I have been reading “The 5 Day Pouch Test Owners Manual” written by Kaye Bailey. It isn’t a well written book but it contains some very useful information. It’s worth $10 to download the Kindle Edition.

Bailey isn’t a medical professional. Her information & advice seems to come from her own personal experiences with being banded. So, keep this in mind when reading my post & while reading her book should you go on to read it. Come to think of it, I’m not entirely sure if she was banded or had a gastric bypass but the information she shares is relevant to both.

The 5 Day Pouch Test (5DPT) mimics the healing process that we went through following surgery. Day 1 and 2 is a liquid diet and then in Day 3, you begin to reintroduce Protein. It isn’t a no carb diet but it’s definitely a low carb diet. On Day 3: soft protein, Day 4: firm protein and Day 5: solid protein.

The 5DPT was designed for those that have stalled in their weight loss efforts, reached a plateau or have lost their way & need to get back on track. I’ve heard of some people following the 5DPT as a preventative maintenance measure to make sure everything is going well with their band and in an attempt to reduce possible stretching of their pouch or esophagus.

I’ve had several banded friends that have completed the 5DPT recently & have commented that they felt it brought them back to basics & reconnected them to their band. All of the ‘participants’ felt their band was a little tighter after completing the 5DPT. Most, if not all of them, lost a couple of pounds too – though weight loss is not the focus of the 5DPT, just an added benefit for some. They also said that the 5DPT helped rid them of their carb cravings.

There is a website for the 5DPT. It’s http://www.5daypouchtest.com/

The website gives you enough information to complete the 5DPT without having to buy the book. Saying that, after reading the book, the book provides more detailed information & a number of recipes that the website doesn’t provide.

It’s my plan to begin the 5DPT on Tuesday, April 8. I’ll let you know how it goes.

I thought I’d post this information because someone is always coming to the site looking for the inspiration and motivation to get back on track – this is one possibility that is (at least) worth exploring.

The 5-Day Pouch Test was written for Bypass patients. Bailey was a bypass patient. The pouch she refers to isn't exactly like ours(bandster's). But, the concept is close enough the formula works for me. I've done it twice now and although I seem to lose 4-5 lbs, I always gain it back since it's mostly Water weight loss.

She doesn't recommend a low calories input during these times but of course, it's hard to get a log of calories in if you're band is adjusted properly.

Good luck and for me the 5-Day Pouch Test is a good way to reset my mind and body for losing weight.

tmf

Very helpful - I will purchase what I need and then do this. I liked your phrasing about getting back in touch with my band. I am at 5 years out. I lost 71 pounds of my 110 I needed to lose, but have slowly gained back 20 pounds these past two years. I know the band is doing its job - and that I am not. I am making really poor food choices, and have fallen into the same pattern that ballooned my weight up to 266 pounds before surgery.

I remember my doctor telling me that the band would help with portion control and with my constant feeling of hunger, but it wouldn't be a cure for my poor food choices. He was right!

Why is it that people who have bulimia have an "eating disorder" and people like us just have poor self control? A person can eat herself to death doing that!