Confused about carbs

derbygirl · October 19, 2007

My surgeon has me on a low-carb diet. It has worked well for me over the last year, but I recently joined a gym and I'm now working out an hour a day...sometimes more.

But after reading an article on SparkPeople about glycogen replenishment, I'm starting to question if I might hindering my progress by not eating enough good carbs.

Any thoughts?

areellady · October 19, 2007

I say do what your surgeon wants you to do. If you have questions, call and talk to him. He is getting paid A LOT of money, so use his knowledge.

fabfatgrl · October 24, 2007

Try adding some fruit or healthier carbs and see how you feel...and how your weight loss is.

I also read an article that said that drinking low-fat chocolate milk after a weight training workout led to more muscle gains than by drinking sport drinks.

Very few physicians have any training in nutrition. They do what the other guy does. I venture to say that those who propose a low-carb diet have no idea if it works better than higher or moderate carb diets for weight loss in bariatric patients--why? There are no studies showing which diet is best for bariatric patients. Read this article, it's very enlightening FINDINGS; Diet and Fat: A Severe Case Of Mistaken Consensus - New York Times

Mr. Taubes told me he especially admired the iconoclasm of Dr. Edward H. Ahrens Jr., a lipids researcher who spoke out against the McGovern committee's report. Mr. McGovern subsequently asked him at a hearing to reconcile his skepticism with a survey showing that the low-fat recommendations were endorsed by 92 percent of ''the world's leading doctors.''
''Senator McGovern, I recognize the disadvantage of being in the minority,'' Dr. Ahrens replied. Then he pointed out that most of the doctors in the survey were relying on secondhand knowledge because they didn't work in this field themselves.

''This is a matter,'' he continued, ''of such enormous social, economic and medical importance that it must be evaluated with our eyes completely open. Thus I would hate to see this issue settled by anything that smacks of a Gallup poll.'' Or a cascade.

TracyinKS · October 24, 2007

I am an avid believer in watching my carbs.. HOWEVER you have to do what your doc says, and I would think that if you added some whole grain carbs you would be ok...

I tend to eat the Weight Control oatmeal for Breakfast and in my STRICT LC days...... it would of been to high... but now since I must eat quality not crap... I find that my calories are low enough that my WC oatmeal w/Milk.. gives me the Protein to hold me and I've been steadily losing since hitting my sweet spot in August....

Brandy~ · October 24, 2007

Try adding some fruit or healthier carbs and see how you feel...and how your weight loss is.
I also read an article that said that drinking low-fat chocolate milk after a weight training workout led to more muscle gains than by drinking sport drinks.

Very few physicians have any training in nutrition. They do what the other guy does. I venture to say that those who propose a low-carb diet have no idea if it works better than higher or moderate carb diets for weight loss in bariatric patients--why? There are no studies showing which diet is best for bariatric patients. Read this article, it's very enlightening FINDINGS; Diet and Fat: A Severe Case Of Mistaken Consensus - New York Times

I think you and I read the same article. I did read a pretty indepth one explaining the benefits of something like chocolate milk after a workout in comparisson to gatorade or Powerade etc.

Jachut · October 24, 2007

Very few physicians have any training in nutrition. They do what the other guy does. I venture to say that those who propose a low-carb diet have no idea if it works better than higher or moderate carb diets for weight loss in bariatric patients--why? There are no studies showing which diet is best for bariatric patients. Read this article, it's very enlightening FINDINGS; Diet and Fat: A Severe Case Of Mistaken Consensus - New York Times

Couldnt agree more. I truly believe most surgeons that advocate a low carb diet are doing so based on personal opinion and statistical evidence of their own small group of patients, nothing more.

I think we need good carbs but I can see that many people lose better when they cut out carbs.

However, there is no scientific PROOF that this is so, that it works for the reasons that you read about, I really think its more to do with simple calorie reducation and reduction of the BAD carbs, the sugary fatty ones, not the good ones. If you cut out Protein you'll lose weight, if you cut out dairy, you'll lose weight. Its not rocket science, cut out a food group, lose weight. Just because you lose doesnt mean its good for you either.

So personally, regardless of what a doctor said, I'd find my own balance.

I'm not knocking low carb diets though - but they dont prescribe them here and Australians lose just as well as Americans do, so what does that say?

Brandy~ · October 24, 2007

If you have insurance and it is covered I would go find a nutritionist that has some experience with banded patients. If not then you might want to find one that comes highly recommended.