5 Day Pouch Test Blog

Recipes: Six Picks for Day 6

So you have done the 5 Day Pouch Test and you are feeling great! What about Day 6? What happens after Day 5?

From our FAQ's:

What happens after the 5 days?
After the 5 Day Pouch Test is when things get exciting. Having successfully broken a carb-cycle, regained a feeling of control over the surgical gastric pouch and possibly losing a few pounds one is ready for re-entry into a compliant way of eating. This means focusing on protein rich meals, observing the liquid restrictions and avoiding starches, particularly processed carbohydrates and slider foods. Three meals a day should be two-thirds protein, one third healthy carbohydrate in the form of low-glycemic vegetables and fruits. Consumption of whole grains is not forbidden, but should be limited to one serving a day.

If necessary between meal snacks should be protein dense. Natural food protein is great including hard-cooked eggs, lean low-sodium deli meats, and limited servings of nuts or low-fat cheese. In addition, protein bars or beverages may be used for between meal supplementation.

Patients should drink at least 64 ounces of water a day and take their prescribed supplemental vitamins. Caffeinated beverages should be limited to one or two a day and carbonated drinks are discouraged. Alcoholic beverages should be limited to one per day or less.

Today I bring you Recipes: Six Picks for Day 6. I have explained why each recipe makes sense for Day 6 and beyond. Once you start getting these concepts down you will be able to expand your food selections and make the most of your working tool. The links will take you to the LivingAfterWLS Kitchen where you will find many more great recipes to enjoy in your healthy Living! And remember, you can always find terrific recipes in the Neighborhood Community Kitchen.

Chicken Piccata
This is a rich dish that should satisfy even the worst good-food cravings. Try it using pork cutlets or turkey cutlets. (The ingredients here are for two servings: please increase accordingly to serve more people). Serve with Mozarella Tomato Boats
Link to Chicken Piccata Recipe

Chicken, Mango & Avocado Salad with Orange Dressing
I know many of you crave salad and vegetables during the 5 Day Pouch Test. This is a great Day 6 recipe. You get protein from the chicken, sweetness from the mango and healthy monounsaturated fat from the avocado. The serving size is appropriate when making the recipe for two servings.
Link to Chicken, Mango & Avocado Salad with Orange Dressing Recipe

Grilled Garlic Jumbo Shrimp and Cherry Tomato Skewers
Did you know if you include a sweet fruit with a protein for a meal you are less likely to crave a sweet dessert? This recipe fits the ticket combine succulent grilled garlic shrimp with fresh seasonal cherry tomatoes. Enjoy!
Link to Grilled Garlic Jumbo Shrimp and Cherry Tomato Skewers

Poached Eggs Over Spinach Greens
This is a light and refreshing weeknight supper. The nutritional benefits of spinach, garlic and lemon are many and the flavor is refreshing while not being too heavy. Remember, your pouch is more like that of a newbie on Day 6. And we want to keep it that way!
Link to Poached Eggs Over Spinach Greens

Light All-American Turkey Cheeseburgers
Since it is grilling season this is a perfect recipe for Day 6. The lean turkey generally sits well for us, the cheese adds calcium. The traditional burger vegetables make this meal feel like a real indulgence. The recipe calls for Kaiser Rolls, but I suggest just enjoying the burger with the vegetables and condiments of your choice.
Link to Light All-American Turkey Cheeseburgers

Potato Skins with Cheese and Bacon
If you are going carb crazy try this classic appetizer, but remember to practice portion control: too many of these (especially eaten with liquid) can turn a healthy indulgence into a back step toward slider foods. For best results serve these with grilled protein and practice the 2B1B Rhythm (2 Bites Protein; 1 Bite Carbs).
Link to Potato Skins with Cheese and Bacon

Hunger is NOT an Emergency

Recently I had a breakthrough moment when I read that naturally slender people do not treat hunger as an emergency. “Most of us who struggle with extra pounds tend to view hunger as a condition that needs to be cured – and fast,” writes Judith S. Beck, PhD, author of the Beck Diet Solution. “If you fear hunger, you might routinely overeat and avoid it,” she says adding, “Thin people tolerate hunger because they know hunger pangs always come and go, buying them some time.”

Hunger defined: the painful sensation caused by a lack of food that initiates food-seeking behavior.

Learn More: Understanding Hunger, Appetite and Satiety

Hunger is not an emergency. Interesting, don’t you think? Since publishing the 5 Day Pouch Test I’ve received tremendous feedback. Some people are amazed to not feel hungry, even on those difficult first two days. Others report “climbing the walls” hunger. I believe each of us responds differently to the 5DPT and there are certainly extremes between lack of hunger and ravenous hunger.

Here are some tricks for learning to treat hunger the way slender people do – a condition that comes and goes.

- Drink water or flavored water to curb hunger pangs.
- Ignore the hunger and acknowledge that you will survive.
- Establish a predictable and consistent eating schedule so your body becomes accustomed to when you will eat.
- Eat protein first thing in the morning and again at lunch and dinner.
- Minimize visual cues that trigger hunger pangs (avoid/ignore media advertising, place snack foods in closed cupboards, avoid the office break room, etc.)
- Take a brisk walk before giving in to hunger (this will rev your metabolism).

Finally, just as hunger is not an emergency, it is also not a failure. If you feel hunger during the 5 Day Pouch Test then take one of the steps above to ignore it. And if you are still hungry then eat something from the approved list of foods for the day. Associating hunger with feelings of failure often leads to destructive eating and inappropriate food choices. The 5DPT is a powerful tool and a great step toward building a better relationship with food and your weight loss surgery.

Learn more about the 5 Day Pouch Test and get back your surgical weight loss tool.

New Vitamin Bundle at Bariceuticals

Silvia Demeter, our friend and founder of the made-just-for-us Bariceuticals™ liquid vitamins has put together a new product bundle. Called "Cathy's Choice" the kit includes a 30 Day Supply of our famous liquid multi-vitamins and our pharmaceutical grade sublingual B-12 complex spray. You will also receive 30 day supply of our exclusive iron tabs. In this kit you will so receive a free sample of total protein. This is affordable priced at just $99 for the months supply.

Bariceuticals™ vitamins have been specifically formulated to be absorbed by surgical weight loss patients. Silvia tells us, "Our patent pending Bariceuticals™ are the only complete liquid nutritional supplementation system that is completely formulated ingredient by ingredient to target the unique absorption needs of bariatric patients. With this system you will consume only the ingredients that the body is lacking, or will lack shortly after surgery. We do not use unnecessary ingredients that can bind together or cancel each other out, thus causing a void of nutrients."

When we undergo weight loss surgery we are told that our bodies will not absorb vitamins and nutrients the same way as one without surgery. Many people opt to take inexpensive multi-vitamins and often they report feeling weary, lifeless, sad and unenergized. That is because they are nutrient deficient. Silvia says, "The liquid format of Bariceuticals™ has an absorption rate of 80 to 90% in the upper intestine where nutrients are most readily absorbed. Our goal is to educate you, our consumer, on Bariceuticals™. We know that an educated bariatric patient is our best customer."

Learn more Facts

Silvia is genuinely concerned about our best health after WLS and she easily recalls the days and months following her own surgical weight loss when she felt lethargic and lifeless. That is how she came to be the founder of this quality nutritional supplement: she herself wanted to feel better. She says, "We at Bariceuticals™ want nothing more than for you to absolutely love the new you. You deserve to feel and look great. To that end we ask you to give Bariceuticals™ a two to three week trial period. You will feel a difference, in a week’s time. If your body is extremely deficient your trial phase may take two weeks. At the end of your trial phase, if you don't absolutely love Bariceuticals™, please return the unused portion for a full refund - including shipping cost. We are that confident that you will embrace Bariceuticals™."

Read some product Testimonials

Are you hungry for some good food?

Of course we have some great recipes here at the 5 Day Pouch Test. But if you are looking for a larger collection of great Day 6 eats you have got to check out the LivingAfterWLS Kitchen. LivingAfterWLS is our parent site and all recipes support a healthy post-surgical weight loss diet.

And LivingAfterWLS Kitchen just got better! We added 31 new recipes this month; many with pictures. So take a moment and hit the "Kitchen" link on the top navigation bar here in the 'Hood. That will open the main Kitchen page and when you scroll down you will see a list of all our new offerings. Don't be shy! There is something yummy for EVERYONE!

Here is a list of the brand new recipes:

NEW RECIPES!! JULY 2008
Grains
Bagel Boats
Barbecue Baked Lentils
Barley & Mushroom Casserole
Barley-Vegetable Acorn Squash
Black Bean Dip
Black Bean and Tomato Quinoa
Butternut Squash with Barley Stuffing
Four Grain & Vegetable Burritos
Kaye's Oatmeal Bread
Kim's Oatmeal Applesauce Muffins
Multi-Grain Pilaf with Root Vegetables
Quinoa Chard Pilaf

Poultry:
Chicken with Plum Barbecue Sauce
Kettle Grilled Turkey

Salad:
Green Salad with Vinegar Dressing

Vegetables:
Seasoned Summer Squash with Cheese
Tomato and Basil Saute

Sensible Desserts:
Coconut-Almond Macaroons
Macaroon Baked Peaches

Berries & Fruit
Warm Spiced Peaches with Sweet Sour Cream

Fish & Seafood
Manchego Stuffed Shrimp
Parmesan Tuna Patties