explain carbs please

[jwmoss 2]

I am almost 5 weeks out, and I know I am supposed to be eating high Protein, low fat, low sugar foods. But where do carbs come in? I know too many carbs are bad, but how many are too many per meal? In 5 weeks I've lost 25 pounds, so I'm not doing too bad, but I want to make the best choices.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Carbs come in your vegetables and fruits. I avoid starches (rice, Pasta, bread, starchy vegetables).

If you are confused about your food plan, why not talk with your NUT? Did he/she provide you with a written plan? I have a notebook from my program and at least 10 pages of it is related to eating healthy post-op.

[majorsmama 91]

My nutritionist says no starchy carbs until I have lost at least 75% of my excess weight. The only carbs I'm allowed are the carbs naturally found in fruits, veggies and legumes. I'm not to have any bread, rice, Pasta or potatoes.

[SelfBattle 4]

Is averaging 40-45 carbs too much??

[Babbs 14,681]

Is averaging 40-45 carbs too much??

Nope. Sounds about perfect, actually.

[hockeyfan7 249]

My NUT told me yesterday no carbs except from non-starchy veggies. Not even fruit right now. I've been having fruit and have not been losing as much as she thinks I should be.

She wants me at no more than 30 grams a day from veggies only.

[FocusOnMeNow 599]

How much fruit? And what kind? Frozen berries (unsweetened) in Protein smoothies in small amounts are good because they are "low" in carbs compared to other fruits, but they do have seeds so ensure that you have a really hi powered blender.

Other "tropical" fruits like bananas, papayas, and mangoes are much higher in carbs/sugar, but bananas also have a lot of potassium. For that reason I was allowed to have 1/2 a frozen banana in some of my Protein drinks pre-op and I have added 1/2 of one thus far post-op.

Veggies are encouraged because they have even more nutrients per carb than fruit. Yellow and zuchini squash are good first foods. I have personally been craving veggies and found a nearly clear veggie juice of celery, kale, spinach, cucumber etc called Green Devotion. It has 24% of USRDA of potassium so I really don't need the banana.

Its important to me not to eat too many carbs because if/when I do eat too many carbs then I will start to get crazy cravings again for other sweet and hi-carb foods. It takes about 3 days to re-stabilize your blood sugar once you get back on that rollercoaster, and now that I've had the surgery and made the decision to get off that rollercoaster for life, I do not want to get back on it again.

As in Babbs post by the same name I am attempting to be an "abstainer".