Rogofulm

Hey @@Olarance75 – Congrats on muscling the weight back down! I figure that's going to be the story for the rest of our lives. But you caught it and did something about it before it got completely out of control, and that's really admirable! Do you feel that your restriction has returned to help you for a while?

Thanks very much for this post, @kulita! Since you've researched this, I have a follow-up question... What about non-carb soft foods like yogurt and guacamole? Do they also have the slider effect even though they are protein-based?

Update: The restriction from the 5-day pouch test appears to still be working. I can't hold as much food as I could before and I stop eating sooner. I'm not munching as much or as frequently, and I broke the habit of eating fistfuls of peanuts every 20 minutes. The hunger is starting to return, though, but it's easier to keep the beast at bay longer – at least for now. I'm not really losing weight, but I'm also not gaining. Remember on our previous diets how "the last few pounds are the hardest"? Well that's where I live now. And since my honeymoon period is apparently over, my body doesn't ignore calories like it used to. So I still need to figure out where I can cut them without being hungry all the time. Statistically, a 10% bounce is expected from our initial weight loss total. In my case that would be around 12 pounds. But I'm fighting like hell to try and keep that at 3% or less, and then eventually muscle it back down to where I want to remain. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Make good choices!!!

In October, roughly 16 months after my surgery, I had been maintaining within 1 pound either way of my goal weight of 145 for nearly 6 months. At a kid's party, I avoided all the sweets, but ate a bunch of breaded chicken nuggets over two days - and nothing else out of the ordinary. My weight went up by 3 pounds, and I decided to get a handle on it immediately. BUT..... It wasn't so easy this time. For three weeks I tried to knock it back down, doing just what I had been doing before, but my weight wouldn't budge, except to bounce in the 148-149 range. No need to panic, right? Yeah, but 3 can lead to 5, which can lead to 10, and THEN you might have a problem because now it's not coming off as easily as before. that's when I figured out that my "honeymoon" was over, and I'd have to work harder than I did before. So I decided to give the 5-day Pouch Test a try. I followed all the rules of the 5DPT to a tee, and at the end of 5 days my weight was only down about a pound. But I found that my sleeve was getting full sooner and I was staying satisfied longer. Which is exactly what the website promises! And it helped me break some bad habits (tons of peanuts and pistachios) that had crept in. It also reinforced the "no drinking for 30 minutes before or after meals" rule. It's been a little over a week now, and the restriction is still working. My weight is still bouncing around, but it's starting to work it's way back down. This morning I saw 145.9 for the first time in about 6 weeks. One more pound and I'll be happy! I'll keep you posted..... By the way, "Sleeve Reset" and "Bariatric Reset" are much better names than "Pouch Test".

Haven't tried it myself, but I believe this is what people are referring to when they talk about the pouch/sleeve reset. http://www.5daypouchtest.com/index.html

I hated Phentermine. It made me feel jittery and nervous, like I had come to work "high" on something. Also, it worked for most of the day, but the appetite suppressant effect would wear off by evening, and then I would eat like a crazy person.

Hey @@Olarance75, In reading your posts, it strikes me that you may not be getting enough sustenance for your program to remain viable for very long. Looks like you're not getting enough Protein or calories to continue to resist temptation. If necessary, drink another shake (or two). Keep the Water going, try to get your protein above 70 grams, and your calories above 800. And stay away from all starches/sugars. And, as you said in a post, after 3 days you'll be able to resist them more easily. Good luck, we wish you great success!!!!!

Hey @@Olarance75, Way to kick off a truly inspirational topic!!! Reading confessionals from people who have been struggling, but have successfully found a way to get it back under control is the best thing we can hear. And I'm glad to know that the sleeve can, in fact, be reset to its original usefulness. I'm heading into maintenance and this is the best news I could hear.... so thanks!

Nope. Used to love Peeps, but they're not calling this year. Reeces, on the other hand, are echoing faintly in the distance. But very faintly, so I can manage to ignore them.

Don't look back over your shoulder at the heavier person you used to be. Identify with the new, slimmer you in the mirror – that's who you are now. So look forward, towards a healthier future.

Excellent letter, Alex! Thanks for representing us so well!!!

Congrats on making goal! Good luck on the run!

Great job, everybody! Keep it up!!! I'm down 70 pounds in 3 months. Feels great!