Who wouldn't want to be a major league baseball player? Imagine it: you arrive at work and the first place you go is the Clubhouse. You get a freshly laundered outfit to wear and a cool cap. Then you go to work in the Park! And just when it can't get any better a guy yells "Play Ball" and the workday has begun. When you do something great your coworkers and thousands of others are crazy-wild-celebratory for you. Do something not so grand? Well, you get immediate feedback: no office head games or backstabbing, it's all out there.  Best of all - you get paid for this!  Who wouldn't want that?

Well, I regret I'll have to settle for being a lifetime fan of the game, the tradition, the spectacle that is baseball. And there is nothing I like more than the baseball metaphor - it doesn't take a big stretch to bend a baseball metaphor into life and specifically for our purposes a metaphor for LivingAfterWLS. So it comes as no surprise that a commentator caught my attention when he said, speaking of a frustrated outfielder who had just tossed his mitt, "Don't blame the equipment: just make the play."

How often do we find it easier to blame our WLS equipment rather than just step up to the plate and make the play? Is a grumpy pouch bad equipment or the result of how we are using it? Is weight gain the result of a broken pouch or are we choking-up on the fork too often? Eating more than we should? Maybe we aren't giving the liquids a proper time-out while we let our solid food digest?

See? It's not always an equipment error. But unlike a major league player, we don't have the luxury of a batting coach or fielding coach or a manager with a well-trained eye who can tell us how we are using the equipment improperly. That means we have to be our own coach and manager. Take a look at these ideas for when we notice the equipment is working like we know it can:

~ Refresh the Four Rules. Just like baseball, WLS has rules. And when we follow them the game is beautiful. No matter if we are rookies or veterans, the Four Rules work. Review and look for opportunities to improve. Read More

~ Avoid sliders. Sliding to steal a base or score a run at home is great in baseball. Slider foods, however, in our WLS post-op life are just a bite away from a strike out. Learn what sliders are, be honest about how you include them in your diet, and make better choices to help your equipment work for you and your goals. Read More

~ A New Game. In baseball if you win 60% of the time you're headed to the playoffs. So you lost yesterday's double-header? Big deal.  It's a new game today. Get your batting order set, plan your strategy, and go for the win! One loss does not a failure make. One new day makes a great opportunity for a win - get out there and Play Ball!  Read More

5 Day Pouch Test Featured Articles

Now, just for fun I've shared some of my favorite baseball quotes and my little interpretation of how they fit our LivingAfterWLS life - I hope you enjoy!

"I don't care how long you've been around, you'll never see it all." Bob Lemon

No matter how familiar we get with life after weight loss surgery, our bodies will never stop surprising us in what they can accomplish and what they won't put-up with. (Kaye)

"I only had one superstition. I made sure to touch all the bases when I hit a home run." Babe Ruth

I only have one superstition in weight management: I make sure to touch all Four Rules every day. (Kaye)

"I was never nervous when I had the ball, but when I let go I was scared to death." Lefty Gomez

When we take control of our WLS equipment we have nothing to fear. When we surrender control of the equipment to other forces we must be absolutely scared to death. Don't let go of the ball. (Kaye)

"If my uniform doesn't get dirty, I haven't done anything in the baseball game." Rickey Henderson

Life after WLS can be messy: Let's go for it! (Kaye)

"The best possible thing in baseball is winning the World Series. The second best thing is losing the World Series." Tommy Lasorda

It is possible, always possible, to put a positive spin on the outcome we accomplish. While some might say not winning the World Series is losing, others might say they took second place, and that's not too bad. Put a positive spin on things and everything changes. (Kaye)

"It ain't over 'till it's over." Yogi Berra

Weight Loss Surgery should not be measured from start (surgery) to finish (goal weight). It ain't over until the game (of life) is over. (Kaye)

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Share your favorite baseball quote or metaphor with me on Facebook: 

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Understanding the liquid options
Protein Fortified Beverages: Protein shakes, protein drinks, protein breakfast drinks are all protein fortified beverages. Look for ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages that have at least 15 grams of protein and fewer than 5 grams of carbohydrate per serving. Protein powder drinks are acceptable as well, providing they meet the same criterion of 15 grams protein and fewer than 5 grams carbohydrate. Homemade protein smoothies are a favorable addition to the 5DPT menu. They can be created with or without protein powder using low-fat cottage cheese, yogurt and fruit or berries. See the recipe section. Each of us has a unique taste preference when it comes to protein beverages. You are responsible for finding the protein beverage you like and using it as part of your long-term weight management diet.

Clear broth or creamy soups: Clear broth and creamy soups are a favorite comfort food for many of us. Canned commercial chicken broth, beef broth, and vegetable broth are enjoyable meals on Days 1 and 2. Look for ready-to-eat broth that is low-sodium or reduced sodium and enjoy 1-cup servings. Do not drink any liquids for 30 minutes before or after having a warm cup of broth. Again, we want the pouch to absorb the nutrients from the food and we want to feel full as long as possible. Even though clear broth is a liquid of similar viscosity to water it contains nutrients and energy from which the body benefits.

Swanson ready-to-eat 50% Less Sodium Beef Broth® is a good example of readily available commercial clear soup appropriate for the 5DPT. A 1-cup serving provides 15 calories, 3 grams protein, 1 grams carbohydrate, no fat and 400mg sodium. When shopping for a commercial soup, look for nutritional data that is comparable to this example. There are many good regional soups available at specialty food stores and larger supermarkets. Do some exploring and find something you can enjoy knowing you are feeding your body well.

Creamy soups are a comfort food favorite for Days 1 and 2. Many creamy soups include dairy products such as milk, cream, sour cream, or half-and-half. For purposes of the 5DPT full-fat dairy should be used as called for in the Day 1 and 2 recipes because it improves satiation longer than no-fat or reduced fat food. Note: After the 5DPT feel free to modify the soups with reduced or low-fat dairy as you find appropriate with your ongoing weight management. The soups are very good and always a welcome inclusion in a healthy Day 6 and beyond diet. People with lactose intolerance  should avoid including creamy soups in their 5DPT and their regular diet. Select the hearty soups or clear broths instead.

Campbell's Healthy Request® Cream of Mushroom Soup is a good commercial soup that works well on the 5DPT. A 1-cup serving of soup prepared with 2% milk provides 130 calories, 6 grams protein, 5 grams fat (1 gram saturated), 10 grams carbohydrate, and 410mg sodium. For on-the-go meals try Campbell's Soup at Hand® 25% Less Sodium Classic Tomato Soup. Heated quickly in the microwave and served in the same container this convenient soup provides 140 calories, 3g protein, 0g fat, 33g carbohydrate and 480mg sodium. Use these examples to find ready-to-eat creamy soups you will enjoy including in your 5DPT and beyond.

Hearty Soups:  As I developed this plan I learned that more substantial soups made of animal protein, legumes, beans, and low-glycemic vegetables work well to alleviate the discomfort and stress of a liquid diet. These satisfying soup recipes are made of foods low on the Glycemic Index (GI), a measure of how your blood glucose levels are affected by food. That means they will stick with you without causing a rapid rise and subsequent drop in blood glucose. These great comfort soups will help keep you feeling full longer, help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight, and provide you with more consistent energy throughout the day.
When including hearty soups as part of your 5DPT menu I encourage you to cook and enjoy the recipes provided. These recipes are specific to the plan and they work very well in our five day dietary progression. An added bonus: the soup recipes offered are less expensive per serving than prepared soups or protein drinks and they are family friendly making the 5 Day Pouch Test practical to incorporate into our busy schedules. Check out the recipe section for delicious soups and smoothies and make them a part of your LivingAfterWLS way of life.

Helpful Hint: You may find it beneficial to add a soup flavored or unflavored protein powder to your serving of soup or broth. Please note the instructions on your protein powder: most recommend using warm water of less than 130F degrees or the texture will be affected.

Copyrighted material shared with permission from LivingAfterWLS, LLC, and Kaye Bailey. All Rights Reserved.