I'm guessing my bariatric surgeon, Dr. Michael Baptista, is getting more and more successful. He's moved from his partnership with another doctor and into his own spiffy new office MUCH more conveniently located for me, in Arlington right off 9A and Monument in the Brooks Rehab Building.

Now, I'm not saying his former partner was a bad doctor-- not with that many awards-- but I didn't like the other doctor and that's the honest truth. I'm allowed my opinions, and my two experiences with the former partner were unpleasant.

Now I feel much freer to help Dr. Baptista with his newer patients! I'm pleased to say Dr. Baptista asked me to start attending the monthly support group so I can provide cheerfulness and inspiration to a group that has recently begun to focus on negativity in his opinion. One subject he mentioned specifically I could help with was the low carb diet. Many have difficulty in going beyond what's on the face of low-carb living and consider it bland and without joy.

Do you think I can change that? Yeah, I can. Especially since it's official-- I lost another 7 lbs, and I'm now within 10 lbs of One-der-land! I can do it!

Now the question to ponder is-- what issue with low carb life do people have the most trouble with? I found it easy, so I have no clue where to begin. I need opinions, here!

IMHO, the biggest misconception with low carb eating is what is/isn't healthy. I would start by researching the food pyramid and how it came to be touted by our government. It was a marketing gimick used to help promote the grain industry and somehow it stuck.

People need to be educated on how their bodies repond to different calories, ie glycemic index, glycemic load, glycemic blood levels, etc. For me, once I understood how my body stored extra weight it was much easier to eat so it did not continually store fat. How your body treats 100 calories of carbohydrates is not how it will treat 100 calories of protein. Too many people have been indoctrinated into counting calories and fat. Limiting carbohydrates is a whole different ballgame.

I would say that low carb has so many non-believers becsue they see it as a fad. However, if you look at South Beach the food from the recipes are great and flavorful. Switching from white refined to whole grain is more flavorful as well. My DH was skeptical at first but is at goal weight now and loves following the South Beach Lifestyle. He did something that was interesting--he wrote out a typical day and checked his carb totals and found that the carbs add up to the new food pyramid totals. Sure they are restricted during pahse one when the goal is to rid the body of the toxins that casue the cravings for bad carbs, pahse two is still pulling a good number of carbs from fruits and veggies, but phase 3 is a totally workable lifestyel chnage for the better.

My MIL is a piece of work, she was hospitalized for heart failure and still refuses to follow the diet recomended to her. She complains the food is all bland--her diet on paper looks like south beach phase 3. At my house food is anything but bland and boring. I don't understand how people can put their lives and health at risk just because they are so ingrained in the thought that simple starch must be a big part of their diets.

Good luck, maybe prepare a few south beach recipes or print out some of the simple ones (though to me they are all simple I have never spent more than 30 minutes prepping dinner since August when we started).

Thanks, y'all. That's a big help. Minimeme, my doc does a great job explaining the metabolization of carbs vs proteins. His staff is excellent. However, I will keep in mind that the folks may need reminders.

Patscal, you nailed it on the head with why Dr. Baptista asked me to help. He has a few who are having difficulties finding variety and flavor without the use of carbs. Like you, I've had no difficulties. I loved the homemade soups and delicious creamy recipes I made while on the Liquid and Mushy stages, and never looked back. (Okay, once...I threw up the slice of oatmeal bread and swore never again. LOL!)

Agreed, I too spend very little time in the kitchen, and when I do it's because I choose to take a little more time and effort. Hmm. Maybe I'll bring a sampling of my favorite snacks like deviled eggs, herbed wings, cheese "crackers", scottish eggs, and marinated mushrooms. They'll never believe it's all low carb living.