I NEED THIS PLEASE: Anyone else who is about 6 months out have this issue?

Sherry,  It has been explained to us many, many times that the Atkins or low carb diet is the diet that we sign on to live out for the rest of our days.  There's no modern mystery to this.  It's quite easy to understand.  I lived the Atkins method before I had the surgery and after ANY WLS surgery ketosis is the ONLY way your body is kicked into losing all of those fat stores.  There's nothing dangerous about it or most WLS people wouldn't be living today, so I'm not understanding what the issue is.  I committed to the plan however, I was told by the Doc himself that I could have more carbs than most were allowed.  I've eaten carbs, i eat carbs daily just like everyone else.  I think you're completely missing the point.  This isn't about scare tactics, this is about knowing about the reasons you lose weight and the maintenance plan afterward.  talk abut scare tactics....look what happens to WLS patients who avoid the advice and eat too many carbs....another revision in surgery and another 400-500 lb person with a broken spirit.  If you'd like for me to introduce you to some of them who will tell you that if you don't live low carb that you will regain all of your weight, I'm happy to give you a few names.

So please STOP with attacking the plan that works so well that it remains the ONLY way that you will lose weight after you have your on surgery.  If you doubt my point, please call the doctor or ANY doctor for that matter so you realize that my words are completely true.  I workout like a mad-man.  i do a low carb diet...notice I said LOW carb...not NO carb...  the low carb diet is what the dietitian, nutritionist, and the Doctor will tell you that keeps the fat from returning. 

The only thing that I'm definitely guilty of is drinking during meals.  I'm not the only one.  I'm the only one that admits it freely.  If I ask a question i want my audience to know that I'm not conforming to the rules when it comes to drinking.  Other than that, I'm eating better than I ever have and I feel fine I'm simply skinny.  I don't understand what your problem is with the method of low carbing, but before you attack it, please know that if it's not for you, then neither is WLS.  My methods have come from doing it for years.  The doctor knew I would lose my weight before others due to the method that I use.  I'm very OCD about it, however, when there's something that I need to change, i do call the doc.  Am I allowed to have carbs?  Sure...do I tell others to eat carbs if they're on a hardened stall for the past 4 months?  NO, I tell them the method that was established before me.....as little carbs as possible for 2 solid weeks, no cheating, then increase the carbs gradually per week (tracking them using food tracking software****il you start to see weight gain back off about 10 grams per day and you should maintain from that point.  It's a solid plan that I didn't invent, i just have a hardened set of meals that people can use since it's so hard to find ones that work when a surgery date is within a month and the person would be devastated if they missed the date.  I'm never going to stop using the techniques to help people.  I explain to them that I'm not a doctor, but these methods have never failed for anyone who is willing to use them, and if they have questions about it, please contact their doctor or feel free not to use my template as their suggestion.  That plan has helped people get on track for surgery dates, has re-established healthy eating patterns, and has attempted to do nothing but good for any person that is already reaching out for help.  I'm completely confident that if you don't feel as though it's method works, then you should discuss it with your particular surgeon and get the facts correct about the long term affects of what causes WLS patients to lose weight.  Ketosis pure and simple combined with a restrictive surgery that allows for malabsorption process to occur (by-passing the pyloric valve).  Please check the facts, I shouldn't have to continue to defend something that is the entire reason we're here in the first-place.

I needed the advice of those who have gone near my surgery date to make certain that my portions were correct and to see if I'm doing ok comparatively along with data that others could use later.   That was my only purpose for the post, not to argue about my methods or about how ketosis is dangerous. 

in complete sincerity,

T.

Sherry, i always suggest people look at their options have you ever heard me tell them to not look at their options?  These are people who are stalled or need a push in the right direction.  i can't really tell what your problem is with...me or a super low carb plan that I use that keeps carbs out of the system for 2 weeks then slowly adds them back.  The plan I use was adapted by a Doctor.  I've read all of his books.  And if you'll be so kind as to call Dr. Walton, who i have spoken with, you'll find that I'm absolutely 100% correct in how we lose our weight after WLS.

As for eating some rice of bread or pasta....well I'm not sure who hasn't but I'll put money on it that the majority of us, including myself has enjoyed some mighty starchy things....like pizza...I've had it.. not much of it...and after eating so few carbs during a normal week, I'm able to enjoy a little bite of whatever.  It's the balance to eating right.  Some people can't have carbs at all...it causes them to dump...do they still eat them?  yes...so I've heard.

I eat pasta 2 times per week...YES CONFESSIONAL it's me...Thomas the pasta eater...  it's dreamfields pasta and I can have it because it has under 5 digestable carbs.  Do i still lose weight OMG yes!  What about sauce?  I eat a carbonara sauce made from cream, Parmesan cheese, bacon, pepper, and 2 other Italian cheeses.  How many carbs from the sauce?  1 net carb.  So a total of 6 net carbs.....most of the meals a lot of wls folks eat have more than 20 net carb in it...so i could eat pasta every single meal and still lose weight....it's about how you choose to make the choices the right choices.  people will still eat chocolate....we still eat mashed potatoes too....  we didn't stop being humans when we decided to do this, but it's everything in moderation.  I balance myself out by limiting y carb intake, but I don't rob every carb out of my meal. 

Once you've walked in a post WLS life for 6 months and you tell me that you haven't eaten one potato...one smidgen of chocolate, one morsel of pasta, one little bit of a cracker or bread, then I'll congratulate you and I'll honestly mean it.  But don't worry....you're gonna break just like all of us do.  I'm able to admit what I do because I'm a human.  I wasn't built to follow rules and regulations.  My diet plan puts people through paces for only 2 weeks to help them manage an addiction...something that I had...that's all then gives them carbs based on a predetermined amount that helps them regulate themselves.  it's just like breaking head hunger...it's about relearning a different pattern.  Something must be the catalyst for change.  it's Christmas and I'm sure that there's a number of you who will attend Christmas parties and stuff...  i don't tell people that you shouldn't eat the party stuff unless it's within the 2 week period...so are thy going to die within that 2 Weeks due to my suggestion?  i don't think so...if so then God was ready for them anyway and didn't need my help in taking them.  I think it's ludicrous to speculate.  I've walked the path, I've done the deed.  I've talked to the doctors including yours and he agrees with my thoughts, please ask him yourself.  i know Doc B conferred with him to assist in my particular case.

And yes it has never ever been a secret...in fact i feel quite proud of myself....  I'm non-compliant...  I'm built that way....  I'm not normal and wouldn't want to be considered normal...  i want to live an exceptional life, so i choose a path that I deem is best, but i would never, not one time ever intentionally hurt another human being by offering something that I knew would openly harm them.  So I look forward to the day you have surgery.  i also look forward to the day after your surgery when you will admit to yourself...he was right...i will eat this bite of pizza (or pasta, or chocolate, or cake, or rice, or delectable fun stuff that a person sometimes wants to try...)....i Have power over it...that's the concept of using my tool...i don't abuse it... and i don't judge other people for trying to eat something that is on a forbidden list....I don't know what happened in their day...i don't know what they ate that week to make up for the 10 bites of something wonderful...

The next person i catch eating something forbidden....I'll send them your way.  I also want to end this conversation by making one simple comment, My help is always there to anyone who wants it.  how can anyone cast blame and ridicule on a soul who only wants the best for another soul?  I listen with honest ears to a woman who is devastated by how she looks in the mirror and i offer her one thing....a helping hand, someone she can depend on when others might judge her. 

I am not Jesus...I'm not performing miracles, I'm simply doing what I would hope someone would do for me if I wanted the help and couldn't afford a professional.  i have never asked for submission, i have never told someone it's my way or the highway.  People who are here are adults. 

They are cognizant that I'm a person who loves to make people laugh but they also know that I won't leave them without someway to have a support system.  The golden rule is alive and well with me.  I love and respect a number of people here because they were there when i needed them.  They know more than me because they walked the path before I did.  I'm a simple neophyte and it's nice to be able to lean back on them when i ask for their help.  They are all i have so i try to make it a point not to burn my bridges.  I don't have the convenience of going to meetings to ask them face to face.  My forum needs to be public because I'm getting more than one pull of data from multiple sources.  And even in my original request for help in this forum, i wanted the data for not just myself but so other people can use it at a later date.

If anyone feels I'm too harsh in my response, I hope you listen to a friend of mine from Mel's diner who said  "Kiss my grits"...feel free to block me. i promise my feelings won't be hurt.

T.

T. - To answer the question you originally asked....at 10 months out I can eat about 3/4 cup of food - something solid such as chicken breast, steak, etc.....it's about 4 oz. - For me the time of day makes a difference (at night I can eat less), I have a time frame during the day that I welcome eating a little more than I would like (between 11 and 2) - other than that, yes I had to increase the quantities because the 1/2 cup I was accustomed to eating did not quite do it and I started snacking a little too often. I would suggest in your case, if you want to try and see if you are little hungrier at mealtime, to avoid the shake - otherwise you are actually getting your protein regardless, right? I know it is advocated that we avoid snacks, but, you might want to try and eat more often during the day and basically split those meals more so that you don't have so much at one sitting. I myself do have a snack here and there....it is usually always protein based, so I don't feel too bad about it.

I think you are doing great - it is very important to really get the concept of this and make it a lifestyle and I think you have done a good job at that.

Anna

Thanks to all of you *****sponded.  I feel great, I want to balance it with the proper amount of foods.  i found something to be amazing...  when I looked at the response from Michelle, I did exactly as she suggested..i tried to eat in different sitting/ laying down positions and she's absolutely right!

So Michelle, KUDOs to you... most of the time, I'm watching tv reclining on the couch and wow..i can eat a lot more than I can when I'm just sitting up at the table.  When I'm standing it's the same as laying down and eating....  which i spend a lot of time in the kitchen only to snack on things I'm cooking..so I can eat plenty of stuff.  I do think that it's necessary for me to stop some of the running that I do in the mornings.  Maybe I'm going a little further than necessary in my workouts, I just don't see the results put back into muscle although I'm eating tons of protein like i was told to do....Either way, i'm extremely appreciative of your data and have something i can reference to make sure that I'm keeping pace with the other 6-7 monthers out there on the bench!

I'm also certain the newbies will appreciate the data so they understand that they will be able to eat bigger meals just a little while after their surgery....  So if you've got data, please post it!

T.

I'm not expert, and I don't even play one on TV, but the muscle heads I've known avoided cardio when they were trying to bulk up so you might want to pump more iron and run less for awhile.  (I think it's insane to avoid ALL cardio, because 1. you don't want to bulk up THAT much and 2. your heart still needs a work out, as do your lungs).

Not going any where near the great carb debate-and I'm a bandster, but I DO have a pouch....LOL.

One odd thing is, my volume varies whether or not my fill level varies or not-it varies with the weather it varies with how hydrated I am and with how tense I am.  If someone starts in on me WHILE I'm eating, I have to stop or puke-no ifs ands or buts.  So, if you are having volume issues-are you eating in a relaxed environment?  (yeah yeah, I know you live in paradise, but you still have business issues and probably a whole lot of personal issues, eh?)

If I drank your snack, I'd be full for hours-that's 40 grams of protein (guessing) and a good chunk of fiber...in fact, when I have a day that looks like it might involve upsetting things (hence no eating is going to happen) I will drink something similar just to make sure I don't get hungry.

Also, like someone else (Michelle?) mentioned, how much I'm moving around has a lot to do with how much I can eat.  If I eat till full, then lay around in my recliner-I'm not going to be unfull again for 6 hours or so.  If I get up and move around, I can eat again in around 4.

I don't know if any of this helps, but I thought I'd share.  Oh, I thew out "mealtime" a long time ago.  I do try to eat three squares a day, but I was getting all sideways trying to eat them at like 7, 12 and 6 and my tummy just doesn't work that way.  It's ready when it's ready, and I will puke if I try to eat by the clock, so I wait till I'm ready.  If I have a lunch or dinner date, I just make sure I'm hungry at that time if I really want to eat with that person.  I also try to eat fairly soon after I get up, but it's always a shake, unless I'm doing brunch, and I'll go right for the coffee.

Answering the original quesiton here too!  I'm almost 8 months out (really close!) and I can now eat about 3/4 cup of food at a time at lunch, when I'm "hungriest."  At breakfast, I eat the least - I have a SB protein bar and that's about it - no more room in there!  Dinner is probably closer to 1/2 cup.  I don't know why the difference, but there is a difference in the 3 meals.  I do snack - but I got the okay on that since I'm under goal and they are protein snacks.  

At 6 months, it was about the same - about 1/2 to 3/4 cup at lunch...

Don't know how helpful that was, but there you go.   

Oh it's very helpful knowing the exact portions that you're currently using.  i have't been portioning myself and i've been eating until I'm full but it's only recntly that I've found out the portions are shrinking because i fix the same amount of food yet I'm not finishing the portion like I was.  But i'm going to start portioning the food that I choose and watch to see how it differs from everyone else.

It was alos interesting about the stress thing from Debra...i'm not stressed but I have my days when i feel like i've had my fill of trying to get more done than I'm capable of doing.  i do know tht I can drink endless amounts of water first thing in the morning and after that, it goes downhill dramatically.  Thanks for the input, I know it will come in handy.

T.

Just to be clear, I don't measure or portion in any way what I eat.  I eat until I am full and the quantities I gave you is my best guess of what I eat everyday.  It's interesting to hear that someone else has the water thing in the morning.  I do the same thing - probably 3/4 of my water intake is before lunch. 

Didn't want any misunderstandings - I do not portion out my meals.  I wasn't told that I need to, so I don't. 

Robyn