1 Year post op and need suggestions....

Heya All,    I was one year out on Aug. 15th and have found that I have plateau'd now badly at 192 pounds down.  For the normal person this would be a huge accomplishment of its own, but I started out at 613 pounds, so I still have a minimum of 200 that I want to lose yet.  I'm finding that it is getting easier for me to eat more food, and more types of food without it effecting me.  Someone in chat told me to check out a Pouch test and I was wondering what it is that I need to do.  Any info would be greatly appreciated as I'm at a loss.  I've started keeping track of what I'm eating and trying to not eat as much. Sincerely, Steve Deitch (aka freebird086)

Hi Steve, Go to_ 5daypouchtest and read about it. The directions are pretty clear. Be sure and stock up on the liquids before you begin. Plan on your soft protein's for your third and fourth day. The test is to clense your system of carbs and sugars, and reset your pouch. Plan on doing it when nothing else is really going on in your life. Like maybe you wouldn't want to start it on a weekend. I did it last week. I started on a Monday. You might ask if anyone else on the site is doing it and ask them to be your 5 day pouch buddy, and encourage one another.

Good Luck

Tena

First of all congratulations on your weight loss so far. You might have a ways to go to your goal but in one year you have done fantastic. Check out the pouch test if you want and then if you are not already, start tracking your intake online at a site called spark people.com or another such site. You will be able to better ealuate where you may need to make changes. Sticking with the basics still in the long term will give you the best success, protien first , not drinking with meals ect. It is normal to be able to eat more at one year out.  Check in frequently when you need support. You will find lots of support and information here on the wls graduates board. Take care Sher

Hi, Steve!  Congrats on your 192 pounds loss - that's a lot of weight to lose in just over a year.  It's not usual to hit plateaus or stalls along the way; it's our bodies way of pausing to ask "hey, what's going on here????"   I think you're on the right track with keeping track of what you eat and continuing to work on portion control.  I've been tracking my daily food intake, daily weight, and daily exercise for about 18 months now.  That information is really helpful when I stall because I can go back and look at what I've been doing, then make informed decisions about what to change.  I usually discover that I've let too many carbs creep back into my daily food intake, and that I haven't been exercising as much!  I also continue to measure what I eat most of the time; I've got a tendency to underestimate portions, so measuring things helps keep me accountable.   You may need to shake things up a bit to start losing again; I've had to do that several times.  Sometimes I'll drop my carbs back by about 30-40%, sometimes I bump up my exercise, sometimes I increase my fluids by 32-64 oz. per day, sometimes I do a combination of things.  The pouch test can help you detox from carbs and get you back on track.   Good luck with whatever you choose to do, and may you be blessed on your journey -  Kellie Lap RNY 10/25/2005 396/197/165? 

Hi Steve, keep coming to this board, and get support.  I have basically not lost anything for over a year, in fact I have put on 10lbs, so since finding this wls grad board, I feel there are others who are in a similar situation to me and just coming here every day has made me much more consious of my food choices.  I too have started to keep track of what I am eating.  My next step is going to be planning the day ahead what I can eat and sticking to that.  Its all difficult, but you have had an amazing first year, well done. hugs, Helen