Question:
Having a pouch the sizes 8 oz. at 3 yrs postup GOOD / BAD????
I know my pouch size is 8 oz. because I have done the cottage cheese test. I just need to know if this is a appropriate size for three years postop. I have had a gain this past winter and I know it's because of grazing, carbohydrates, and refined sugar. I have been trying to do better. Thank,s for you help. — charanewme (posted on February 2, 2005)
February 2, 2005
I seem to recall that the study that inspired the "Pouch Rules for
Dummies" found that long-term post-ops had pouch capacities ranging
from 6 to 10 oz. If that's true, I assume that an 8 oz. capacity is not
unusual. But personally, I don't think much of the cottage-cheese test;
it's imprecise, and cottage cheese has a lot of liquid in it; betcha you
couldn't eat 8 oz. of grilled chicken in a single sitting, and that you
could eat more than 8 oz. of soup or a thin chili. It's all
relative.<P>The "Pouch Rules" study also found that
long-term success in weight maintenance was a function of *what* people
were eating, not pouch size -- at least, not within the typical
6-to-10-capacity range. In other words, some folks with 10-oz. pouches did
better than those with 6 oz. pouches because they ate better
foods.<P>I'm right behind you, at 2 1/2 year post-op. For me, when
I gain, sugar's always the culprit. If you don't dump (I never have),
neither the restrictive nor malabsorption aspects of the RNY really work
against the sugar demon, or junky carbohydrates that "slide" down
easy and are easy to "graze" on without getting too full.
Cookies, crackers, candies, etc. are not very filling compared to dense
protein foods, and while we malabsorb fat, we don't malabsorb sugars or
junky carbs (some of those, we begin absorbing in the mouth, before they
even hit the digestive tract -- ugh). Therefore, I try to remind myself
that I am still physically like a "pre-op" where foods like that,
especially sugars, are concerned. If it's more than a little bit of sugar,
it's just "obesity in a bag" to me.<P>I wish you luck in
getting back on track. I find protein shakes, and dense protein foods,
very helpful in this battle.
— Suzy C.
February 2, 2005
I agree w/ Suzy the pouch test is not exact nor a good indicator. I am 16
months post op and I do not eat anymore than when I was first able to go on
solid foods. Yes I can eat 8 oz of soup, 8 oz of chicken I would be ill
after eating a 2 oz! I also stick to high protein and drinking lots of
water that is the key to my sucess. I have not had any sugar or refined
foods since the night before I had surgery...that is another key for me to
sucess at this. I do "dump"...I found that out by drinking some
diluted orange juice about three months after surgery, and I malasorb it
seems just about everything I eat.
My advise to you, is just get back to basics as far as eating, increase
exercise...the grazing, carbs and refined sugar are death to weight loss.
Good luck!
— [Deactivated Member]
February 2, 2005
Hi Charlene,
8 Oz seems to be a good amount. You know what you are doing with grazing
and sugar and carbs so you can get back on track. It's good you recognize
the problem right away before you gain too much. My hope is to be able to
keep on track by getting to basics is I gain a pound or 2. I don't ever
want to be where I started at again that's for sure.
I'd sure be interested in seeing your picture trail. To see your before and
after facelift pictures. My face isn't too bad yet, but my eyelids are
pretty droopy I was thinking if I could afford it I'd look into a
blepharoplasty and my chin is getting saggy too. It makes me look old.
Good luck,
Cathy
— catleth
February 3, 2005
Like the others said it comes down to what the food is. I can easily eat 8
oz of boiled shrimp and maybe more. Yet I cannot eat a 1/4 cheesburger
with a full bun and finish it. If I remove 1/2 the bun then I can usually
get it all in, but I am full. If I eat just steak some day 4 oz is plenty
, some days less and some days I can push 6-8 oz, but that's rare. It can
also vary from day to day. I am 2 yrs PO today and I struggle with the bad
eating habits but have been able to keep things reasonably in check by
adjusting when I've gone overboard. Too much sugar/carbs and I cut back to
very high protein for a while and kick up the exercise. I will always eat
sugar and carbs that I know. I just need to keep working on a balance of
them in my life. Some days I can pile away sugar and then there are days
like last Friday where I ate one small piece of chocolate candy and was
already not feeling well and still ate the 2nd one. I had a major dumping
episode and was in a lot of pain for a few hours. Lucky me I was at work
at the time too. I had to lay down in the bathroom for a while to let the
worst of the pains go over. I have no explanation as to why I dumped at
all much less so severely from that small amount of chocolate. Focus on
what you need to do and hang in there. No one said PO life was easy and it
sure ain't for the majority of us.
— zoedogcbr
February 4, 2005
About the cottage cheese test... is there another test besides the cottage
cheese? I can't get cottage cheese anywhere near my lips, let alone
swallow the foul stuff. Anything else you have heard of???
As far as 8 oz, that seems about right. Again, like others have said, 8 oz
of protein and dense foods seem almost impossible. However, our meals
'should' contain 50% protein, veg and then fruit. Varied foods. I can
probably eat 8 oz of food, and maybe 5 -6 oz of meat at one time. After
that, I'd feel it backing up in my throat. I won't eat that much, cause I
hate that awful feeing.
— SpyderS
February 7, 2005
I'm 2.5 years out, and I can eat betweenn 8-10oz. I really have to diet and
watch what I eat now & exercize! But, I feel I still have an advantage
over the way I was before!
— jengrz
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