Question:
Scrambled egg test...
I did the scrambled egg test this morning. First, I must say that I only like to eat eggs on MY terms...meaning, I have to be in the mood for them. I was not in the mood for them this morning, but wanted to do this test. Second, I should say that I am 13 months postop and down 170 pounds. I made 3 eggs scrambled and when measured it was 1 cup. I ate all of them in the span of about 15 minutes. I did have to stop after 10 minutes and wait a minute or two before finishing them. I am not stuffed, but do not feel hungry either. Is this normal? Also, within 5 minutes of finishing them, I was in the bathroom with diarrhea. What are your thoughts there? I had my gallbladder out in March and I know things tend to "run through" people more than they did before gallbladder removal, so I don't know if it is related to the gallbladder removal, or the fact that my pouch couldn't tolerate that many eggs. I remember when I was 2 months postop and could not even finished ONE scrambled egg. I probably could eat something else right now if I wanted to, even after having eaten 3 scrambled eggs, but now after having eaten them I feel sick--like they are stuck in my throat. Not the same kind of sick I used to feel right after postop, but still sick nonetheless. And it has been my experience that when I have diarrhea, i.e. "dump", I seem to be ready to eat again right away. Is that normal? I'm just so afraid I've stretched out my pouch. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks. — ALafferty (posted on August 26, 2008)
August 26, 2008
I have read that people with the pouch are not only sensitive to sugars but
also to fats. Eggs have fat. Also, I believe the volume of eggs might
have been an issue even though you measured them. If you still have one,
it might be time to consult a nutritionist.
— cydthekid50
August 26, 2008
You were pushing through the eggs and that is the reason you feel like they
are in your throut. The real amount of eggs you ate without the air is
what the three eggs measured before you cooked them and that was less than
1/2 cup. I will give you the information here for the 5 day pouch test, if
you want to try to get back to the right after surgery feeling on your
pouch and slow down the amount you can eat confortably.
5-day Pouch Test
5-day Pouch Test I beleive was developed by a WLS patient by the name Kate
Bailey and used to determine if her pouch was working and go back to that
tight newbie feeling we all had right after surgery. As 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? Here we go!
Days One & Two: Liquid Protein
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.
If you notice symptoms of carbohydrate withdrawal you can eat a small piece
of melon or an orange. You can also try a dose of Emergen-C which should
reduce headache, dizziness or cramping from carbohydrate withdrawal.
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.
Day 3: Soft Protein
Protein Recommendations: canned fish (tuna or salmon) mixed with lemon and
seasoned with salt and pepper, eggs cooked as desired seasoned with salt
pepper and/or salsa, fresh soft fish (tilapia, sole, orange roughy), baked
or grilled, and lightly seasoned. 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 bit of 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 stomach.
Day 4: Firm Protein
Protein Recommendations: ground meat (beef, turkey, lamb) cooked dry and
lightly seasoned, shellfish, scallops, lobster steamed and seasoned only
with lemon, salmon or halibut steaks, grilled and lightly seasoned. 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 do not 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 do not get
uncomfortable, but this allows me to consume more than I should.
Rediscovering the pouch with this 5-day plan reminds us of how the tool
really works. Hope by now you are rediscovering your tool and enjoying the
hope and excitement because your pouch still works.
A word about constipation: A shift to high protein diet often results in
constipation. To relieve this you may try adding a fibrous fruit snack to
your morning and a fibrous vegetable snack in the afternoon. Fruit
suggestions are apples, berries, apricots, cantaloupe or oranges. For
vegetables try leafy greens, zucchini, cucumbers, spinach, summer squash or
string beans.
Day 5: Solid Protein
Protein Recommendations: white meat poultry cooked dry and lightly
seasoned, beef steak (if tolerated) grilled or broiled. 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 will 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.
— William (Bill) wmil
August 26, 2008
I think the fat in eggs is what got to you...Fat gets dumped like sugar for
many of us. Unfortunately though your body grabs on andholds the calories
though! So eating lean is a double benefit! After the honeymoon period
it's easy to continue eating beyond your limit. The trick is to NOT do
that! If you aren't gaining weight, don't worry so much...Just keep track
of what you eat. Now might be a good time to start weighing your portions
so you know that you don't "need" more and it's just head hunger.
Keeping a food journal also helps keep you in line. If you know what your
eating habits are...you will see where you can cut back if you need
to...It's often just a few hundred calories to tweak your diet and stay in
a good maintenance place. When I eat from a bag or box...I always measure
one serving and put in a bowl or plate and put the box away...If I took the
box with me and ate out of it...I have NO control. I don't know where to
stop...Taking one serving often proves to be a PERFECT amount and I know
how many calories are in whatever i just ate.These are good habits that
keep the bad ones in check! Don't eat til you are full...but pay close
attention to when you are satisfied or no longer hungry...After your 30 or
more mintes pass...drink a large water or SF drink and you'll be quite
content...If not just pour another water or have a small fruit or salad
with Low cal dressing...Salad Spritzers are WONDERFUL for 1-2 calories a
spray! I was quite surprized that a low cal spray could pack all that
flavor! AMAZING! Good stuff! I love Ken's Lite dressing's too...Lite
Asian is sooooo good...as well as the lite Balsamic...
— .Anita R.
August 26, 2008
Thanks to those who answered. Bill--thank you for your lengthy response;
hoewver, I feel it was in vain since I read the "day 1" pouch
test. I will NOT under ANY circumstances drink protein shakes!!!!! I HATE
THEM! I did not even really drink them immediately postop. I think they
are the most DISGUSTING thing ever invented!!!! I was torn about doing the
scrambled egg and/or cottage cheese test too because I really do not care
for either of these either! I wish there was another way to do these tests
with some more appealing foods and/or drinks. Thanks again for the
replies!!
— ALafferty
August 26, 2008
Anya, I know you say that you hate protein shakes and I do not want to
waste your time if you're not willing to try ... But I have a suggestion
... I am not a fan of protein shakes, either. I like Muscle Milk, but only
the pre-mixed shakes and they're too expensive. The other day a friend
suggested that I try almond milk instead of soy (I don't like soy, for one
thing, and the other problem is that it's apparently very chemically
altered and not always very good for you). So I bought the almond milk and
a canister of Designer Whey chocolate protein powder (only $11.99 at Trader
Joe's) ... I *love* this combination! It tastes incredible with the almond
milk. My only suggestion is to add about an extra ounce of the almond milk
- it thins out the shake a bit and makes the consistency a little easier to
get down.
— lauren_marie
August 27, 2008
I do the cottage cheese test. It was created by Dr. Latham Flanagan. He was
also my surgeon, so I have the test and how to do it, if your interested,
let me know.
With the cottage cheese test, your only eating for the first 5 minutes.
Anymore time than that and your already digesting the food, and it's not an
accurate result.
— Pamela C.
August 27, 2008
Regular eggs make me sick too. I use Egg Beaters and they go down much
easier without the after effects of nausea. I also eat a piece of dry toast
with mine. I am 4 months post-op & I can hold one single serving
container of Egg Beaters, which is suppose to be equal to 2 eggs.
I had my gall bladder removed several years ago and I had diarrhea
constantly for many, many months. It now comes & goes but this is a
common issue with the removal of the gall bladder. Good Luck!
— AprilJM
August 28, 2008
All of the food based "tests" are notoriously inaccurate and
largely useless. If your pouch is stretched, then you would need to
practice greater portion control or have it surgically repaired-- but only
an endoscope could really determine that. If your pouch is not stretched,
then testing its limits doesn't serve any purpose either, particularly
because given your great results you are obviously following your program
and practicing remarkable portion control and wise food choices. As for
your concern about the "test" stretching your pouch, it is almost
impossible that one experience as you describe could cause stretching,
especially after more than one year after surgery. The best advice I'd
give is to forget about testing your pouch and see your surgeon if you have
symptoms to suggest that it might be stretched.
— SteveColarossi
August 28, 2008
I'm a little over 2 yr. out from RNY surgery. I can eat most any of the
foods I've always liked (in MODERATION now, of course) except scrambled
eggs. For some reason, I will experience the dumping syndrome soon after
eating scrambled eggs. Other egg preparations are OK but scrambled is O-U-T
for me. Just one of those things. I can live on happily without scrambled
eggs in my life anyway. BTW, "taking a dump" (diarrhea) is not
the same thing as "dumping" that gastric bypass people
experience.
— [Deactivated Member]
August 31, 2008
Had my gallbladder out too, can't handle much fat, and 3 eggs is a lot of
fat. The gallbladder stores bile, then when we eat fat it releases bile to
digest the fat. without the gallbladder, the bile has lost it's regulator,
and we have a limited amount available at any time, so we can only handle
limited fat at a time. and it doesn't matter whether it's "good"
fat or "bad" fat, fat is fat and too much of it gives me diarrhea
- sometimes not until the next morning which makes it fun trying to get to
work on time.
— Susan C.
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