The Five Day Pouch Test

[MsJacquiiC]

Quoted From: Surgical Weight Loss 5 Day Pouch Test • 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?

1. Days One & Two: Liquid Protein
   low-carb protein shakes, broth, clear or cream soups, sugar-free gelatin and pudding.

   The first two days are all liquids. You can have as many low-carb protein shakes as you like to satisfy hunger or cravings. In addition drink at least six 8-ounce glasses of water each day. The purpose of all liquids is to break any snacking, grazing or processed carbohydrate habits. In addition the liquids will work to cleanse your system and prepare you for the following three days.
   
   Try to reduce your caffeine intake as well, but do not stop caffeine cold turkey or you will feel sick and frustrated potentially losing the desire to continue with the pouch test.
   
   It is very important to drink a minimum of 64 ounces of water each day. This will prevent dehydration, will help curb cravings and will flush your body of toxins and fat. Sufficient water intake improves kidney function and cell processes.

2. Day 3: Soft Protein
   canned fish (tuna or salmon) eggs, fresh soft fish (tilapia, sole, orange roughy.)

   The next three days you get to eat as much as you want as often as you want! Ahhh, but there's a catch: it has to be solid protein and you only get 15 minutes each time you sit down to eat. No drinking 30 minutes before or after meals and no drinking with your food. A dry pouch will hold your soft protein longer helping your to feel full and fed longer.
   
   This starts your program with "soft" protein. Measure your portion (1 cup volume or 4-6 ounces weight) and eat only until you feel full, not overfull. Remember, no water for 30 minutes before or after you meal, and no fluids with your meal. We are going back to the beginning and fluids will prevent you from feeling the pouch. If you need to add a moist condiment ( Miracle Whip or mayonnaise) to the canned fish I understand, but keep it to a minimum so the meat is not too moist. One reason we lose the sense of tightness in our pouch is that we eat "slider foods" - foods that are too moist and do not stay in the pouch very long, they slide right through the stoma.

3. Day 4: Firm Protein
   ground meat (turkey, beef, chicken, lamb), shellfish, scallops, lobster, fresh salmon or halibut.

   By now you should be experiencing that familiar tightness that will reassure you that your pouch is working. Remember to drink plenty of water between meals. Take some time to meditate and rediscover the wonder of your pouch. Often we don't like that uncomfortable tightness of the pouch, which is why we gradually move toward slider foods that don't make us uncomfortable. It is always my preference to eat moist protein so I don't get uncomfortable, but doing so allows me to consume more than I should. Rediscovering the pouch with this 5-day plan reminds me of how the tool really works. I hope by now you are rediscovering your tool and enjoying the hope and excitement because your pouch still works.

4. Day 5: Solid Protein
   white meat poultry, beef steak, pork, lamb, wild game

   Remember to chew chew chew. Measure your portion (4-6 ounces) and eat only until you feel your pouch tighten. Remember, only 15 minutes per meal, so you'll have to work fast to chew your food completely. By now you should be out of any carb cycle you were in and perhaps you have lost a pound or two. You will have new confidence in your pouch and your ability to work the tool for your health and emotional well being.
   
   Don't go hungry! Remember, you can eat as often as you want as long as it is solid protein, consumed without liquids and measured in 4-6 ounce portions.

Kaye Bailey is freelance health writer specializing in weight loss surgery. Using her gift for words and personal experience with gastric bypass Ms. Bailey brings a refreshing and real perspective to her articles. Her articles are widely syndicated on the Internet and used by bariatric centers and weight loss surgery support groups around the world.

Source
Order the 5 Day Pouch Test Owner's Manual

Carbohydrate A major source of energy in the diet. There are two kinds of carbohydrates -- simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates: Simple carbohydrates are sugars Complex carbohydrates include both starches and fiber Carbohydrates have 4 calories per gram. They are found naturally in foods such as breads, pasta, cereals, fruits, vegetables, and milk and dairy products.

Protein One of the three nutrients that provides calories to the body. Protein is an essential nutrient that helps build many parts of the body, including muscle, bone, skin, and blood. Protein provides 4 calories per gram and is found in foods like meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, beans, nuts, and tofu. Proteins are an essential human nutrient, obtained from both plant and animal foods. Though their greatest commercial use is in food products, they are also employed in adhesives, plastics, and fibres.

Pouch Most bariatric surgeries restricts the amount of food a patient can eat by reducing the size of the stomach by gastric banding, stapling or removal. What results is known as the gastric pouch.

5 Day Pouch Test The 5 Day Pouch Test is a 5-day plan developed by Kaye Bailey. Specifically developed to determine if your pouch is working as it should, the 5DPT is a nice tool used to return your pouch to that newly post-op, tight feeling. It helps one get back to the basics of the weight loss surgery diet and it triggers weight loss. It is not difficult to follow and if you are in a stage of carb-cycling it will break this pattern, bringing back to fruition the high protein diet recommended directly after weight loss surgery. See in-depth information about the 5 Day Pouch Test in the Forums.

[Lynn P]

Good evening!

I was happy to see this sub-forum and the details of the 5 DPT appearing here in detail.

I know Kaye personally and I know she went through a lot to develop this "Test". She had a lot of help through this journey with friends and associates who took to the 5 day program and found the control and the positive reinforcement they had been missing post op. It is a great tool to keep you on the path we all began with after our surgeries. It never hurts to go back to the basics after we lose our way, redevelop bad habits--- or become discouraged.

If the day has come that you are thinking about doing the 5 DPT, remember that the best way to start is to PLAN AHEAD! If you go into the test unprepared it can be very daunting. As I've been told--Failing to plan is planning to fail...

5 Day Pouch Test The 5 Day Pouch Test is a 5-day plan developed by Kaye Bailey. Specifically developed to determine if your pouch is working as it should, the 5DPT is a nice tool used to return your pouch to that newly post-op, tight feeling. It helps one get back to the basics of the weight loss surgery diet and it triggers weight loss. It is not difficult to follow and if you are in a stage of carb-cycling it will break this pattern, bringing back to fruition the high protein diet recommended directly after weight loss surgery. See in-depth information about the 5 Day Pouch Test in the Forums.

[MsJacquiiC]

Hi Lynn! I think I've met Kaye briefly on Facebook - but I know quite a few people had asked me about the 5 Day Pouch Test and where it was posted... And I thought what the hell - share it on The Journey LOL - I am only 6 months post-op - so I've had no reason to use it as of yet - but I do know after reading the website itself and the steps involved that it is an invaluable resource that will help me in the future!

Jacquii.

Pouch Most bariatric surgeries restricts the amount of food a patient can eat by reducing the size of the stomach by gastric banding, stapling or removal. What results is known as the gastric pouch.

[Lynn P]

Hey MsJ!

The 5DPT is handy for many reasons.

It helps get back on track after a difficult food week... say stressful times or times when you know you'll be tempted beyond belief...

For example, the holiday season: You could take Days 4 and 5 to recapture control after the big FEAST of Thanksgiving, Holiday parties and/or Christmas celebrations. I like to do this because my pouch just feels sensitive and the softness of the food keeps my system relaxed. It also keeps my nutrition on track.

-OR-

Maybe you are struggling with the fact that cooking is difficult when you can't just eat the things you've cooked in the past. The recipes that have been designed for the 5DPT are easy, convenient and a good way to ease into cooking for your new lifestyle.

-AND- I know a gal who continually ate like she was doing Day 5 over and over again-- so she referred to this as "Day 6" where others refer to this as " Day 6 and Beyond". (Don't be confused, there isn't a Day 6, it was just a quick witted phrase to describe her eating plan.) By eating this way, she was able to shed 100 pounds. It took time and effort for sure, but as the weight came off, it was a motivation factor in itself. The plan was worth it as she was a Post Op patient who had fallen off the path.

For those who say it is a diet or unhealthy, I say--it is just getting back to basics. This is the original type of plan your Surgeon had you on after surgery.

To find some great recipes, Google "5 DPT recipes". The Pumpkin Sausage Soup is fantastic!

Pouch Most bariatric surgeries restricts the amount of food a patient can eat by reducing the size of the stomach by gastric banding, stapling or removal. What results is known as the gastric pouch.

5 Day Pouch Test The 5 Day Pouch Test is a 5-day plan developed by Kaye Bailey. Specifically developed to determine if your pouch is working as it should, the 5DPT is a nice tool used to return your pouch to that newly post-op, tight feeling. It helps one get back to the basics of the weight loss surgery diet and it triggers weight loss. It is not difficult to follow and if you are in a stage of carb-cycling it will break this pattern, bringing back to fruition the high protein diet recommended directly after weight loss surgery. See in-depth information about the 5 Day Pouch Test in the Forums.