Well this has been an eye opening experience for me. Kids LIVE on candy. They pick at "nutritious foods" until they can get their candy and soda and frappacino mochas... They are nibbling constantly. No wonder they are steadily getting fatter and fatter.

We all know that stuff, but how did I survive?

Well, on day four I cheated with a protein bar. I had to. I was starving. It was either that or a hot dog at the pizza place. I just couldn't do it. For dinner I had stir fry chicken and zucchini and mushrooms. A mushroom got stuck and up came the whole meal. fun. At least it was during the movie and no one noticed my absence.

Here are my totals:
Totals 541 15 15 85

Today was "better" (read: easier)--I had ham and cheese from Subway for bfast. I ate it off the bread as if the bread was a plate instead of food. I just got home and had some beef.

My stomach hurts. I think it may be the ulcer thing again. My lil tummy ain't happy.

Here are my totals as close as I could figure:

Totals 907 61 50 44

I'm not done and will try to get some protein in tonight if I can get my tummy to quiet down. I'm going to take prilosec, get in the sauna and maybe even take a nap.

I don't remember a time in my life when I've been more tired. And I've got another early day tomorrow.

hugs neighbors. sending love. Nancy, I'm thinking of YOU!

<twirlin in my chair> Sandi is home!!!!!!!

Your totals look good...and it sounds like you did really well with temptation and drama everywhere. <I know it gets dramatic with two teenagers alone here!!>

I cant wait to hear more from you...but please rest your tummy and feel better soon!!!

There's no place like home.
There's no place like home.
The weekend is all but here.
Thanks for checking in,

Oh I forgot. I didn't get my usual exercise in, but I DID remember to take my good ol pedometer. I got in over 10K steps both days. I feel pretty good about that!

And Mickee, I do love home, but I'm heading out to San Francisco's Chinese New Year for the weekend. In the middle of a big storm. With more teenagers! I'm an idiot, I know. Need a good night's sleep tonight for sure.

Ok, nighty nite all. Oh wait! Shoot. It's chat tonight, isn't it?

Here is to you Sandi .......hope you feel better soon ...........hugs

You're poor pouch! Give it some love!!! I also don't think that a protein bar is "cheating". I'm no pro on the 5DPT, but I think that it's okay. It's firm, right?

Now, as for this parade in SF. You know that the rain is going to be a bugger, right??? Windy too!

I slept 12 solid hours last night. I laid down right after the chat and never moved until 5 a.m. Wow! I'm getting old, or is it the anemia? I don't know. Woke with a pounder of a headache. Headed straight to my protein shake like a she bear waking from hibernation.

Gotta get repacked for round two. Yeah, I looked at the weather, it looks terrible for a parade. But these little Hmong (Laotian, Vietnamese) girls have never been to San Fran and I'm the gal to show 'em the best of that wicked city. If it's too cold, we'll watch from the windows at Macy's. These same girls happened to be on the trip I just took, and you should have seen their delight at every thing we saw. They actually asked me if they needed to bring linens for the motel. So cute and sweet.

Yes, I want to do a thorough job of reviewing the 5dpt plan on this thread, but it's just going to have to wait for another few days. Next week, I'm traveling on business, and I will have some time to update.

This week, I'm out there living, and being an ambassador of good will. I love this type of task, so I'm in hog heaven.

Thanks for the thumb's up on the protein bar, but... I just don't roll that aways. I think I'll do this 5dpt again next year on my surgiversary but when I have time to myself. I could have done better, I could have done worse, but it's done.

And the weight loss total: 8 pounds. I'm at 139 this morning! Wooo hooo! Now, if I can keep it there for a week on my "regular food" then I'll feel like I have it made in the shade. (this was me looking in the mirror behind the scale this morning)


I made that bold as way of small celebration. I may have to smoke a cigar or something!

Ok, love. later friends!

I think you are doing awesome...we live in the real world and we are surrounded by real temptations...and if one is to be tempted...hopefully there is a healthy choice among them...and there were in your situation..congratulations!!!!


Have fun on your trip

my only regret Sandi is that I cannot make the FONT BIGGER to scream WOOHOO!!!!!!<ahem...okay so I figured out how to AFTER I typed this apparently..lol!>

Those last pesky pounds....poof. It was all your hard work...and I am looking forward to hearing if your eating habits change a little this week as a result of eating less on the 5dpt. You have always talked about eating well, and exercise...I am so happy it is paying off!

Enjoy your day and don't get too wet!

Good job! Now that you're focused, you should be able to keep yourself on track. If you slip one day, throttle back the next. I'm learning - it's easier to avoid the slips than it is to recover from days/months/years! of "letting go."

Yep, this is just the greatest thread! The posts by Sandi and the responses are so REAL! I just get this feeling that I want to be where Sandi is when I get to goal which isn't too long from now. Being so aware and being able to do the 5DPT just to use it as another tool to keep on track speaks volumes to me! Can't wait to read your thoughts later about it all Sandi. Stay dry with the girls and have fun!

Glad that you guys liked the thread! I'll do a big recap as soon as I can. I can say that I totally agree with you about staying on it toris when it's only 5 pounds. I really, really hope that everyone on here battling regain learns this lesson too and never again gets into the more than 5 pound regain!

We should rename it: 5ppp! 5 Pound Pouch Plan!

Judy Petite and I have been harping on that for a long time. And there are others too. That's why once you get to goal weight I believe you should weigh regularly (daily for me, weekly or monthly for others). NO UGLY SURPRISES!!!

OK, I think I was abducted by aliens or something!
I totally missed chat last night. I thought it was just a nap, but now I'm not sure. And, where is Sandi getting these little teenagers she's been hanging out with? What else have I missed out on? And did anyone find out where our missing Darien & the tall hot Alaskan mama are? And, I'm still unsure about those coddled eggs....
I have enjoyed reading this thread and I soooooo agree that we need to stay on top of any weight regain (of course, I'm not even close to being done w/ my loss yet). I plan to watch it closely when I get to goal. I don't want to be a statistic because I gain back a bunch of weight.
Everyone have a great weekend!

I totally missed chat last night. I noticed you werent there...and missed you!


I thought it was just a nap, but now I'm not sure. Time to check outside your house for tracks from alien lifeforms...<grinning>


And, where is Sandi getting these little teenagers she's been hanging out with? I think she abducted them from the bus she was on with all of em...maybe too much candy eating....so she decided to take em to chinese new year and show them proper healthy eating habits?


What else have I missed out on? Hopefully not on life...as you have been busy living yours!


And did anyone find out where our missing Darien & the tall hot Alaskan mama are? I have been worried myself about Darien...I miss her...and OTHM...well, it seems like I haven't seen anything from her in weeks...worried a bit too. Anyone heard from either of them?

And, I'm still unsure about those coddled eggs....I will let you know when I get my coddler cookers....I am VERY picky about my eggs!

I cannot wait til the end of today...enjoy your weekend!!!!!!

Eight pounds? Doesn't that put you below where you wanted to be??? Wowsa...nice to have some flex room!

Sandi, you are one hardcore chick! Only a few pounds to lose and you killed 'em. Now, don't freak out if the scale does a little movement. Okay?

As for SF and a parade in the rain...enjoy it from Macys! I just walked the dogs and the wind was horrible! Storm is a comin' in and it's movin' fast!

ok, here's my recap of the pouch test:

I think that it is a good way to wake yourself up from becoming complacent about your weight loss efforts, as well as your maintenance efforts once you are at goal. If you have lost your way with what "full" feels like for your pouch, and if you have slipped into an eating pattern where you're nibbling cookies and crackers and trail mix and bread all through out the day, the pouch test will really help you get your focus back on how successful eating is supposed to look and feel.

About doing the test over and over: I think that some folks feel a lot safer with a regimented plan than trying to figure out what to eat, and so this is a good beginning step in finding a way of eating that will "work" for them. So if you just want to not have to think about what to eat for awhile, this may be a successful route for you to take.

The basic guidelines are easy to follow. I had better success with them than when I used the recipes. For me, simpler is better. The recipes are delicious, but too easy to monkey with and make a hash of the day.

I'm firmly convinced that it is regular, vigorous exercise that is the key to losing weight. "Vigorous" changes with fitness levels, but working to the best of your ability every day is key. The pouch test is not designed to help you lose weight, it is designed to help you break your refined carb/sugar/snacking addiction. So I feel lucky to have lost weight with the plan. I think of it as an added bonus, not an absolute right of passage.

So that is my recap of the test. It's a very good little tool to add to your own bag of tricks. When you're done, you feel fresh and clean and revitalized to continue the battle for successful living after weight loss surgery.