[Kaye]

Here is the answer from our FAQ's regarding what to do after the 5 Day Pouch Test.

Please discuss your plans for re-entry after doing the 5DPT.

What happens after the 5 days?

After the 5 Day Pouch Test is when things get exciting. Having successfully broken a carb-cycle, regained a feeling of control over the surgical gastric pouch and possibly losing a few pounds one is ready for re-entry into a compliant way of eating. This means focusing on protein rich meals, observing the liquid restrictions and avoiding starches, particularly processed carbohydrates and slider foods. Three meals a day should be two-thirds protein, one third healthy carbohydrate in the form of low-glycemic vegetables and fruits. Consumption of whole grains is not forbidden, but should be limited to one serving a day.

If necessary between meal snacks should be protein dense. Natural food protein is great including hard-cooked eggs, lean low-sodium deli meats, and limited servings of nuts or low-fat cheese. In addition, protein bars or beverages may be used for between meal supplementation.

Patients should drink at least 64 ounces of water a day and take their prescribed supplemental vitamins. Caffeinated beverages should be limited to one or two a day and carbonated drinks are discouraged. Alcoholic beverages should be limited to one per day or less.

Patients should commit to this way of eating for their lifetime.

[Kaye]

Ok - Lot's of you have done the 5 Day Pouch Test. So how is re-entry to a WLS way of eating going for you? Are you able to step away from the carbs? What are you bringing with you from your 5DPT experience?

[Gretchen]

Kaye and all,

I have followed the plan for "Day 6" for about a month now.
It has totally changed my life (and I'm not kidding). I feel
motivated, like right after surgery. I am losing weight rapidly.
I am exercising daily and following the 4 Rules. In addition,
for me I have cut out almost all carbs - except for vegetables.
Protein and vegetables - that's my plan. I am SO GRATEFUL to
be back on the losing track again.

Thank you, Kaye!
And thanks to a bunch of neighbors, too!

[Kaye]

Gretchen - Great job! How close is this way of eating to the instructions your center provided you?

[Gretchen]

Kaye,

I was in the first "wave" of WLS to be performed by my surgeon.
We all drank liquid Isopure and were given a hand out on diet after surgery which basically said protein first, everything else last. It was very "simple" back then.
There is much more info out there now.

[Regina]

OK... I did the 5day pouch test. I must say my carb addiction really had me craving something cruchy and salty on the last two days. I DID cheat with a few peanuts! Still... I am down 8lbs since Sunday! I am thrilled. I still don't feel that I have successfully broken the carb (monster!) cycle and am considering doing the 5day plan again next week in order to get a better handle on my eating and get an even better sense of control. I did find it difficult at times. The first two days weren't as hard as the last 3 ... go figure! My old habits are obviously back and I need to curb them before I get to the point of gaining so much that I sabotage all the hard work I have done over the last 2 years. I didn't feel that sense of tightness and fullness to the extent I expected to. Another reason to re-do. Another 5 days won't hurt me.

Any advice on anything I should do differently next go round anyone?

[GLITTER]

*I'm on my fourth day of the 5 day pouch test and I still can't say I've tamed the carb monster either. I only had 5 lbs. I wanted to get rid of, and I managed to get rid of 6 but I can't afford to lose any more; my goal is surpassed, but that monster feels like he's tonting me. Now I guess it's just fight the monster by maintaining a stict regiment. Always keep the rules in mind and in play. Protein protein protein. I could use some help too.
Glitter

[Trish54]

I am just completing my 5th day and I can honestly say that my carb crave is gone. With eating clean, I am filling up much faster than with the slider foods and other garbage that I had been ingesting. I am excited to get on with the day 6 rules. I haven't weighed yet. I will do that in the morning.

I have learned that I need to be careful about where I eat and what I am doing at the time. If I am watching TV or reading, than I don't pay attention to what I am doing and the next thing I know, I have had one or two may bites and I am overfull. So the suggestion that you sit down at the table and leave the TV off can be relevent.

I even try not to have to much of a conversation with whoever is eating with me. I try to listen and not talk. When I am talking too much, I don't chew properly. As soon as you go to answer, whatever you have in your mouth gets swallowed, regardless of whether it is completely chewed or not. You know you can't talk with food in your mouth. It is just a natural action. So I've become a good listener. You wouldn't know that from the length of this post. I type more that I talk.

[Kaye]

I even try not to have to much of a conversation with whoever is eating with me. I try to listen and not talk. When I am talking too much, I don't chew properly. As soon as you go to answer, whatever you have in your mouth gets swallowed, regardless of whether it is completely chewed or not. You know you can't talk with food in your mouth. It is just a natural action. So I've become a good listener. You wouldn't know that from the length of this post. I type more that I talk.

I think this is a great point. Cody, Judy and I talked about this when we met in August. We each sipped a beverage with our meals and concluded the reason for this is conversation is very difficult when following the liquid restrictions - the mouth gets too dry to speak comfortably. So your point about listening is quite valid and I'm glad you mentioned it. I will pay better attention to my dinner conversation habits as well.

and btw - you can never post or type too much in the 'Hood! we have lots of listeners and chatterboxes - welcome aboard!

[anewme1307]

I am new to the site. I am starting day 1 in the morning. I saw on here that someone is doing day 6. What is that and where do I find the information so I can be in that mode for a while after I compklete day 5.

[Kaye]

Hello Amber Marie -- Welcome to the Neighborhood!

Basically Days 6, 7, 8, 56, 95, 123, 3,400, etc. are Day 5 of the plan. In other words you eat protein first, you follow liquid restrictions and you exercise. Remember the 2 Bite-1 Bite rhythm (2 bites protein, 1 bite veggies) to ensure you get the correct protein intake with a good balance of healthy carbohydrate. Follow this plan for most days for the rest of your life. Yes, there will be slip-ups, but they won't be show-ups if a slip-up is one meal, not every meal. When you feel you've lost control with snacking or slider foods do the 5DPT again -- you still have the tool and you can work your WLS.

Hope this helps!

K.

Check the 5DPT Blog for helpful tips, updates and links.

[Kaye]

Bumping!

Here is some good info for the newbies to the 5DPT.

You 5DPT veterans -- please add your knowledge to this so we can all learn to work the tool better and better!

[valmommyt]

So, ok, not to sound stupid but... you mean I can't eat fruit ever again?? I mean, I eat half an apple during lunch frequently, I don't want to give up my fruit! I sound whiny, don't I? I better go grab another protein drink and see if it helps!!! I'm on Day 2, and I have a headache, but I figure that's to be expected as the toxins work their way out, right?

[toris]

Val, the headache is the carb monster. Eat a half apple and it will go away. You don't have to give up fruit altogether. On Day 6, you can work it in (but the vast majority of your diet should be protein and complex carbs). It's just a matter of sticking to what is going to give you the most nutrition in the least amount of food. As an example, instead of/or in addition to veggies (as long as it's not more than 1/3 of your meal), you could have sliced apple with a pork chop (the apple could count as your complex carbs) for dinner.

Once you are on maintainance and not trying to lose anymore, you could work in a little more fruit (but still heed the rules). The goal for now is to lose! And to do that, we often have to make sacrafices. (blah, blah, blah)

Hang in there!

[jorie]

Now that I have read everyone's success I can't wait to get started in the morning. This sounds exactly like what I need. I had my WLS 9/06, 250lbs to 159, size 22 to size 8,BMI is still at 27, my goal is 128#'s and BMI of 21. I haven't lost or gain in exactly 12 months. I work out everyday. Couldn't figure out what I am doing wrong, never heard of "slider food" before. I now know exactly what I am doing. Can't wait to jump start my weight loss, take control again, clean myself of the carb monster and begin using my new tool in the correct way. Thank you so much for this website.

[tammy8yrs]

Now that I have read everyone's success I can't wait to get started in the morning. This sounds exactly like what I need. I had my WLS 9/06, 250lbs to 159, size 22 to size 8,BMI is still at 27, my goal is 128#'s and BMI of 21. I haven't lost or gain in exactly 12 months. I work out everyday. Couldn't figure out what I am doing wrong, never heard of "slider food" before. I now know exactly what I am doing. Can't wait to jump start my weight loss, take control again, clean myself of the carb monster and begin using my new tool in the correct way. Thank you so much for this website.

Hi my name is Tammy and I am new to this site as of today. Thank God for this forum,its nice to know I'm not alone. I will probably start tomorrow on the PDT I need to get some new protein powder considering I'm 8 years out I ran out a long time ago. I do have a question though about the protein shakes. They used to make me very sick to my stomach about 3years ago,not sure if it was the lactose or the protein. Anyway, I'm glad to have found this site I'll definately be back.

[karen2]

Hi Kaye and everyone,

I really need guidance with day 6 and beyond.

I'm on day 3 and so far, so good.

I don't think I ever got into a 3 meal a day food plan. I ate about every 2-3 hours, all protein & good carbs, but I never got that feeling of satiety and always wondered why I could eat so much! It wasn't till this weekend that I went hog-wild, which I suppose was the "last meal" before the 5dpt thing.

ANYHOO, can you experienced day 6'ers please post some nutritious, clean, day 6 menus that I can stick to? A day or 2 of "what I eat" would be great! Also, when you say 3 meals, are there any protein shakes allowed? I have a commute home from NYC to Long Island, so that time between lunch & dinner can be awfully long!

MANY thanks

[toris]

WHAT I EAT ON DAY 6. Here's a sample for ya:

8:00 - Coffee w/SF creamer
10:00 - scrambled egg w/1 TBSP shredded cheese and 1-2 TBSP fresh salsa
12:00 (option 1) - 4 oz protein (fish, chicken, hamburger patty, etc.) + sliced tomato (probably 1/2 of a large)
12:00 (option 2) - 2 slices deli ham, 1 string cheese (easy when I'm on the run)
3:00 - SF pudding
6:00 - 4 oz protein (fish, chicken, etc.) + side of brocolli (or green beans) and sliced tomato
8:00 - SF pudding

**Sometimes I add in 1-2 "Peanut Butter Protein Balls" for extra calories and protein. Even then, very rarely does my calorie intake go over 1000. I try not to do them too often because they tend to make me not poop (sorry TMI).

Peanut butter protein balls is basically 2 cups of peanut butter, 1 cup of dry milk (nonfat), 1 cup of vanilla protein powder and 8 packets splenda. Makes about 36 balls with 9g protein each.

[karen2]

Thank you, Toris.

[Gretchen]

Hi -
I eat very much like Toris, except that I can't do SF pudding. If I need a snack (only when I stay up late), I eat
SF Jello. And I am so lazy, that I buy the ready-made kind (also it keeps longer). Toris and I follow the plan for Day 6 AS WRITTEN. I believe that is why we have been so successful. I'm sure there are others of you out there following the plan - but we two have been the most vocal about it! Toris
This way of eating has been a wonderful change for me.