I wanna know about carbs... Seriously!

[DeletedMember 715]

What I'm about to say flies is not always well received, so I will issue the standard disclaimer of this is my opinion, and is what has worked for me (whew....):

A lot of time we want to simplify "carbs" much like "fat", but not all carbs are equal. On one had, I am almost zealot like in avoiding "carbs" - I do not eat any sugar, Pasta, rice, bread, etc. etc. In fact, the only grain I eat at all is a cup of steel cut oatmeal maybe a couple of times a week.

That being said, I eat a TON of carbs. I eat lots and lots of vegetable, fruit, Beans, lentils, etc. These all can be very high in carbs (they are universally high in carbs with the exception of some vegetables).

A lot of this has to do with the way that the body processes carbs. When you eat a highly processed carb source (pasta, white bread, etc) your body essentially treats it just like you are eating sugar. It dumps insulin causing sugar spikes (and crashes) and quickly stores the excess as fat. I consider both of these results to be very undesirable!! However, when you are eating more natural, unrefined carbs, your body does not react that way. Because these foods come with bound with lots of natural Fiber, it slows the intake of the carbs/sugars, trickling out insulin and avoiding the blood sugar spikes/crashes.

I regularly consume 150-200 grams of carbs a day on a 1200-1600 calorie diet (now that I am trying to figure out how this whole maintenance thing works!). This has worked very well for me. Even at lower calories along the way, I consumed large amounts of natural, unrefined carbs.

As he was mentioned above, I should note that I'm a patient of Dr. Weiner's, and this is very much aligned with his plan. I am a huge fan of Dr. Weiner's, and love his recommended diet. Lots and lots of delicious food, and I've had fantastic results.

Welcome back @@KindaFamiliar!

[triplethreat 257]

Hi Jason. Congrats on your journey thus far! I am starting maintenance after my next doctor visit in Feb, if all goes well. I'm currently on 30g carbs except for one day a week when I can go up to 90. I average 90 G Protein a day. I don't calculate fat grams on my plan, but I make generally healthy decisions. On maintenance I'll be allowed up to 85 g of carbs/day and Protein can go down to 60 g/day. I will monitor to see how it works and adjust as necessary.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Edited January 16, 2017 by triplethreat

[catwoman7 11,212]

I never did ultra-low carb, even from the beginning. I avoid simple carbs like sweets and breads and white flour but I've really never restricted the complex variety like fruits, vegetables, Beans, legumes. I also occasionally eat whole grain products. At this point (almost two years out and in maintenance) I'm usually in the 100-150 gram a day range - but I only know that from my logging my food intake because I don't count carbs.

Some people are really carb-sensitive (eating carbs makes them crave more), but I'm not. Maybe because I just allow myself the complex ones? Not sure.

[catwoman7 11,212]

p.s. be aware that it takes a lot of Water to metabolize carbs, so if you've been following an ultra-low carb diet and suddenly start adding carbs in (even the good ones), you may put on a few pounds - but it's all water.

[Travelher 915]

What I'm about to say flies is not always well received, so I will issue the standard disclaimer of this is my opinion, and is what has worked for me (whew....):

A lot of time we want to simplify "carbs" much like "fat", but not all carbs are equal. On one had, I am almost zealot like in avoiding "carbs" - I do not eat any sugar, Pasta, rice, bread, etc. etc. In fact, the only grain I eat at all is a cup of steel cut oatmeal maybe a couple of times a week.

That being said, I eat a TON of carbs. I eat lots and lots of vegetable, fruit, Beans, lentils, etc. These all can be very high in carbs (they are universally high in carbs with the exception of some vegetables).

A lot of this has to do with the way that the body processes carbs. When you eat a highly processed carb source (pasta, white bread, etc) your body essentially treats it just like you are eating sugar. It dumps insulin causing sugar spikes (and crashes) and quickly stores the excess as fat. I consider both of these results to be very undesirable!! However, when you are eating more natural, unrefined carbs, your body does not react that way. Because these foods come with bound with lots of natural Fiber, it slows the intake of the carbs/sugars, trickling out insulin and avoiding the blood sugar spikes/crashes.

I regularly consume 150-200 grams of carbs a day on a 1200-1600 calorie diet (now that I am trying to figure out how this whole maintenance thing works!). This has worked very well for me. Even at lower calories along the way, I consumed large amounts of natural, unrefined carbs.

As he was mentioned above, I should note that I'm a patient of Dr. Weiner's, and this is very much aligned with his plan. I am a huge fan of Dr. Weiner's, and love his recommended diet. Lots and lots of delicious food, and I've had fantastic results.

Welcome back @@KindaFamiliar!

If I could like this 20 times I would.

[Dub 9,922]

So.....you've lost 264 lbs and are 2 years out from wls and started a thread titled "I wanna know about carbs.....Seriously!"

Odd.

I thought you were the "Doctor"...who fields all questions......dispenses wisdom left and right.

At this point I'd have thought you could teach classes on carbs.

[Guest]

I think if you google info about carbs, you will be able to lose if you keep it under 50 g a day. Try reading some of Atkins literature or any other paleo diet info. Yes, you may have carbs but you would go for carbs like quinoa, cauliflower (so much you can do with this fab carb/veg --make pizza crusts, rice, and more fun things. Carbs are needed for fuel at some point if kept low, like say you make a stir-fry and you really want noodles or rice, opt for brown rice or soba noodles and just add them as an accessory, more Protein, veggies and just a few tablespoons of the carb. You won't feel so deprived and still get what you really wanted. Look, even body builders need carbs. Read some carb info on bodybuilding.com too. Good luck!

[Clementine Sky 708]

I strive to keep it under 75 grams of carbs, with the majority coming from fruit, vegetables, and grains. I want to lose 15 more pounds, and my body is being stubborn about it, so I am going to try to cut back to around 40. I haven't been to the gym yet at all this year due to being on vacation, and then sick for over a week. I'm hoping that getting back into gear with that in tandem with lowering my carbs will help me to reach my final goal.

[Guest]

It's unbelievable how carbs kick you out of Keto so quickly. I was testing on ketostix completely no color, I was on neutral---so proud of myself. Yesterday I ate an Oikos Triple Zero yogurt for dinner, and this morning my ketostix was moderate which after weeks of neutral shocked the heck out of me....the color on my stick looked so dark. I assume that is why so many people slow down on weight loss numbers on week 3 after surgery. As soon as they start eating it affects the body. I am not in a hurry or worried, 8 days after VSG today.

[Candygyrl 637]

Carbs for ME are a slippery slope. Nothing wrong with them however they do slow or stall weight loss and increase hunger drive. Since a stall is something that I wanted I added carbs into my eating plan. SInce then even though I am exercising-- boot camp, kick boxing, resistance training, most days of the week. my weight loss is minimal. Right now Im comfortable with 5 lbs a month. If ever I want to speed up my weight loss again I'll just drop back down to less than 20g carbs and increase my Protein intake which I was recently told I have a daily goal of 60g/day which I can hit with ease. Good luck to you.

[ready_to_be_thin 179]

I am by no means an expert...I'm about 4 1/2 months out, but my carbs sound about the same as yours. I don't go over more than 20 per day, and I usually don't even hit that many. I'm down 78 pounds so far. Back in the day, years ago, I did the Atkins diet where I stayed in the 2 week induction phase for quite a while, and kept my carbs below 20 at that point as well. It worked great for me and I lost a lot, but of course gained it back once I started eating normally again (well, not worrying about carbs anyway.) Staying below 20 now seems to work for me, so I am going to continue it as long as I can. I keep my Protein at 80 grams a day. I don't really worry about fat. Good luck! You are doing great!

[SilentBotts 138]

I treat carbs like an indulgence, I try to keep my intake as low as possible, but will some times include them for variety. At about a year out I'm mostly concerned with maintaining Protein intake and making sure that I'm getting enough calories in a day to keep my metabolism happy while continuing to loose weight.

I would say it makes more sense to avoid them while you are trying to loose. Once you hit your goal weight and have begun to maintain that weight I think it's acceptable to start including them more as long as it doesn't impact other goals or cause regain.

[Guest]

I treat carbs like an indulgence, I try to keep my intake as low as possible, but will some times include them for variety. At about a year out I'm mostly concerned with maintaining Protein intake and making sure that I'm getting enough calories in a day to keep my metabolism happy while continuing to loose weight.

I would say it makes more sense to avoid them while you are trying to loose. Once you hit your goal weight and have begun to maintain that weight I think it's acceptable to start including them more as long as it doesn't impact other goals or cause regain.

Well said! The one thing I have REALLY learned (not saying stuck to in the past) is that we all love carbs. I don't think we are saying ooh, let me go get some chicken or fish as a splurge. The bad with carbs is they are sooooooo addictive. I went up and down 15 lbs this past year because once they touch my tongue, I can't stop. Not like tons of Cookies or junk, it will start with the Pasta and then want more Pasta, then a bite of my hub's pizza, next thing I order it from the Italian restaurant for 3 nights in a row, etc. Once you are full on chicken, fish, even good beef, your body feels very satisfied. All my regains (not during sleeve---just sleeved 9 days) have ALL been carb downfalls. It is such a drug for me.

[Travelher 915]

It's unbelievable how carbs kick you out of Keto so quickly. I was testing on ketostix completely no color, I was on neutral---so proud of myself. Yesterday I ate an Oikos Triple Zero yogurt for dinner, and this morning my ketostix was moderate which after weeks of neutral shocked the heck out of me....the color on my stick looked so dark. I assume that is why so many people slow down on weight loss numbers on week 3 after surgery. As soon as they start eating it affects the body. I am not in a hurry or worried, 8 days after VSG today.

interesting. with my ketostix neutral means I'm not in ketosis.., darker means more ketones in the urine, therefore in ketosis.

maybe the scale differs by brand.

[Guest]

It's unbelievable how carbs kick you out of Keto so quickly. I was testing on ketostix completely no color, I was on neutral---so proud of myself. Yesterday I ate an Oikos Triple Zero yogurt for dinner, and this morning my ketostix was moderate which after weeks of neutral shocked the heck out of me....the color on my stick looked so dark. I assume that is why so many people slow down on weight loss numbers on week 3 after surgery. As soon as they start eating it affects the body. I am not in a hurry or worried, 8 days after VSG today.

interesting. with my ketostix neutral means I'm not in ketosis.., darker means more ketones in the urine, therefore in ketosis.

maybe the scale differs by brand.

Oh damn, you are so right. I was reading incorrectly. The weird thing is, I was using while pre-op and was so happy when I got to neutral. How the heck when I am eating the carbs I was in the moderate to high (darker colors). Pre-op and the couple days on liquid (no sugars--broth, Powerade Zero) I was in neutral all that time. I got back and after a week a used one and it was neutral. Then I ate that yogurt with 6g sugar and the next day went way to moderate. Interesting....I guess I should not worry at this point, I am 10 days out today and sure weight will move. I haven't been eating foods, except the yogurt or kefir. I will go to 'real' foods Sunday or Monday (salmon, tuna, Farmer's cheese, avocado, beans) and then not worry. My weight loss is slow. I have been eating clean for the most part prior to surgery. I wonder if that is why # is not like some that lose 10 pounds in 10 days. Sleeved at 264.2 and 256.6 this morning. That seems a bit slow to me. Not expecting 20 lb, but was hoping to be 10 lbs only because I was stuck at 264 before surgery for a few days. Thanks for pointing out I was not reading correctly.