Questions about Carbs, Carbs v. Calories, Maximizing Weight Loss

Hi All,

I have questions about carbs -- about where I should set my limit, about what percent are absorbed, about ketosis, about all sorts of things.

In the first 2 months after surgery, I limited my carbs to 50g/day.  In the last month, I've been more lenient with myself -- eating an average of 75g/day.  These carbs come primarily from veggies, with a small amount coming from fruit (about 1-2x/week) or starches (bread, rice - about 2-3 servings/week). 

I've been finding it difficult to maintain this level of carbs lately without feeling deprived.   I notice my body being really drawn to eating more carbs.  Yesterday, I had a girl's day out -- so nothing I ate counts, of course.    I went wild on carbs -- during our second "feeding" of the day, we went for drinks at the Mexican restaurant, where I had 6 tortillas with hand-cut guacamole.  Totally yummy.  But 6 tortillas!   All in all, a 190g carb day.

I'm not freaking or anything about one day of lots of carbs.  But it brought up alot of questions:

1.  For those of you who lost >100 pounds in your first 6 months -- roughly how many grams of carb were you eating a day?

2.  Did any of you experience inadequate weight loss in the first 6 months because you were eating carbs other than fruit or sugars?  Such as too many starches or veggies?

3.  I've heard that ketosis happens only when the carbs are ultra-low, around 20g/day.  So I take it that us DSers are not relying on ketosis for our rapid weight loss, right?

4.  The reason we're not supposed to eat too many carbs is because we absorb the calories from these more than from any other type of food.  So is it just a matter of calories?  There is no magical chemistry involved, right?

Julie,
This post was well put I am wondering a lot of the same things. I feel like I should be losing more then I am and more rapidly then I am and I am wondering the same things as you! I can't wait to hear from all of the people on here about these questions you have asked.

I'm chiming in on this one too. I really don't eat too many carbs. Under 50 or 20 actually. I need a more varied diet, but seems my tummy is not ready for anything too dense. I've nibbled on bread, not even a noticable amount, bird pecks. I crave take-out right now and order somethings in hopes I can eat them. Which I can't, so someone else in my family gets a treat.

Back to carbs. The whole ketosis thing. I did Atkins once, no twice and I lost weight. But it didn't stay off. I don't think ketosis is mandatory for DS weightloss. It's the malabsorption that does the trick, I think. From what I've been reading on these boards, that's my take on it. I may be wrong.

I think I should be loosing more, need to get a good scale. I am a revision, so that may be why.

Hi Taylor,

I see you've lost 50 pounds in only two months.  Pray tell -- what makes you think you should be losing more?  You didn't even start out that high.  I think 50 pounds in two months is exceptional. 

Cheers!
Julie

 i recently gained weight. I'm 243 now, although I haven't weighed myself in the past few days. I may be less. the gain kinda bummed me out.

I have some very sharp women friends who have had the DS.  One thing I've heard from each of them is this:  don't weigh yourself often.  One did not weigh herself at all -- only weighed on her follow-up appointments.  Another weighed only once a month and another only once every two weeks.

I say this because our weight can swing by ALOT -- has to do with water, muscle -- all sorts of things.

Please lay off the scale because it's bad for your health!

1.  For those of you who lost >100 pounds in your first 6 months -- roughly how many grams of carb were you eating a day?
Once I got thru my first 2 months (my surgeon is a stickler on liquid diet, then soft/pureed food post-op), I started at 75 to 100 g per day.  I was fully prepared to cut back, even waayyy back, if I needed to, but I didn't have to because carbs don't seem to interfere with my weight loss.  (Certain ones do give me stinky gas though!)  Also, as I got further out, and more in tune with what my body needed, rather than what my head thought I wanted, I began craving protein more and more.  Trusting that made food choices a no-brainer.

2.  Did any of you experience inadequate weight loss in the first 6 months because you were eating carbs other than fruit or sugars?  Such as too many starches or veggies?  No

3.  I've heard that ketosis happens only when the carbs are ultra-low, around 20g/day.  So I take it that us DSers are not relying on ketosis for our rapid weight loss, right?  Don't know

4.  The reason we're not supposed to eat too many carbs is because we absorb the calories from these more than from any other type of food.  So is it just a matter of calories?  There is no magical chemistry involved, right?
Calories are the main issue, BUT there's another one that you may need to look at.  For some people, eating carbs -> more carb cravings -> eating more carbs, and so on, until slowing down your weight loss really does become a major problem.  I've here over 2 years, and it seems to me that folks who are vulnerable to that vicious cycle effect (and don't find a way to break it) are much more likely to find their weight loss slowing down.

Bottom line - You have to find what works for you.  You're doing great for 3 months, but keep in mind that we SMOs tend to lose faster at first, but often have a harder time getting to goal (wherever that is for you).  When I had surgery, I wanted to lose at least 125 lbs. (my own goals, not the BMI charts), and was hoping to lose 150.  The way I figured this, I could count on only 12 to 18 months for my maximum weight loss window.  That's not really a long time in the grand scheme of life, so I was gonna do whatever it took to make the most of that window.  I was 56 when I had my DS, and I didn't want to lose any more of my life to obesity than I already had.  And I sure as hell didn't want to be kicking the crap out of myself down the line if I didn't lose enough because I screwed it up!

Find your path, stay on it, and you'll be rockin' your DS all the way down the scales!

Hi Stephanie,

Well done on your weight loss!  I know what you mean about having your own goal separate from the BMI charts.  I've been fat since the age of 7 or so.  I take after my grandmother, who was fat.  I think it would be very unnatural and possibly unhealthy for me to be at what the BMI charts say.

I don't know if I'm one of those "carbs begets more carbs" people.  I might be.  But I know that today I was not craving carbs because, I think, yesterday I had some.  197 grams' worth, to be precise.  Today I stuck to protein.

I will be happy if I hit 200 pounds.  For me, that is 220 pounds down from SW/HW.

Here's the truth.  It's individual.  Some people can eat a lot of carbs and the weight just falls off effortlessly.  The DS does all the work.  Others have to work hard, diet, and restrict carbs to the max.  Here's the part that stinks.  When do you know for sure what will happen to you?  When you stop losing way before all the weight is gone.  So you take your chances.  Up to you.

Personally I say lose the weight first.  Then worry about carbs.  Till the weight is gone, the only carb you need is a green veggie or something like that.  It's not forever.  Just till you reach your goals.  Just leave the rest of that crap alone till you are in those size 2,4,6 jeans and you are happy with your weight.  If you are getting in all your protein; you don't have room for it anyway.

Ketosis isn't a problem.  It just means you are forcing your body to use fat as fuel instead of the usually more readily available sugars.  It's usually temporary and you might have some bad breath or a metallic taste in your mouth.  For us, ketosis is generally a good thing.  And our ketosis has nothing to do with the potentially fatal problem some type 1 diabetics experience called Diabetic Ketoacidosis.

You pick.  Depends on how bad you want to lose all the weight.

Hi Patty,

Thanks for the input.  I don't really want to lost that much weight.  I have a feeling that I will be happy hitting 200 pounds (about a size 16 or 18). 

Part of the thing is that I'm feeling really deprived right now.  I don't think I'm ever going to hit a "goal" under a 25 BMI.  Also, I'm getting in all my protein and then some.  It's no problem for me to eat 120g protein a day in food.  Tri tip, fish, eggs, etc. 

I guess what I'm saying is I don't feel like I could live forever (or for even 2 years) eating 50g or less a day in carbs, just veggies.  I think I'd want to shoot myself in the head.