5 Day Pouch Test begins TOMORROW!!

Ok, so for now, I am going to assume that the only people reading my blog are people who know me (prolly just Stacey and Jeanne, lol) and will assume that you know things about me so I don't go into too much detail.

For instance, I had Gastric Bypass Surgery on November 29, 2004. This of course was THE best thing I have ever done for myself. (Tonka being the 2nd best). I lost 148 lbs and went from a size 20/22 to a size 6 (ok, was barely into a 6, but still....). Anyway, since then, I have fallen into all my old BAD eating habits and have gained quite a bit of weight. It is very common after GBS (Gastric Bypass Surgery)to gain weight. They call it "Bounce Back" weight and it usually occurs after the 1st year. Most people gain about 10-15 lbs. I, on the other hand, have gained quiet a bit more. I am not going to give a number, at least not now. Perhaps as I lose some of it I will say how much, but for now, I will just say that I am back up to a size 14 and am ABSO-F*CKING-LUTELY MISERABLE about it.

There are a million things that I can add to this about how I beat myself up about it on a daily, no scratch that, hourly basis. Or about all the things I've tried up until now to get on track. Or how it's felt having to buy new cloths in larger sizes...several times over now. Or even about how my self-esteem has plummeted and I don't even want to go out. I don't want to see people who knew me when I was much thinner and I don't want to meet new people either. Which for anyone who knows me...this is NOT like me AT ALL. But, I digress....and I said I was NOT going to talk about this stuff. The point of this post (and the even bigger reason that I began to blog) is to talk about what I am going to do about it NOW. I was watching some show on TV many months ago about gaining weight after WLS (Weight Loss Surgery). There isn't a lot of info out there about this phenomenon, nor a lot of support for it. They mentioned a 5 day pouch test and a website (http://www.5daypouchtest.com/). Naturally, I checked it out. I read it and bookmarked it and promptly forgot about it for several months. Actually, no, before I forgot about it, I sent the info to an old friend of mine Tobi, who has also been struggling with weight gain after WLS.

Last nite, I revisited the site. I read the program again, made a shopping list, registered on the site and read the blog and the forums. More importantly, I made a commitment to myself.

I AM STARTING THIS TOMORROW!!

I have several of my protein shakes in the fridge and a bunch of soup in the cabinet (the 1st 2 days are purely liquid). Will try to go food shopping later today (after I take my MUCH needed nap due to only 2-3ish hours of sleep last nite/this morning). Will start on Monday and be done on Friday and then....we'll go from there. Am hoping it works like it says it does. Is suppose to tighten my pouch (my stomach) and make me feel full. Will help me get back on track to the basics of the WLS diet and as a bonus...it triggers weight loss! As much as 10 lbs in 5 days! Can you imagine? 10 lbs!!!??? Thats a whole clothing size! By this time next week I could be back in my size 12's! Not great, compared to my size 6's (which I have resigned myself to never getting back into and need to find a consignment shop for them)...but definitely a FANTASTIC start! I would be THRILLED to bits to be back in my size 10's. That is my goal...and to lose 30 lbs. I am going to create a lil widget to put on my blog to track that weight loss.

Here are some before, after and in between pix of me:

Me at my heaviest, size 22, at Mom & Jon's wedding in Key West, Dec 2001:


Me at my thinnest, size 6, Orlando, NYE 2005:


And me, last nite, size 14:


So there you have it....my plan.....pray for me!

L8R!
Deb