I need help

I had surgery 1/13/05 I lost 142 I gained back 25+/- [fluctuates constantly] I drink Diet Pepsi Max like ALL day.  I'm very very ashamed about my water intake [+/- 20 oz in a day] I don't exercise because I simply do not have time (at the moment)....[I'm working on that] Can the carbonation be expanding my pouch?? Any advice? Oh yeah, and I still dump MAJORLY (on almost every meal)....

The soda most likely goes straight through the pouch and into your intestines. However, soda has tons of sodium and can cause you to retain lots of water causing at least some of that constant fluctuation to which you are referring.  Also the aspartame in diet soda metabolizes to formaldehyde in your body, can stimulate your hunger, and can cause headaches, etc.   It's not the best thing to be drinking all day.  Have you tried sipping tea or even a couple of nonfat lattes per day might be better since they at least give you protein and calcium and which can help with weight loss.  If you watch any tv, you might try getting some 3-5 weights and doing some exercise while you're watching tv or even just during commercials.  Anything is better than nothing.  Quite honestly, I find it impossible to keep the weight off without exercise because my metabolism slows and then I have to reduce my calories to an unreasonable level.  Oh another thought, the carbonation may be irritating your bowels making you dump.  Another reason to cut back.  

As long as you are getting liquids, don't stress too much abou****er.  But it may help you stay fuller between meals.  You've been doing the same thing with diet coke which is not healthy.  Use tea or other iiquids instead.

I hate to tell you, but you're going to have to make some changes.  The pouch by itself isn't going to keep the weight off this far out!

 

I wish you the very best. 

 

It's good that your tool still makes you dump this far out really.  It helps you know what you shouldn't be eating.  Most of us have already lost this.  I hope some of the long term post ops have things to offer you.  I don't know about the carbonation because it seems like surgeons disagree on this.  Mine said no, so I never have more than a couple sips.  Plus, it feels icky in the pouch for me.  I would think though, that Pepsi Max has extra caffine in it and you aren't drinking enough water already.  This is not healthy for sure.  I wish you luck for sure, and 25 isn't so bad all things considered.  You can get it off!

I wouldn't worry about the carbonation as much as the caffeine  It dehydrates you, so you need more water to make up for it.  Stop drinking the Max and try to cut back on the Pepsi as much as you can.  Watch out for the headaches though, caffeine withdrawal is the worst!  Michele

Congratulations on losing 142 pounds! You obviously worked really hard to do that. I was wondering what sorts of things you did during the time that you were losing that weight that you might not be doing now? In the post-operative group I do with bariatric patients, they talk about how much "easier" it is during the first year because the weight "just falls off", even if they don't follow the guidelines for eating and exercise as they were instructed to do. The danger in that, of course, is that they don't develop the good habits they need after the weight stops "falling off". It sounds like you were probably exercising in the past. Frustrating as it may be, there is no way to get around exercising if you want to sustain your weight loss and especially if you want to lose more. It might be a good idea to schedule a "check-up" session with your nutritionist to get a review of the things that you need to be eating and drinking so you aren't bothered with constant dumping. That can't be fun!  You know all of this, I realize. Sometimes it just helps to hear it from someone else. I can almost hear you sharing this same advice with others who have had surgery. So start doing what you did right after the surgery that led to your losing 142 pounds. That's awesome!

Thank you all SO MUCH for your responses! I am FIRST and FOREMOST cutting out ALL carbonation. I've received many replies (from various forums) that carbonation stretches the pouch, causing me to feel this "hungry" feeling (even if I'm not hungry). Second, I'm going to UP my protein and water (thanks Connie for the upbeat compliments) and STOP drinking while I'm eating. Many have shown me the website for the five day pouch test. I will try this next Tuesday (the day after my birthday, lol, so I can eat cake) Wish me luck I will post my progression in my profile once I figure out how.

I think it's a good idea to cut out your carbonated drinks. My friend has a little girl, and bless her heart, she's about as big around as she is tall, and her pediatrician told her if she'd cut out her diet Cokes she would lose at least 15 pounds in a year just from that. When my son was little, he did a science project and put baby teeth in whisky and Coke. The one in Coke completely disappeared, I mean the Coke just ate it. It makes you wonder what it does to your fragile insides. I bet you'll find giving up your carbonated drinks will help you a lot.

I am 6 + years out and the one rule I didn' brake was the no carbination and believe me, at first it was so hard because I lived for my soda. Now I drink a sugerfree cherry mocha EVERY day.  when I was doing poorly,  I was drinking 2 a day, but now I am back to 1 (24 ounce with 4 shots of esspresso)  This is my treat.   I really love the low carb Fuze drinks and Sobe makes some good ones also.  I had to change my thinking about soda and replace it with other things.  I am back on track for the last 2 weeks and already see a huge improvement.  My bariatric clinic still sees me as one of the successful patients and that makes me feel good.  It reminds me that when things arent where they should be,  What am I doing to cause that.  I am in control today and I am so thankful that I have this tool.  I just need to remember to use it.  I did the 5dpt last week and it really helped me.  This is a great place for support.  Good luck