Basically this is the 5 Day Pouch Test (5DPT)
Start by eating liquid protein, end up eating solid protein. The basic rule is that on any day you can eat the items that were available on previous days; but placing emphasis on the foods that pertain to the rules of that day.
D1: Liquid Protein
Zero Carb Gelatin
Zero Carb Pudding
Low Carb High Protein Shakes
Broth
Clear Soup 1 cup
Cream Soup 1 cup
D2: (Same as D1 foods)
D3: Soft Protein
Canned Fish w/ Lemon Juice
Tuna
Salmon
Cooked Eggs
Fresh Soft Fish
Tilapia
Sole
Orange Roughy
Yogurt ½ cup
Cottage Cheese ½ cup
String Cheese 1 oz
Tofu Patties (Vegan Option)
Legume Patties (Vegan Option)
Vegetable Patties (Vegan Option)
D4: Firm Protein
Ground Meat
Turkey
Beef
Chicken
Lamb
Shellfish
Scallops
Lobster
Fresh Salmon
Fresh Halibut
D5: Solid Protein
White Meat Poultry
Beef Steak
Pork
Lamb
Wild Game
Days 1 & 2:
These are healing days. Reduce pouch inflammation and carb cravings. Mimic the prescribed behaviors following surgery. Have as many low-carb protein shakes as you want. Drink 6 8oz glasses of water. Get in the habit of satisfying hunger with liquid protein. Soups are 1 cup servings. Begin researching the best foods to buy, prepare, and eat. This is not only for the 5DPT, but for a long term sustained healthy lifestyle reminder. Carbohydrate withdrawal is real. Headaches, dizziness, cramping, and nausea are among the symptoms. Eat a handful of natural sugar foods like orange, melon, berries, or apple to curb the symptoms, but prepare to ween yourself completely during the 5DPT. Eat for 15 minutes only. Wait 60 minutes before eating again.
Day 2:
Again, as many low-carb protein shakes as you want. 6 8oz glasses of water. Stay in the habit of satisfying hunger with liquid protein. Soups are still 1 cup servings. Continue eating for 15 minute intervals, with 60 minute pauses between.
Day 3:
Soft Protein - Rethink how we eat. Remember to eat only until full, not stuffed. Eat in quantities of 1 cup volume, or up to 6 oz weight. Moisture condiments like mayonnaise, mustard, relish, salsa, etc. are ok in very small quantities. Consume protein first at any meal or snack. Eat 60-105 grams of protein a day. Discomfort is normal. It means the pouch is working. Do not over do it. Good protein sources: fish, shellfish, poultry, and meat. Dairy protein, eggs, yogurt, and cheese are other excellent sources. Choose varieties that are high in protein, low in carbs. Remember the Four Rules, Liquid Restrictions, Slider Foods, and understand nutrition.
Four Rules:
Protein First
Lots of Water
No Snacking
Daily Exercise
You can continue having protein shakes throughout all the 5 days. In days 3-5 let shakes be between meal snacks if you are truly hungry. Take supplements with shakes for better digestion. If you are going to eat another snack, consume the shake first. If you are thinking about repeating day 3 for the purpose of losing weight, please choose not to. This is not what the 5DPT is all about. This is about good lifestyle choices and understanding the effectiveness of the procedure you went through.
Day 4:
Firm Protein: The small stomach works well to let you know that you have consumed enough food. Pay attention to this feeling. The Carb cycle is broken by now. Pouch tightness is normal. Add in small portions of carefully chosen fruits and vegetables. Eat 2 bites of protein, to every 1 bite of complex carbohydrates. Remember to chew. Rest your fork between bites. Things to eat: ground meat; (beef, turkey, lamb, game) - Cook the meat dry and lightly seasoned. Shellfish, scallops, lobster - Steamed and sprinkled with lemon juice. Salmon or Halibut. Vegetarian products like Tofu, Vegetable Burgers are fine. When you pouch lets you know that it is getting full, put your fork down at the first signal of fullness. Stop short of the discomfort. Remember to restrict vegetables and fruits that are high in complex carbohydrates. It is ok to have a very small quantity for energy emergency or for withdrawal symptoms, but get to a point where you do not need them as a crutch. You are trying to activate the Ketone cycle. This requires very few or zero carbs for a significant time period measured in hours. A good rule for carb intake is at hours 4-8 you begin gaining the rewards of no carbs. Use vegetables to make protein more palatable but not more than is required for that effect. This also creates other desired effects from high or low glucose levels such as cravings and energy swings. Remember to drink enough water every day!
Day 5:
Solid Protein: the whole goal is to return to habits that help us leverage the benefit of the pouch. Pay attention to the feelings it gives us and make good decisions. The 5DPT is a way to get back on track. This is not a short sprint way to lose a few pounds. Do this as a diagnostic system to get the most out of your surgery. This is for when you stray from the tenets of the WLS and want to get back on track with success. This is the final day of the program. You can do it!
Foods to eat: white meat poultry cooked dry and lightly seasoned. Beefsteak is ok if you do not experience pain or discomfort. All foods from all days are still good on D5. Do not go hungry. Eat solid proteins as often as you want without liquids in 4-6oz portions. Eat on day 5 as you would for the long haul. This is a day to set good habits that can be sustained for a long period of time. Remember to chew. Chew a lot. Eat for 15 minute intervals. Stay out of the carb cycle and drink water.
Day 6:
On day 6 you should gradually re-introduce fruits and vegetables throughout the day. Remember to focus on protein first at every eating session. It is a possibility that you may learn that your pouch is not working as intended. This is the time to talk with your bariatric surgeon. There are other tests that you can do to test the state of your pouch. Let this be a pouch failure, not a personal failure. Make smart decisions. This is your body, your health, and your life. Drink no less than 64 oz of water daily.
5 Day Pouch Test and Reset
Start by eating liquid protein, end up eating solid protein. The basic rule is that on any day you can eat the items that were available on previous days; but placing emphasis on the foods that pertain to the rules of that day.
D1: Liquid Protein
Zero Carb Gelatin
Zero Carb Pudding
Low Carb High Protein Shakes
Broth
Clear Soup 1 cup
Cream Soup 1 cup
D2: (Same as D1 foods)
D3: Soft Protein
Canned Fish w/ Lemon Juice
Tuna
Salmon
Cooked Eggs
Fresh Soft Fish
Tilapia
Sole
Orange Roughy
Yogurt ½ cup
Cottage Cheese ½ cup
String Cheese 1 oz
Tofu Patties (Vegan Option)
Legume Patties (Vegan Option)
Vegetable Patties (Vegan Option)
D4: Firm Protein
Ground Meat
Turkey
Beef
Chicken
Lamb
Shellfish
Scallops
Lobster
Fresh Salmon
Fresh Halibut
D5: Solid Protein
White Meat Poultry
Beef Steak
Pork
Lamb
Wild Game
Days 1 & 2:
These are healing days. Reduce pouch inflammation and carb cravings. Mimic the prescribed behaviors following surgery. Have as many low-carb protein shakes as you want. Drink 6 8oz glasses of water. Get in the habit of satisfying hunger with liquid protein. Soups are 1 cup servings. Begin researching the best foods to buy, prepare, and eat. This is not only for the 5DPT, but for a long term sustained healthy lifestyle reminder. Carbohydrate withdrawal is real. Headaches, dizziness, cramping, and nausea are among the symptoms. Eat a handful of natural sugar foods like orange, melon, berries, or apple to curb the symptoms, but prepare to ween yourself completely during the 5DPT. Eat for 15 minutes only. Wait 60 minutes before eating again.
Day 2:
Again, as many low-carb protein shakes as you want. 6 8oz glasses of water. Stay in the habit of satisfying hunger with liquid protein. Soups are still 1 cup servings. Continue eating for 15 minute intervals, with 60 minute pauses between.
Day 3:
Soft Protein - Rethink how we eat. Remember to eat only until full, not stuffed. Eat in quantities of 1 cup volume, or up to 6 oz weight. Moisture condiments like mayonnaise, mustard, relish, salsa, etc. are ok in very small quantities. Consume protein first at any meal or snack. Eat 60-105 grams of protein a day. Discomfort is normal. It means the pouch is working. Do not over do it. Good protein sources: fish, shellfish, poultry, and meat. Dairy protein, eggs, yogurt, and cheese are other excellent sources. Choose varieties that are high in protein, low in carbs. Remember the Four Rules, Liquid Restrictions, Slider Foods, and understand nutrition.
Four Rules:
Protein First
Lots of Water
No Snacking
Daily Exercise
You can continue having protein shakes throughout all the 5 days. In days 3-5 let shakes be between meal snacks if you are truly hungry. Take supplements with shakes for better digestion. If you are going to eat another snack, consume the shake first. If you are thinking about repeating day 3 for the purpose of losing weight, please choose not to. This is not what the 5DPT is all about. This is about good lifestyle choices and understanding the effectiveness of the procedure you went through.
Day 4:
Firm Protein: The small stomach works well to let you know that you have consumed enough food. Pay attention to this feeling. The Carb cycle is broken by now. Pouch tightness is normal. Add in small portions of carefully chosen fruits and vegetables. Eat 2 bites of protein, to every 1 bite of complex carbohydrates. Remember to chew. Rest your fork between bites. Things to eat: ground meat; (beef, turkey, lamb, game) - Cook the meat dry and lightly seasoned. Shellfish, scallops, lobster - Steamed and sprinkled with lemon juice. Salmon or Halibut. Vegetarian products like Tofu, Vegetable Burgers are fine. When you pouch lets you know that it is getting full, put your fork down at the first signal of fullness. Stop short of the discomfort. Remember to restrict vegetables and fruits that are high in complex carbohydrates. It is ok to have a very small quantity for energy emergency or for withdrawal symptoms, but get to a point where you do not need them as a crutch. You are trying to activate the Ketone cycle. This requires very few or zero carbs for a significant time period measured in hours. A good rule for carb intake is at hours 4-8 you begin gaining the rewards of no carbs. Use vegetables to make protein more palatable but not more than is required for that effect. This also creates other desired effects from high or low glucose levels such as cravings and energy swings. Remember to drink enough water every day!
Day 5:
Solid Protein: the whole goal is to return to habits that help us leverage the benefit of the pouch. Pay attention to the feelings it gives us and make good decisions. The 5DPT is a way to get back on track. This is not a short sprint way to lose a few pounds. Do this as a diagnostic system to get the most out of your surgery. This is for when you stray from the tenets of the WLS and want to get back on track with success. This is the final day of the program. You can do it!
Foods to eat: white meat poultry cooked dry and lightly seasoned. Beefsteak is ok if you do not experience pain or discomfort. All foods from all days are still good on D5. Do not go hungry. Eat solid proteins as often as you want without liquids in 4-6oz portions. Eat on day 5 as you would for the long haul. This is a day to set good habits that can be sustained for a long period of time. Remember to chew. Chew a lot. Eat for 15 minute intervals. Stay out of the carb cycle and drink water.
Day 6:
On day 6 you should gradually re-introduce fruits and vegetables throughout the day. Remember to focus on protein first at every eating session. It is a possibility that you may learn that your pouch is not working as intended. This is the time to talk with your bariatric surgeon. There are other tests that you can do to test the state of your pouch. Let this be a pouch failure, not a personal failure. Make smart decisions. This is your body, your health, and your life. Drink no less than 64 oz of water daily.
5 Day Pouch Test and Reset
