Guide to Healthy Fast Food

The American Diabetes Association has given this book its seal of approval. Complete & easy-to-use fast-food guide for people with diabetes, heart disease, and weight challenges.  $9.95

Learn More

Refresher:
Four Rules

 LivingAfterWLS Weekly Digest January 20, 2011

   

Rule #2 - Lots of Water

  LivingAfterWLS Weekly Digest February 2, 2011 

 

Rule #3 - No Snacking

LivingAfterWLS Weekly Digest February 9, 2011  

 

Rule #4 - Daily Exercise

LivingAfterWLS Weekly Digest February 18, 2011  

 

LivingAfterWLS Weekly Digest February 24, 2011.

Summer is upon us with record breaking heat and strange weather events across the country. And many of you, after enjoying the July 4th Holiday, are getting back on track using the 5 Day Pouch Test. This makes it a good time to review the basics of the 5 Day Pouch Test and answer some of the questions we are asked by people, just like you, who want to do their best with weight loss surgery using the 5DPT as one of their tools. As we recover from obesity many of us report enjoying the activities of summer as one of the great thrills that come with weight loss. I hope you have found this to be true for you.

    

Code: HOTSUMMER
Save $3.00 off order ($29 minimum purchase)

Stock up now on 5DPT Supplies and Save!

You can repeat the liquid eating plan of the 5DPT Days 1 and 2, but as soon as you do that you are doing a liquid diet; you are not doing the 5 Day Pouch Test. The intent of the 5DPT is to quickly progress through the post-op dietary stages and get us back to the basics of following our weight loss surgery high protein, low carbohydrate diet. People are sometimes tempted to repeat the liquid days because they have recorded a pleasing weight loss on Days 1 and 2. Keep in mind this weight loss is primarily water loss. In order to keep losing weight one needs to follow a high protein diet that elevates the metabolism into high thermic burn: this is when true weight is lost. Please follow the 5DPT as it is written: it was developed to help you achieve the best results with your weight loss surgery. We tested it numerous times so you don't have to. 5DPT: Days 1 & 2

If you can tolerate milk and dairy products include them in your 5DPT and beyond. See the recipe section. Many WLS patients become lactose intolerant so that is why there is always a caution about using milk products. For those who can tolerate dairy, when used in moderation, it can be a healthy part of your diet.

No, cottage cheese and yogurt should not be used as stand-alone menu choices on Days 1 and 2. However, they may be used as ingredients in protein smoothies. You can introduce yogurt and cottage cheese to your diet on Day 3: Soft Protein.

Can I have protein shakes on Days 3, 4 and 5?
You can include protein drinks on Days 3 to 5, but only as between meal snacks if you are hungry. It is best to stick with the menu foods, but on the other hand, if you are hungry or "snacky" go for the protein shake. It will raise your metabolism and satiate your hunger. A protein drink counts as a meal so follow the liquid restrictions. Let your body get the full benefit of this protein and vitamin fortified meal by not washing it down with liquids. Also, if you have scheduled a protein drink in your eating plan take your vitamin supplements with it for better digestion and absorption. When in doubt mindfully enjoy a protein drink first before eating any other snack food. Remember this trick!  Even beyond the 5DPT a protein drink is always the best first choice for in between meals snack. A protein drink will serve your snacking needs well without derailing your best efforts for healthy weight management after WLS.

5 Day Pouch Test: Protein Bundle

Most bariatric centers discourage patients from having bubbly carbonated beverages after surgery. The carbonation may cause discomfort in the pouch, may cause the pouch to expand temporarily and may cause temporary or lasting injury to the stoma. In addition, consumption of carbonated beverages generally means empty calories that are eaten with non-nutritional snack foods (think of the ubiquitous movie snack of a soda and popcorn). A fizzy vitamin drink mix is bubbly due to the effervescent reaction when the minerals react with the liquid. The fizz is not the result of pressurized carbon dioxide gas being forced into a liquid as is carbonation. Emergen-C® is an approved vitamin and mineral dietary supplement by most bariatric nutritionists. Some patients prefer to allow the effervescent bubbles to dissipate before drinking the vitamin mix. The rapid absorption of vitamins and minerals dissolved in water is an effective means for patients with malabsorption to take vitamin supplements. Emergen-C Energy Booster

First, please keep in mind the 5 Day Pouch Test is not a cleanse diet or fad diet to hastily lose weight. It is a controlled method of changing dietary habits in an effort to return to the program prescribed at the time of our weight loss surgery. People do lose weight on the plan because of the dietary changes the plan empowers. This weight loss is considered a sweet bonus, not the primary objective. Please use the plan as a means to lasting weight loss and weight management, not just a quick trick to lose weight. And by the way, losing two pounds in four days is nothing to feel sad about! Congratulation! You can do this!
Article: Four Truths about Weight Regain after WLS

Beginning on Day 6 after the 5DPT we slowly include complex carbohydrate vegetables and fruit in the diet at a ratio of two-thirds protein to one-third complex carbohydrate when measured by volume. We continue to follow the liquid restrictions and avoid slider foods and stay intently focused on the Four Rules. Now that we have recaptured that hell-bent determination that propelled us to have surgery in the first place we use the momentum in our pursuit of a healthy lifestyle and weight management with bariatric surgery.
Day 6: Beyond the 5 Day Pouch Test

The motivation for doing the 5DPT should always be to get back on track with the WLS dietary guidelines, not to lose weight. That means we take what we learn during the 5 days and apply it to our lifestyle on Day 6 and beyond. If we do the 5DPT simply to knock-off a few pounds and then go back to the very habits that lead to weight regain we will, naturally, regain the weight and then some. When we consented to weight loss surgery we agreed that for the rest of our life we would follow certain dietary guidelines. If we have drifted from the original guidelines the 5DPT can get us back to basics. At that point we must follow the guidelines we agreed to if we wish to sustain weight loss and keep our obesity in remission. Use this as a means to return to following the instructions you were provided by your surgical weight loss center and nutritionist. Go back to doing what worked for you when you were at your best and losing weight or maintaining weight.
Three Keys to Lasting WLS Success

I hope you won't do this. It takes us back to our pre-surgery diet habits and serves no positive purpose. With surgery it is impossible to put-away the tool for the weekend, so why would we put away our good habits for the weekend? Use the 5 Day Pouch Test as it is designed and move forward with an eye on the long-term goal of better health and weight management making the most of your tool, each day, and every day.

5 Day Pouch Test FAQ's

The health content provided by LivingAfterWLS is intended to inform, not prescribe, and is not meant to be a substitute for the advice and care of a qualified health-care professional.