Fell off the wagon...Year and 9 months out!

Hey guys!

It's been a while since I've been on here...I noticed that I've been letting bad eating habits come back in to my life and it scares me. I've gained about 8 lbs and I'm not going to let it go any further than that. I need to get back on track and start over. Has anyone tried the 5 Day pouch diet? I've been wondering how that works.

Also, I noticed that I have lost a lot more of my weight in the top half of my body rather than the bottom. Any suggestions for that? I just started going back to the gym and would love some pointers on which machines I could use to help me out with that.

Thanks!!!
Christy

I was suppose to have Dr. Rumsey for my surgeon but he had a heart attack and I had Dr. Taller.  An 8 lb gain isnt that much, did you ever hit goal weight?  I have read about the 5 day pouch test, you may get some people *****ally dislike that program.  Go to the top of the page and search by putting in pouch test and you will see previous threads.  Good luck to you.

HI! I know 8 lbs really isn't that much, but I don't want to see it go any high you know? I haven't hit goal weight yet, I still have 48 lbs to go...My goal was to have lost that by Jan 2012, but that's coming up pretty quick..I better get going lol

The Five Day Pouch test is only designed as a way to "de-carb" from refined carbs.
If you think you might need to use it, only do the Five days; it is NOT a diet.

Do Search the term, look at the outline. If you decide not to
do it, try incorporating two or three protein shakes into your food intake in place of
meals or snacks, then do the protein first routine we all know and love.

Definitely get all the white foods (rice, pasta, potatoes, bread)
out of your house. If it's in the cupboard, it's all too easy to get out and get into.

Best wishes,

How about just cutting out the carbs, making sure you get all your protein and water in, and logging your food to highlight any trouble spots?  That would be much better for you in the long run than going on a "diet,"  which as you know ENDS (or you stop following it) and you may go back to your old ways.  So get on the bandwagon by getting back to healthy eating for life!

And it's great you are going to the gym!  Good luck getting your body to pay attention to "take the weight off down there first" -- bodies are notorious for changing where we don't need it the most!

Congratulations on catching it quickly!  Getting back to the gym is a sure-fire way to get that fat burning again.  As far as concentrating on a certain body part.....don't worry about that.  Get lots of cardio so you are burning lots of calories which will reduce fat.  Most people lose in a "pattern"....I too lost from head to toe.  Literally the last thing to go was my calves.

Find exercises you like and STICK WITH IT.  Mix cardio and weight training.  And just enjoy the process.  Your body will slowly begin to change then BAM! you will notice all over great results!!

I'm not a fan of "fad" diets, and I consider the 5 day pouch test a fad diet.  (Hold on Haters!!)  However, for some it does seem to "reset" their mind and get them back on track and it isn't necessarily going to destroy you because it is only 5 days.....so if you think it will push the reset button-give it a try.

More importantly, try to find balance in your everyday life.  If you are addicted to food (and MANY people throw around the word addicted....when not everyone that is obese has a food addiction) you will always have addiction and will likely have to completely eliminate some things forever.  But, if you just got off track by indulging in too many snacks and treats, try to limit these to a couple times a week.  If you are hungry, try a few grapes or some warm tea--and make sure you really are eating enough each day and often enough so that you do not feel hungry.  Many people out as far as you are still try to live on 700 calories per day and that is not healthy nor is it realistic.

Once I removed the stigma of "bad" from food, it really isn't all that tempting.  If I want a cookie or two, I have them-and that is enough.  Just knowing I can have it if I want it is enough sometimes.  If I eat too many treats, I run more.  Regular exercise really does forgive a lot of sins!!

I don't think you would need to try a pouch diet or test to get back on track.  Just track what you are eating, cut out everything that's creeped back in and go back to basics for a while.  Are you counting calories or tracking food right now?  Do you know what you are taking in?

Pull out all the rules you followed immediately post op, and use them again.  Protein first, plenty of fluids, plenty of protein, no sugars or high fat foods.  All you need is to pull yourself back on track.  You got this.

As far as targeting lower body, you can do some lower body exercises at the gym, but that will just help with firmness and building muscle.  Your body will lost fat from where ever it wants - we can't really target where our weight loss occurs in that way, just what shape the muscles are in under it.