Hello all, I am technically a veteran as I had my Rouenx y gastric bypass in 2009. However, I admit shamefully that I never stuck to the di r t restrictions nor habits and after the initial 60lb loss, gained it back. I have kicked myself over and over for knowing what to do and not doing it for these years. I just turned 40 in November and have a few med issues that would improve with major weight loss ( total goal is to lose 70-80 lbs). I read an article suggesting people who have gained should try the 5 day pouch test. I do not know how my large portions of food, bad choices of Snacks etc have affected my pouch. My surgeon has said he doubts it has stretched too much but has some. My question to all of you is if you personally have tried this sort of reset button and if it helped you? Or is this asking myself or my body to be too drastic like setting up for failure ? I admit to no will power it seems, and obviously not much discipline. But I know if I do not get back on track somehow, when will I?

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My husband just had his surgery June 20th. He will be 61 July 5th. He would give anything if at age 40 he had gotten healthy then. We could have probably missed his heart and knee surgery and could maybe be spending our vacation walking on the beach this year. What I am saying is that you need to get your head and heart set on getting healthy. It is a difficult battle to go thru but well worth it. Making your mind up now will save you many health problems later.

My husband was told by a nurse in the hospital that he just added 20 years to his life.

Good luck and keep talking to everyone on this website.. That is what I intend to do as I help my husband thru this..

I have never done the pouch test but know that some people on here have and could give you more insight.

My suggestion? Go back to basics. Have you talked to your NUT about your challenges and your goals?

Are you tracking your food,

Are you drinking at least 64 oz of Fluid a day?

Are you not drinking with your meals?

Are you avoiding carbonation?

What is your Protein target? Are you tracking that target every day?

Are you avoiding added sugars (especially high fructose corn syrup), starches, and fried foods?

Are you taking your Vitamins and supplements as instructed?

Are you exercising?

Whether or not you do the 5 day pouch test, it seems to me that it isn't too late to get back on track. It may be difficult and more of a mental than physical challenge, but you can do it.

I also highly recommend that you talk with a therapist and attend support group meetings. You may also want to consider attending sone OA meetings (OA.org).

Keep us posted on how you are doing.

Embrace the Stall

http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

http://5daypouchtest.com/index.html

This is the link to the pouch test. I am actually on day 2. First two days liquids, third day soft foods, fourth day semi soft, fifth day normal food for a bariatric patient.

I am five months post opt and i am at a stall because i have slipped in some unhealthy food choices and want to get myself back on track. I will let you know how it goes.

I have heard the pouch test can be very successful but only if the person doing it is in a position to change their lifestyle ahead of time.

The pouch will help you with restriction but you have to go back to basics and follow the plan as if you had surgery 5 days ago. If you don't, it will be a temporary fix again and you might lose some weight but in the long term it will come back. You have to remember the pouch is the tool that will help you but it is 100% up to you to ensure that what you put in your mouth is within your plan.

As I am sure you know, the older you get the harder it will be to take that weight off again.

That being said, I would suggest talking to your nutritionist and a therapist to help you get back to basics and stay there. We are forever in that obese category, even if we have lost all of our weight. Obesity is a metabolic disease and requires treatment every day.

I might also suggest you have a Bariatric lab panel pulled so you can see where the deficits are in your nutrition. I am guessing if you aren't following the food plan, you likely have not been following the Vitamins and Protein plan either. These things determine you long term health.

I wish you the best of luck and really hope that your are able to get back on track soon. Please keep us posted.