May Theme:
Every Meal Stands Alone   
 
"Memorize This:
Every meal stands alone.  I understand I have the opportunity to select nutrient rich food at my next meal and each meal choice is completely independent of any previous dietary selection."
~ Kaye Bailey

WLS Slider Food:  

 "To the weight loss surgery patient slider foods are the bane of good intentions often causing dumping syndrome, weight loss plateaus, and eventually weight gain. By definition slider foods are soft simple processed carbohydrates of little or no nutritional value that slide right through the surgical stomach pouch without providing nutrition or satiation. The most commonly consumed slider foods include pretzels, crackers (saltines, graham, Ritz®, etc.) filled cracker snacks such as Ritz Bits®, popcorn, cheese snacks (Cheetos®) or cheese crackers, tortilla chips with salsa, potato chips, sugar-free cookies, cakes, and candy."



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Apple & Pear
Evening Munchies: Slider Food Territory


After WLS, and truly for most of our dieting life, the evening munchies have been a nemesis for many of us. That feeling as the day winds down that a little something snacky would be oh-so-good right now. For me, denying the evening snack urge is unsuccessful. So I've had to re-define "snack" to things that support my health and weight loss goals. Here is a new way of looking at this nightly battle of mind over body:

What if the Evening Munchies was a blessed opportunity to one more time nurture your body with nutrients? Rather than it being a danger zone to traverse with the potential to undo all the good work you've done during the day, what if it was an opportunity to gift yourself the reward of healthy indulgence? Here are some options:
  • Cheese, cottage cheese, string cheese
  • Yogurt with chopped almonds and a drizzle of honey (promotes sleep)
  • Warm tea with milk or frozen protein drink or "shake"
  • Protein Oatmeal (Quaker Instant) with milk or yogurt & chopped almonds
  • The left-over chicken-fish-meat etc. you couldn't finish at dinner
  • Microwave Mug-Eggs (one of my favorites!)
  • Bran Muffin (good before bed to start the morning regular)
The Strategy:
First - acknowledge you enjoy a bite to eat in the evening.

Second - acknowledge your health and weight loss goals.

Third - define specific food morsels that allow you to enjoy an evening snack while promoting your health and weight loss goals.

I have learned that I seldom succeed when I "forbid" myself specific food or eating occasions (such as NO SNACKING AFTER 7pm, etc) I do much better when I acknowledge and solve the puzzle while keeping the big goals in mind.


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Q: What if I mess up again? I'm tired of starting over.

A.  As a lifelong person struggling with the disease of obesity the all-or-nothing mentality of falling off the wagon is something that continues to perplex me. Do you know what I'm talking about? I will have good intentions to have an omelet and tomato slices for breakfast but for some reason I chose instead to have a toasted bagel slathered with cream cheese. Naturally the high carbohydrate and high fat breakfast makes me feel sluggish and miserable so I think, "To hell with it" and continue to make poor dietary choices the rest of the day. Now you know what I'm talking about, I see you nodding your head. (This still happens to me once in a while, I'll be honest with you.)

Years ago in one of the many diet programs I was following, and I am not sure which it was, a counselor talked about dropped eggs as the theory applies to the scenario above. She asked if any of us, while in the kitchen baking, had accidentally dropped an egg on the floor. We all nodded yes. She then asked if we said, "To hell with it" and proceeded to drop the remaining eggs on the floor. We all nodded no, of course not! "Then why, when you drop the metaphorical diet egg do you say to hell with it and break the diet for the rest of the day?" Great allegory!

Dropped eggs happen. We are human. We live in a difficult world. So the next time you drop the diet egg visualize getting a paper towel, wiping up the spill and moving forward. Dropped eggs happen and a great deal of life and living is all about cleaning up messes.

Shared with permission from "Day 6: Beyond the 5 Day Pouch Test" by Kaye Bailey. Copyright 2012 - LivingAfterWLS ~ All Rights Reserved. Pages 26-27.

.

 

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We lived by the Four Rules during the early weeks and months following weight loss surgery. Then we became a little more comfortable and let the rules slide a bit here and there as we tried to "get back to normal." But the fact is, our weight loss surgery will never allow us to be "normal" again. By embracing the Four Rules -- not just during weight loss, but for life -- we can maximize our weight management with the surgical pouch.


It is remarkable how many people report a renewed sense of empowerment when they return to the Four Rules because again they feel the power of the pouch and often weight loss results or weight regain is halted.

 

  Protein First
  Lots of Water
  No Snacking
  Daily Exercise

Learn More:

 



Thank you for joining me today in this information packed 5 Day Pouch Test Bulletin. I have been following various conversations in social media groups about weight regain after   bariatric surgery and share with you today articles that I hope will promote a calm understanding of how weight regain happens. Featured topics include slider foods, ways to relieve nausea, and protein supplements. I hope you find something useful as you pursue a long lasting healthy weight with surgery. Thanks for taking time from your busy life to join me here today.

Remember the Official 5 Day Pouch Test website is open 24/7!
5DayPouchTest.com

Sincerely,
Kaye Bailey

"I believe in you.
You deserve to be healthy.
 You deserve to be kind to yourself.
You deserve to achieve your greatest level of success with weight loss surgery when you harness your inner resources."
Kaye Bailey ~ 5 Day Pouch Test Owner's Manual


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Forget About Perfection!
If we complete the 5 Day Pouch Test having learned a few things about our self, our weight loss surgery and our capability in managing life and weight loss surgery in relationship to one another we have succeeded: we can deem the 5 Day Pouch Test a success. Here are some things to consider while treating the 5DPT as a learning experience:
 
-- What can I eat that gives my pouch a feeling of fullness? What do I eat that fails to give my pouch a feeling of fullness?

-- Have the liquid restrictions become automatic to me? Do I have heightened awareness of how I consume liquids with my meals and snacks?
Refresher: Lots of Water and the Liquid Restrictions 

-- Am I eating protein in a ratio of 2 bites protein to 1 bite complex carbohydrate? (2B/1B Rhythm)
Article: Why 'Protein First' helps us lose weight 

-- Have I found time to include physical activity in my daily routine?

-- Am I allowing myself to feel empowered when I make choices that nourish my body and respect my weight loss surgery?

-- Am I forgiving lapses in compliance with my guidelines and moving forward to make better choices the next time? 

Download Free 5 Day Pouch Test Journal 
 
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The Slider Food Trap
Why do we turn to these foods when we know better?
by Kaye Bailey

Reference: Most Commonly Consumed Slider Foods
Pretzels, crackers (saltines, graham, Ritz®, Wheat Thins, etc.) filled cracker snacks such as Ritz Bits®, popcorn, cheese snacks (Cheetos®) or cheese crackers, tortilla chips with salsa, potato chips, sugar-free cookies, sweets, cakes, and candy. (Add your trigger slider foods to this list.)

Reminder: By definition slider foods are soft simple processed carbohydrates of little or no nutritional value that slide right through the surgical stomach pouch without providing nutrition or satiation.

Why is it that we turn to these foods following surgery?
We know that they contribute to obesity because they were likely a part of our diet prior to surgery. Common sense tells us that if food contributed to our obesity before surgery it will surely cause weight gain after surgery. We promised our surgeon to follow the dietary rules after surgery, yet somehow that grit determination wanes and little by little we find our old comfort food snacks back in hand. Reverting to the old dietary habits happens quite subtly and before we know it the scale is going in the wrong direction. "Now what?" we ask ourselves and then incite internal blame for yet another failed weight management effort. But before we jump on the self-loathing wagon let's consider the mechanical reasons that so many of us turn to slider foods even though we know they don't support our health and weight management goals.

Physical Discomfort: the pouch makes us do it.
From the 5DPT Owner's manual, "The very nature of the surgical gastric pouch is to cause feelings of tightness or restriction when one has eaten enough food. However, when soft simple carbohydrates are eaten this tightness or restriction does not result and one can continue to eat, unmeasured amounts of food without ever feeling uncomfortable. Many patients unknowingly turn to slider foods for this very reason. They do not like the discomfort that results when the pouch is full from eating a measured portion of lean animal or dairy protein, and it is more comfortable to eat the soft slider foods."  I've spoken with thousands of WLS patients over the years and it is strikingly common to hear saltine crackers implicated as the first food encountered leading to slider food snacking. It happens innocently enough when discomfort is experienced when eating animal protein. This discomfort can be pouch tightness, nausea, repulsion to taste or texture, and physical fatige immediately following the meal. When we are following the liquid restrictions (no beverage 30 minutes before or after a meal, no beverage with the meal) a high-protein meal can feel heavy and pouch tightness results quickly, possibly before we realize it and stop eating. I have occasional spells of extreme frustration brought on by the discomfort of the pouch when I'm following the rules. Sometimes eating Protein First feels like a punishment and a very high price to pay to keep my weight in check.

Memory lapse.
Remarkably, the most common time for us to return to slider snacks is after we have lost a goodly amount of weight and are feeling healthy and well. Is it possible that we forget just how bad obesity made us feel? On page 16 of the 5DPT Owner's Manual 2nd Edition I write, "It is a funny thing, the way the mind works. The healthier we become the less we remember how truly sick we were before surgery and before weight loss. Similar to the memory of pain reported following childbirth, findings indicate that the more positive our experience is with weight loss, the less vividly we recall the pain (physical and emotional) of obesity prior to weight loss. This suggests that when we fall off the wagon of dietary compliance it is not so much about a moral breakdown or relenting to environmental pressure (think food pushers), but perhaps we simply don't remember how bad obesity felt."

Don't play the self-blame game.
Weight regain attributed to consumption of slider foods brings with it a bag of negative emotions and self-blame. Confessions of "being bad" are common when patients are eating soft non-nutritional carbohydrates. Adjectives describe these foods as bad, evil, sinful, decadent, self-indulgent, wicked, etc. You get the idea. We call ourselves bad, weak, powerless, pathetic, sloppy, stressed, and anything else morally incriminating as we vow to be good tomorrow. But here's the thing: food cannot be bad or evil or sinful because food is inert - without energy or motivation - and has no morals. Food is sustenance. It can taste good or bad, but it cannot be good or bad. This is an important concept because once we release food of moral attributes we can more rationally deal with our food choices taking guilt and self-loathing out of the equation. We live in a world where we face food choices at every turn. Sometimes we chose healthy sustenance and other times our choice is nutritionally deficient.

The selection of a nutritionally void slider food is not a catastrophe brought on by moral weakness: it is just a choice.

Another choice awaits at the next meal that is completely independent of the previous choice.
This is an opportunity to support our health goals and desires by selecting something nutritionally abundant that complies with our Protein First WLS diet. You Can Do This!

 


Inventory Clearance:
5DPT Manual: All New 2nd Edition
Just $14.95
Save $10
5DPT Owner's Manual
We are making room for the third printing of the highly rated 5 Day Pouch Test Owner's Manual (Copyright 2012) that will feature a fresh new cover. The previous cover, shown here, is being retired. Take advantage of our inventory clearance and save $10 off the publisher price of $24.95.
 
Clearance Price: $14.95
Limited inventory - Order Today!
 
PS: Use Coupon Code SPRING2016 and save even more - $2 off any order!


nausea
Feeling queasy or sick to your stomach?

Effective ways to relieve feelings of nausea 

by Kaye Bailey

I don't know about you, but I'm a frequent flier in the nausea club since having WLS. My surgery was in 1999 and I have yet to break the code of understanding why sometimes I just feel sick and queasy: sometimes after I eat, sometimes when I've had nothing to eat. Smells and odors will bring on tummy turbulence for me quite quickly and eqNot the Queen's Teaually unexpectedly. There is only so much preventative effort I can do to avoid a queasy stomach, such as avoiding the strong bakery smell of sugar. (I know! a blessing in disguise, right?) One faint whiff of  freshly fried glazed doughnuts in the morning makes me as sick as a freshman sailor on the high seas.   Because this condition is so random for me I have found different ways to relieve the nausea when it strikes. Consider some of these approaches to relief the next time you feel queasy and nauseated:

For motion induced nausea try sucking a sugar free peppermint right before travel begins and as needed during travel. For example, when flying take a peppermint when the aircraft is departing the gate.

Peppermint or ginger herbal tea with lemon will soothe a queasy stomach and are known to relieve nausea. This is a beneficial tonic during cold and flu season as well.

While doing the 5 Day Pouch Test some people experience nausea that is associated with carbohydrate withdrawal. Read here how to combat this condition: 5 Day Pouch Test and Nausea

Reduced sodium chicken or vegetable broth can be soothing, particularly if the nausea led to vomiting. A strong broth can be diluted with water which may aid digestibility. Warm broth is best, not too hot or too cold. If the nausea was caused by inadequately chewed food and resulted in vomiting try a diet of warm clear broth the following day. This may relieve the soreness of an irritated tummy.

Dry toast or saltine crackers offer relief to stomach sickness. But for weight loss surgery patients they pose the hazard of becoming a relied-upon comfort food with no nutritional value. Use this solution sparingly.

Pay attention to beverage temperature. Many people find tepid water or tea provide comfort and relief from nausea. For lap-band patients a room temperature glass of water is comforting as it keeps the band pliable. Many band patients cannot tolerate iced beverages. Sleuth out the best beverage temperature for your bariatric system. A temperature adjustment of a few degrees can make a big difference in your comfort.

Comfortable clothing will relieve symptoms of nausea for some people. Avoid wearing clothes that are tight and binding. Severe nausea can be relieved by resting in a reclined position in a cool dark room.

For olfactory nausea try breathing through your mouth as this decreases the sensory response to smells. Seek fresh air by stepping outside, opening a window or turning on a fan. An aggressively air conditioned room --think cold-- can also provide almost instant relief from nausea.

When to seek medical help:
For nausea that is chronic rather than random keep a careful record or diary of nausea events. The record needs to include time of day, environmental conditions, all symptoms (gas, bloating, queasiness, vomiting, etc.) and food and beverage intake. Provide this record to a dietitian, nurse or doctor who can make a specific plan for your personal circumstance. Severe cases of chronic nausea may require prescription medication. It is time to talk to your doctor about nausea if you are unable to eat adequate nutrition and drink adequate liquid to prevent dehydration and if the nausea is disrupting your daily activities and quality of life.

Nausea can lead to dehydration. Link to this article to learn how to avoid dehydration: WLS patients and Dehydration



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proteinProtein Supplementation After WLS
Featured Article from Breakfast Basics of WLS 
by Kaye Bailey

Coffee Protein Smoothie It is common to see the question, "What protein powder should I use?" asked in online groups. What is surprising, to me, is the inconsistency in answers and the passion with which people believe there is only one true and correct answer to the question. It seems natural to want a one-size fits all answer and quite frankly as a WLS researcher/writer I would love to find that magic answer. The fact is, the question of supplemental protein in the WLS diet is highly complicated and each case study is unique. I suggest that we all must find our "sweet spot" for supplemental protein intake in our diet and this will not be a one-time solution, the need for including supplemental protein will change over the years as we continuously work to be informed consumers in the quest for healthy weight management with bariatric surgery. (I'm sorry - I really wanted to find the "easy" answer for us all, but we have learned, have we not, that WLS is never easy.)

 

Here are some things to consider and questions to ask when managing your complete diet after weight loss surgery:

  • Do I need to supplement my protein intake with protein beverages or protein nutrition bars?
  • Has my bariatric center prescribed supplemental protein as part of my weight loss and weight management program?
  • What is my current daily nutritional intake?
  • Do I have food intolerances that keep me from including supplemental protein in my diet or that keep me from eating animal and vegetable protein in adequate amounts? What is the plan I have put in place with my doctor or nutritionist to address these issues?
  • What is the current state of my health including age, weight, blood work, metabolic health, emotional wellness, and co-morbidities associated with obesity?
  • Am I in the care of a qualified health care provider with whom I can discuss my dietary intake, specifically protein intake?
  • Am I keeping a food journal so that I can make necessary adjustments to better manage my weight and health through nutrition?
These questions and considerations make it clear that managing our health is a big deal and we cannot leave it to chance. We cannot toss a question out for the Internet to answer and then hope for the best. Our first resource for information specific to our case must be the bariatric center

-including the surgeon, nursing staff, and dietician or nutritionist-that treated our metabolic disorder called obesity. Ask specific questions of them and follow their directions above all else.

 

When that is not possible our next source for qualified advice should be a general care doctor, a weight management doctor, and/or weight management nutritionist. I understand as well as anyone that the conversation about obesity with a general practice doctor is nothing short of awkward. Compared with the cocoon-like warmth by which most bariatric centers embrace their patients the all-purpose doctor's office can feel cold and unsympathetic. Still, we have a responsibility as patients to honestly communicate with our doctor regarding our health. "The three main goals of doctor-patient communication are creating a good interpersonal relationship, facilitating exchange of information, and including patients in decision making,"

Nancy Longnecker, PHD, The Ochsner Journal Spring 2010

.

Finally, we must obligate ourselves to being active in our own health management. Read product labels. Stay informed on current health practices supported by qualified research and verified studies (don't trust unsupported answers from random sources). Pay attention to our own wellness and make adjustments accordingly. Follow the health care plan prescribed by our bariatric surgeon and supported by general care doctor.


 
Shared with copyright permission from Kaye Bailey and LivingAfterWLS, LLC. Originally published April 21, 2015: "Breakfast Basics of WLS. Why you must eat a high protein breakfast every day and easy, scrumptious ways to accomplish it." LivingAfterWLS eBook Shorts available exclusively on Amazon Kindle. Link for more details:

Breakfast Basics of WLS: Why you must eat a high protein breakfast every day. (LivingAfterWLS eBook Shorts 4) 
 

Amazon Best Seller and 5 Star Reviews:
This is a must have!
April 26, 2015 Verified Purchase
"Kaye Bailey has done it again! This book is great. Kaye is truly an advocate for those of us on this weight loss surgery journey. It doesn't matter if we are pre-op or years out it is still a journey. I often get tired of the same old food for breakfast. It seems that so many traditional breakfasts are high in carbohydrates and not much protein. In this book there are lots of protein rich breakfasts. I think this book is a must have."
 

 


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The health content in the LivingAfterWLS website 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.

 

LivingAfterWLS, LLC
Kaye Bailey, Founder
Evanston,Wyoming - USA