Carbs or No Carbs

[kerri76 0]

I was banded May 10th and am currently in "bandster hell". My surgeon told me to stay away from carbs. That is hard! Everything has carbs. I am not a big meat eater. I was actually going to go vegetarian. Anyway, my issue with the doc saying no carbs is that I could have gone on the Atkins diet instead of getting the band. I thought the band allowed me to eat "most" of the foods that I enjoy but in VERY limited quantities. Am I mistaken? I went grovery shopping last night and nearly everything that I picked up had carbs. I know that overeating caused my obesity but is it really the carbs? I would appreciate ANY advice! Thank you!

[iwokeupfat 0]

My doc says low carbs or no carbs. Whole grain carbs are ok in limited quantity. ...(oatmeal, fruits).. but stay away from processed foods that are high in refined sugars...stay away from white sugar and white flour... yadda..

I'm a carb lover, too.. (pasta, bread, crackers) but we've been given this 'tool' to change our lifestyle and learn a new way of eating (healthy). We'll learn to love chicken, fish and vegetables along with cottage cheese, yogurt and skim milk... ... lol...

I know I don't want to get back into my old eating habits. I was living to eat.. not eating to live.

I hope you won't be discouraged. It's a new journey... enjoy it.

Banded May 3, 2010

[kimaly 57]

Not all carbs are bad, I was told to stay away from white carbs and watch the net carbs in stuff. They are the bad ones. Check with your Doctor because the net carbs might have been what he meant because veg's are good for you and on most of our list from the Doctors as long as you don't over do it. There are alot of vegetarian bandsters and it seems to work for them. Good luck and you'll make it through bandster hell even if it doesn't seem like it sometimes. It does get better as a matter of fact it gets way better.

[vlp1968 83]

I believe "good carbs" are necessary in limited quantities. You want to get them from whole grains, fruit, veggies, dairy. Glucose (what your body easily turns carbs into) is the only nutrient your brain can use.

Personally, I walk a middle ground between very low carb and what my nut says (she says 130 carbs a day). I take in about 60 carbs a day and have pretty steadily been loosing 2-3 pounds a week.

Find what works for you. I believe calories in and calories out is the main issue as far as weight loss. Best wishes on your journey!

[BetsyB 9]

Low carbs, from the right sources (veggies and, in moderation, fruits).

[LapNYC 3]

I tried Atkins a million times without the band with only limited success. The band makes it easy to avoid the "bad" cards because those are the foods that tend to get stuck anyway. Bandster hell is frustrating but we've all been though it. Do the best you can, exercise, and wait for the fills to make this way easier on you.

[Nean4488 1]

I try to stay away from the carbs. I do eat good carbs in moderation but I cut them out after 6pm. Im sorry your going threw bandster hell. Just try to make good food choices!

[Jachut 487]

It is my personal belief that a higher carb diet consisting of carbs from foods like legumes, Beans, nuts, seeds, vegetables and wholegrains - in other words an ideal vegetarian diet - is MUCH healthier than a low carb diet consisting of a lot of animal products - particularly manufactured ones like cheese and deli meat or processed Protein shakes.

a perfect low carb Atkins style diet can be very healthy - where the Proteins are lean, low fat and lots of good fat from fish and avocados and nuts are consumed (too many carbs???) and mountains of fresh low carb vegetables are eaten to provide nutrients and fibre but in reality who eats like that banded?. Most of us could never hope to fit in the large quantities of produce an ideal diet like this requires.

Truth is, most of our Protein foods and animal products come packaged up with salt, trans fats, other additives that are terrible for us and cause major health problems, so to base your diet on those, and avoid healthy relatively unprocessed foods because of the carbs makes very little sense.

However, nobody needs donuts and ice cream. Well, not often anyway, lol

[mominkansas 2]

carbs namely white ones are really hard to get through the band.

I have gone totally vegetarian so it is possible to do it while banded