loss is not the intent of the 5 Day Pouch Test, however, many who have tried this plan report a significant drop in weight. More importantly they Celebrate a renewed sense of control over their pouch and eating habits and easily transition back to a healthy post-surgical weight loss way of eating. Understanding Hunger, Appetite and Satiety Below you will find a brief list of the menu for each day. Please click the "Read more" links for further detail and hints and tips that will enable your success with the 5 Day Pouch Test. Days One & Two: liquid Protein low-carb protein shakes, broth, clear or cream Soups, sugar-free Gelatin and pudding. Read more. Day 3: Soft Protein canned fish (tuna or salmon) eggs, fresh soft fish (tilapia, sole, orange roughy. Read more. Day 4: Firm Protein ground meat (turkey, beef, chicken, lamb), shellfish, scallops, lobster, fresh salmon or halibut.Read more. Day 5: Solid Protein white meat poultry, beef steak, pork, lamb, wild game Read more. Good luck! I believe you are going to like the results when you give this plan an honest try. Cheers! Kaye Bailey

How much weight did you loose after your first fill??

I had my surgery almost 2 years ago and I have been at the same weight since May 2011. Since then I vomit atleast 2 or 3 days a week with no rhyme or reason. I have a hard time eating meats, rice, breads, some times lettuce, spagetti, just to name a few. I have went back to my dr. and he removed my fill and it still didn't help. When I talked to my dr. he looks at me like I am crazy, but I am not. My husband and I feel that this isn't normal. Sometimes all I can do is to drink coffee or hot tea which seems to make me feel better. Please help....

I'm 2 weeks and 3 days out and I have eaten cheese. Yummm lol. I get the low fat weight watchers string cheese. It's so yummy. I just take small little bitty peices and chew it like a million times. Good source of protein too. I also love Babybel cheeses as well as laughing cow. They are really soft and easy to get down.

I thought I was the only one! I was starting to think that the doctors just "pretended" to Operate on me to see if my weight loss would e due to some sort of placebo effect! I was told that because at first we are on liquids, our stomach will hold more because liquids pass easier. Once we are on purée or solids I think it will be a whole different story!!!

I had 3 surgeries on Jan 26 2016. The sleeve, gallbladder removal and hernia repair. I was doing great until Oct of last year. I am about 40 pounds from my goal weight and finding these last 40 to be very difficult to get off. Since Halloween I have been bouncing back and forth with the same 10 pounds. Can't seem to get out of the 200's. I still can't walk because of 4 herniated discs but I am riding my trike. Was suppose to have some skin removal surgery but that was canceled as they found some microcalcifications and now I am waiting for a biopsy. Once I get pass this situation I hope to be able to get below 200.

Hey All! My surgery date was 1/6/16 I plateaued at 50lbs last May and stayed there. On the up side I haven't gained any back and my hair isn't falling out any more but I still want to lose 30lbs more. Menopause is creeping up and that will not help matters I know. How's everyone else doing?

(((Miters))) I'm so sorry for your loss! You have done an amazing job with your weight loss and it shows. For now, just concentrate on your basics and on healing the mental and physical aches. Once those are somewhat better, then you can concentrate on your weight loss. I know you'll never get over it, and I share your pain. Sending good thoughts and prayers your way.

Hey Laura, I had surgery in Mexico b/c I am self pay and they wanted $19,000 in my area. I did a lot of research and found a good doctor the cost was $4700.00 plus 2 plane tickets.It was a total of $6030.00. I arrived on Wednesday had my surgery Wednesday I was discharged to a very nice hotel on Friday and left Sunday. I wanted to leave earlier but I was at the mercy of my plane ticket. Why do they need you to stay in the area so long? And why do you have to leave the drain in so long? I have 3 girls 25, 23, &13. I also have 2 grandchildren girl 7 and boy 6. My family is very supportive but that doesn't keep them from eating whatever they want in front of me. LOL. The weight I have lost is pre-op and post-op. I have lost 8 lbs since the actual surgery. I am excited for you. Please keep me posted after surgery. I know you'll do great! Talk you soon, Lisa

I weigh everyday and log it in a monthly calendar. I try not to let the daily weights bother me, I look for a pattern of loss and calculate my loss monthly. I measure myself monthly and I haven't been good about taking taking pictures. Good Luck with your plan.

Well everyone....I am in the land of the living...I was banded yesterday. It was so funny as I was watching Big Medicine the night before my surgery and saw a lady that was doing the lap band surgery...I love that show. Listen anyone who has not done this surgery...It is probably the best thing that could have every happened to me. For many years I suffered from an eating disorder and it got out of control. For anyone out there that may feel that binging and purging can make you loose weight (trust me there are people out there that feel that way). You will not you were looking at at a previous bulimic that gained 50 lbs! It's better you do what you have to do and get this band. I know this journey won't be easy but now I am in control of ME and that is the most important thing. Here is the low down: 1. I waited until 1:20 p.m. a lady met with me and brough me to OR I was put in a waiting room. 2. The nurse told me to put on a robe that could finally fit me. You know the hopital gown that you have to put two on or you will be ass out..yeah...that can't happen there! lol. I also got a took to put on.The nurse came in asked a few questions. She weighed me and to my suprise I lost 15 lbs.:whoo: 3. The anestigolist (mind my spelling) met with me to explain what he would be going and asked what meds I am on and if I am allergic to anything. 4. Then I met with Dr. Cobourn for a while. He answered all my questions. He told me he loved my touqe and not to start without him.lol. I told him I would try not too! 5. I was then taken to OR they strapped me up to the machines and sent me to lala land. 6. I woke up. The post op nurse Francine was amazing. She came me all sorts of cool drugs lol. I got some demerol and codine. 7. Dr. Cobourn met with me breifly and told me that I had a bit of a hernia and he fixed it! HA...I went to Peel for the same problem and they turned me away saying nothing was wrong. 8. I had a lot of gas pain in the shoulders which I think was the worst. 9. Got home and put a hot Water bottle on the shoulders took gas X and went beddie bye. 10. One thing that helps with the gas I found was a nice message. My hubbie gave me a message it helped move around the gas. 11. I slept on the couch for the evening as my couch has a lot of pillow which was very comfortable. 12. Woke up this morning to some gas but now soreness in the tummy. I guess the stiching is making me sore. The gas is starting to come out (gross) and is litterly a byatch to come out lol. All in all ... everything went well. I am very happy and that each and everyone of your for your support along the way. If it wasn't for you all I would be in the dark as to what to expect. At least by reading your experiences I now know what to expect. You all are amazing! Thanks again for all your support.

hi all i get my first fill 4-19-06 very excited can wait to see how it feels and what i will lose congrats on all the weight loss i will log in on wednesday and let u all know what is going on with me thanks for your support

Thanks everyone for your advice, and I will be back on the wagon now. I do realize that I cannot do this post-op and am really serious about this. I have gone from many cokes a day and eating fast food everyday to this is my first time to screw up in two weeks. And like I said, I don't know what came over me. But I am proud of my 12 pound weight loss

btw - I was looking forward to not having to deal with the loose skin setting the scanners off after I had plastic surgery (because oddly, that DOES set it off for some of us), but I STILL beep, even though all the excess skin is gone. I don't know what it is. I know surgical staples don't (they're made of titanium, which MRI machines don't pick up - so maybe that's why airport scanners don't, either), but maybe the clips I have in my abdomen from plastic surgery do - I'm not sure. But for whatever reason, I still beep. Grrrr. P.S. earlier in the weight loss phase I didn't beep - because I didn't have all the loose skin then. But I DID have the staples then - so they aren't what sets it off.

My-o-my you are right in that it was VERY wrong the way I was treated by him, and the fact that my mother didn't believe me (why would I make that up) was very wrong. I have a 13 year old, and if (and hopefully never) she ever tells me anything of this sort you can bet that I will believe her and do as much as I can to help her emotional over it. I would also have major issues with the person who inflicted anything like this on my daughter (even if they are similiar in age), it would NOT be swept under the rug. I don't think I can blame all my weight related issues on it...obviously there is some over eating and exercise issues too. But the more I have thought about it this week the more I have wondered if it did some how give me persmission pyschologically to gain weight. I mean I had a great bf (now husband) that believed me and was plenty mad on my behalf. He has loved me from 135lbs all the way to 260lbs. He is always the one that gives me the pat on the back, puts up with my emotional episodes and all the baggage I brought from the relationship with my mother. I'm so thankful he came into my life when he did, he truelly saved me. Melissa

I'm not sure how to explain this but am going to torture you all by trying to muddle through. I recently heard a speech or whatever you call it on Sexual abuse and harrasement. Now...I have never thought of myself as being a victim of this, but this person obviously has triggered something. I can't stop thinking about what she said and this one moment in my life keeps poppingin my head when I do. When I was 16 my moms boss at the time grabbed at me and tried to kiss me....he said something about if I wasn't careful that I would end up as fat as my mom. His teenage son came in and kinda kept anything from happening. I remember telling my Mom, but she didn't believe me and said something to the effect I must have been mistaken. Now here is the interesting part...or the part that has started making me thinking I'm mental. Looking back through pictures and videos of myself, I wasn't heavy at that time. I won't say I didn't have a weight promblem, because I did...I was dieting almost constantly...and in the typical teenage fashion doing it in not so healthy ways. But sometime around that time is when I slowly started gaining weight. I mean it wasn't sudden, but looking at my pictures you would think thats when my weight promblem started, because thats when my attempts to control seem to have started failing. Now I have lost weight over the years...and to be honest I haven't thought about that incident in my life for years and years. But since hearing the speech its been tumbling around and around. I have a pysch evaul in August, and I really don't want to delay the surgery at this point....but think I might benifit from some type of body image counsiling as I loose the weight. Anyone else want to psycho anaylize me in the mean time . And if I talk about this now with the psych will it jeapordize my approval? I have never before thought that my weight promblem was all that emotional, since my weight gain was slow except for the weight gained and not lost during my pregnancies. Melissa

I am 6 weeks out - how many calories are you guys consuming and how's is it affecting your weight loss ? I see the average is 800 or so, if you work out should you up your calorie intake .... As suggested on my fitness pal ? Any thoughts ?

I almost weigh one hundred and something... Going to be a great week! STATS UPDATE April 17, 2014 - Weight 298 lbs. (45.6 BMI) Surgery Day August 13, 2014 - Weight 200.4 (30.4 BMI) TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS- 98 lbs in 4 months Waist Size Pre-Surgery- 46 in. Waist Size August 13, 2014- 36 in Shirt Size Pre-Surgery- XXL Shirt Size August 14, 2014- L (Maybe a Med. if i stretch it out.)

You lost all that weight once, you can do it again. Don't give up on yourself! Make tomorrow into a new day and just start fresh. Go back to the basics and take it one step at a time .Yes, you'll have to undo some bad habits, but it can be done!

Seriously, I know what I need to do but I’ve lost my umph. Maybe it’s the holidays but I just can’t seem to get back into my groove of low carb, controlled eating. I know I’m eating too much food and not the best choices and I can honestly say it’s having that addictive affect on me. That can’t stop eating, all day grazing, late night snacking. Old habits are tormenting me. I know if I could just get back on track that would go away for the most part but I’m in a rut. Haven’t lost anything in 3 months. Haven’t gained either though. Losing and gaining the same 3 lbs over and over again. Just needed to vent. I know I can do this. Just feeling disappointed in my self. Banded 3/2010 Revised to sleeve 4/2017 Total loss since pre op 38lbs [emoji22]

First thing to keep in mind is that weight does not equal fat. Unless you're going WAY WAY WAY overboard (which you probably even can't) you did not gain 4 pounds of fat overnight. Just between morning and evening, the body can easily fluctuate as much as 8 - 10 lbs, and more or less, by adjusting its own Fluid reserves. I've fluctuated as much as 15 lbs in one day. Are you female? If so, perhaps you've started retaining Water. If not, perhaps you've started retaining water anyway. Lots of things can impact water retention: environmental temperature and humidity, high sodium meals, physical activity, and on, and on... Things will reach an equilibrium and take care of themselves. When you are retaining fluids for whatever reason, they tend to come off just as quickly as they came on, though they may stick around for a few days.

You should see them come off pretty quick. I weigh everyday and somtimes I can see a 3 or 4 lb swing. I think it is Water weight more than anything and you body is adjusting to something. Chris

Thanks so much for all your words of support. I hope you are all right, it's Water weight or I'm retaining or something. I guess I just live in fear that my body will suddenly outsmart the band and I'll quit losing weight or even worse- gain it all back. And thanks to your advice, I put the scale away for awhile so hopefully when I come back to it I'll be back down. tHANKs a TON!!!

Let me tell you what happend to me. I was down to 237 per my scale. Happy as a clam. I then weighed in again one morning and I was up to 245. Needless to say I marched my ass right into the doctors office to weigh. My home scale was off! I had gained 5 lbs. I have been struggling ever since to take that weight off. I would try and weigh at the doctor's office if you can. Scales are the devil!

I weigh every day. That way I can keep track because I never want to gain my weight back again. I have this happen all the time. Make sure you are wearing the same thing to weigh each time. Some clothes weigh more then others. I know if I have a lot of salty things the day before it really shows on the scale. It will probably be gone wothin the next couple of days. It is frustrating though. But it looks like you are doing good. Keep up the good work.