Sugar questions

Hey Dianne - When I first had surgery, I was advised to keep it under 5 g of sugar, and the same if the item has sugar alcohols.  No matter what I eat, the very first thing I look for is protein, so if the bar you're eating doesn't have much of that, I'd look for something else, based strictly on the protein first. I do dump, but I honestly have to say that I never eat enough at one time to get sick.  The first time I dumped, it was from no****ching them at Starbucks and getting 10 pumps of full sugar vanilla syrup instead of s/f!!  When I dump, I get sweaty, my heart races, etc.  Having said that, sugar alcohols in sugar free candy make me horribly gassy (ask Happy the puppy), and give me cramps and diarrhea.  I've always said that 4 s/f Peppermint Patties were the best tasting laxatives.  As I've gotten further out, I've discovered that I'm better off having a little of the real stuff than a lot of s/f stuff.  The real stuff tastes better and is much more satisfying. And don't think you're being stupid - it's a learning process for everyone, even those of us further out as there is constantly new info, and you'd be stupid if you didn't want to stay informed. Hope this helps, Tia

Tia,     Thanks. How much protein is good for a bar. I think these have 15 grams of protein. 

Diane, You have gotten great advice already.   I was also told to do only 5 grams of sugar at a serving.  The same thing that happens to Tia happens to me too with the sugar alcohol I get very gassy if I eat more than 10 grams.   I do tolerate more sugar now that i am pregnant for some reason your body asks for it.   I know that once I have this baby I am going to have to be strict with myself because I have been getting away with a lot.   If you are tolerating that bar at that much sugar at once this early out maybe you will not be one to dump easily but once you are far out it is going to be difficult to kee your grams of sugar at a minimum. My only suggestion is to not do those every day. Good luck with everything.  By the way you do not sound stupid at all this is a learning process and we are all learning. Hugs,

Cira,     THat is one thing that scares me- If I can tolerate this now, how much will I be able to tolerate. Of course, I pray for the will power not to find out.  I have been doing them half at a time, and only 2-3 a week. I am trying to use different types of protein everyday (soy, whey, cassien etc) that way I get the advantages of each of them.

Don't be scared sweetie you did this surgery to better your health, So you will do everything in your power to work your tool and stay away from what you are suppose to stay away from.   Now I am not saying that every once in a while you shouldn't treat yourself. We are humans and we do deserve to treat ourselves.   Good luck with everything. Hugs,

Well - I think I know what the problem may have been. My period came today, and sure enough ALL the food adversions I have been dealing with since surgery returned this afternoon. LOL- funny thing is, I was happy to feel that way again. I totally understood, everyone saying - that they wished they were back to these first day.   I am guessing that this cycling thing might be a regular thing now.

So you see there is the culprit.  Alot of ladies say that before they get their cycle they crave a lot of carbs and graze a lot.   Oh I am sure your cycling will definitely be a regular so becareful if you are not looking to have a baby!!  lol

I am also fond of the "Twisted" bar - but I only eat half at a time because of the sugar content.  I do not dump on sugar (at least so far) but I find that any protein bar is too overwhelming for me to finish more than half at a time.  Sometimes I will eat half before going to the gym and then finish the other half when I am finished working out.  They sure are yummy, though! Kendra

Kendra-      That is what I do to- 1/2 the bar at a time. Funny thing is today- it didn't taste so good. Min over matter maybe. I don't know.  LOL!

Like the others who had their surgery with Drs. Moeinolmolki or VonRueden, I was told to stick with 5g or less of sugar per serving. I've stretched that to 6 because I found an apple juide that I like. I figured if I tried it and dumped, I would be heartbroken, but at least I would know what my trigger was. But, I am fine, and I only drink 1-2 servings in a week, so I'm not going crazy with it.   I like the Atkins Caramel Bars. They are only a few grams of sugar, and 15 grams of protein. I was told to stay away from any kind of bars for awhile, but without them I wouldn't get much protein in, since I only like 1 kind of shake, and even that, only occassionally. I talked to my Nut about them, and she said Atkins is OK because they are low in sugar.  Since surgery I don't react to sugar alcohol (I was also told to stick to 5g or under of that, because of the laxative effects). I used to get horrible gas and sometimes even diarrhea from it. As far as sugar substitute, have you tried Splenda? I have no issue with this, and taste no after taste when I use it, in hot or cold stuff. It is made from sugar which is treated with chlorine to take out the sucrose and leave only the sucralose which had an almost non-existant effect on blood sugar levels. When I was on Atkins this had just become very popular. There are a ton of web sites knocking it, but there are even more praising it. It's not a sugar alcohol, it really is just sugar.