Protein = weightloss?

The problem alot of DSers face is the "NUT" who doesnt have a clue about the DS.

DSers can and should eat all meat sources..PROTEIN! And, since we only absorb about 20% of the fat we ingest, FULL FAT is good for us. Matter of fact we need it to keep joints lubed and ward off constipation.

To kick start weight loss ya need to up  your protein to at least 150g a day...maybe more and you need to cut the carbs to ..say 50-75 a day.

Theres alot of info at DSfacts.com and overon the other board.

 First of all, my nutritionist works along side of my bariatrician.There are seasoned D.S. professionals  in this practice, and Dr Kemmeter is on the vetted list, highly regarded. New D.S. ideas are coming along all the time. Now they are custom designing nutritional programs to suit each persons specific needs. There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to WLS programs and nutrition.

I have a small frame and short stature. When I eat over 120g protein I stall. I have been eating steak and pork, and all kinds of  protein, and veggies. Thats how I was able to drop over 100 lbs in 6 months. I am ahead of most for weight loss. Now , after slowing down the last push for my 25 lbs to goal weight, requires additional ideas specific to my needs.

On all boards people are posting daily diets- me too. If you have been reading the other boards, following my posts, you would know where my journey has been leading me. My food choices have been sound, and approved by my nutritionist and my PCP. The food plans distributed by this practice for the D.S. pre and post surgery  have been specifically designed for D.S. requirements. I have many medical people in my family. I am being monitored carefully by specialists in many fields. Everything I chose to do concerning weight loss is for my greater health and longevity.

Grand Health Partners DUODENAL SWITCH MEAL PLAN- 6 months After Surgery
10 Tools to Maintain Weight Loss and Stay Healthy

"HEART HEALTH": FATS
Healthy Fat Recommendations:
Diets High in "Undesirable Fats" have a higher risk of coronary Heart Disease

Total Fat : Less than 30% of total calories
Saturated Fat: Less than 7% of total calories
Polyunsaturated Fat: Less than 10% of total calories
Cholestrol: Less than 300mg/day
Monounsat Fat: 10-15% of total calories
Trans Fat: Less than 1%of total calories

Types of Harmful fats: Food Source
Saturated Fat: Animal products( such as high fatty red meats, poultry,whole ft dairy products, lard, butter), and coconut , palm and other tropical oils

Trans Fat: Partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, commertial baked goods,( such as cookies and cakes), fried foods,( such as donuts and french fries), shortening and margerine.

Decrease intake of Saturated Fat.
Decrease intake of Trans-Fats

Types of healthy fats: 
Monounsaturated fat: Olive oil,peanut oil, canola oil,avocados,nuts and seeds.
Polyunsaturated Fat: 
Vegitable oils, nuts and seeds
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: 
Fatty cold water fish,( sucg as salmon,mackerel and herring), flaxseeds, flax oil,and walnuts.

Increase fiber with unsoluable fiber - this type of fiber helps move material through your digestive system. for those who struggle with constipation.

I will be posting the food list for 6 months post surgery and beyond in my next installment.



Grand Health Partners are offering a Boot Camp for breaking stalls next Sat. They will be teaching new findings to help with jump starting WL post surgery. If you are able, and live close, you should come. It would be good for any one who has had their surgery a few years ago to hear the updated information. 

 It sounds more like RNY guidelines than DS to me.  The fact that they point out how to avoid constipation is a dead giveaway (very common for RNY - not DS).  You've lost 100lbs in 6 months because you had the DS.  This isn't as much of a phenomena as you think.  30% fat is mighty small for a person who only absorbs 20% of the fat they consume.  I eat complete full fat (including delicious chicken skin and the fatty edge of my favorite brisket) and my cholesterol is only 112.  There is another surgeon in my area that tells his patients to enjoy a slice of cheesecake daily to ensure they get enough fat each day.  

In fact, I just got a physical for life insurance, and my bloodwork was so good that the insurance company cut me a check for a partial refund to the premium I paid, because I was in the highest class of health that they had on their rate sheet, a rarity for life insurance providers.

You're early out, so you don't trust your own judgement yet and that's okay.  As you find yourself coming short on things, don't be afraid to pioneer on your own and seek some of the more common practices.  Just cuz your doc or nut said doesn't make it gospel, I'm afraid.

The "heart healthy" and "unhealthy" fats are IRRELEVANT to DSers because we DO NOT ABSORB THEM.

I am 12 years out.  I eat more "unhealthy fats" than you can imagine.  My cholesterol is LOW LOW LOW like all DSers.

There is no reason for you not to eat pork and beef,  no reason for you to not eat the skin on chicken.  You can choose to listen to your medical team which does not understand the DS,  or you can read dozens, dozens, dozens of posts from people who have lived with the DS for years.

If you want to lose weight and keep your systems going well,  you need to eat more protein,  fewer carbs (especially fewer simple carbs),  and stop worrying about fat intake.    Drink lots of water. 

I wonder what the vitamins/supps recommendations you are getting from these people are.

And by the way,  lots of people here have "medical people" in their family.  In fact my father,  stepmother, stepfather,  aunt, uncle, and both grandfathers are physicians.

You did not drop over 100 lbs in 6 months because you ate a low fat diet.  MOST PEOPLE here lost that much weight and many lost more....and with plenty of protein and fat in their diets.  You lost that weight BECAUSE YOU HAD A DS AND YOU ARE NOT ABSORBING.

With all your arrogance and smarts,  your unwillingness to learn from the vast experience here on this board is going to harm you.

And besides,  if you don't need any help and you don't think you will benefit from the experience here,  and you are so sure that your nutritionist etc are correct....then what do you seek to get from posting here?

There are lots of very respected DS surgeons out there who DO NOT KNOW **** about followup, nutrition,  vitamins,  etc.  In fact MOST OF THE DS SURGEONS are not worth even talking to after your surgery is over.  I have not used a DS surgeon in over 10 years - why on earth would I?  Surgeons are surgeons,  they are not internists or gastroenterologists or endocrinologists.

Full fat meat and dairy etc etc are perfect DS foods.

Oh, honey! You need to be putting the skin back on that chicken. And eating beef! And pork! Oh my goodness gracious! Get yourself a nice pork butt roast, stick it in the crockpot, put some green salsa on top of it and let it cook all day long. Then eat it! A nice ribeye steak, cooked to perfection. Do not be neglecting the other white meat and red meat! You had the DS for crying out loud!

You do NOT need to be worried about your heart and fats. Whoever is telling you that is telling you something that doesn't apply to us. In fact, some of us (me, me!) have to ADD lots of fat into their diet in order to keep from getting too low of cholesterol. I was getting into seriously dangerous levels - i.e. far too low. Dr. K and I decided that I would seriously up my fat content. Lo and behold, my levels raised up juuuuust enough to make me safe. With the DS, you are in more danger of having too low of cholesterol levels than too high. It would really only be an issue if you had the genetic component to high cholesterol that you would need to worry about solid fats.

 This is nonsensical.  Why would upping the fat with fatty cheese be healthier than eating the skin on chicken, or eating beef?  And why,  if you don't absorb fat,  does "heart-healthy" fat have any relevance?

Have you seen this nutritionist's RNY guidelines?  If so,  how are they different from the DS guidelines?

What (details) supplements/vitamins are you taking?  How much calcium, for example,  and what form?  How many times a day?  Same re Vit D...

 First of all, you're getting very little nutrition from those salads, so by all means, add lots of meat and cheese to them so your metabolism realizes that something's in there to work with.  Also, get out and play now that the weather is warmer.  We have a tendency to sit on our fannies underneath a blankie during the winter, so your walking and jogging is a great idea.

To everyone: I really appreciate all of your feedback! Thanks for being patient with me. I had DS when I turned 18 and had the typical "I already have the world figured out" syndrome .
Keep the suggestions/advice coming!
~Amy

 Hi Valerie,
The constipation issues are all mine, from Hashimotos Hypothyroid, had it way before the D.S. I have been eating a high fat, skin on , fat from around the steak, filet mignon, fatty pork chops.....and all the rest you all speak of being the best D.S. diet. All the fat doesnt help the constipation.  I dont eat  bread, pasta, sugar carbs, but carbs are in my shake mixes, and pre made shakes, calcium chews..... They all add up to 20-30 carbs a day.  My cholesterol has always been low. My heart is in great shape. I really dot care what i eat for the next 6 months, as long as I can reach my goal. I do realize people have lost more than me at the 6 month point, but they most likely weighed more at the start. Its not a race. Metabolisms are different.

I knew posting a diet very different than all the common  beliefs  for D.S. would spark some interesting discussions. Lots of  people are reading and learning from all the posts. Its healthy to have many viewpoints represented here, in a forum about D.S. I am in favor of spreading the benefits of having the D.S. over all other WLS. This is my only interest in posting, and participating on WLS  boards. I am an independant, not linked to any political WLS groups. I enjoy reading everyones comments, and learning many angles to deal with the D.S. I have a "live out side the box" attitude. Creative solutions to life is where my interests lie. I am an artist, grew up in Pasadena Calif, have 4 cats, a dog, 2 kids and husband in the medical field, an advocate of womens health and medicine. 

There have been many questions all over the various boards about breaking stalls, and plateaus. Changing the foods around has helped me break my plateau. I happened upon this when my allergist asked me to eat only chicken breast and green beans for 3 days to clear my system for re- introducing possible allergy foods.  The allergy test was positive for whole eggs, tuna, shrimp,lobster hazelnuts, pecans. I  lost 6 pounds immediately , after not losing for a month. I tried having a few lower fat meals, cooking the fish or chicken in olive oil, yes eating the skin. I lost 6 more lbs last week. They have been weighing me at my doctors apt weekly. I  was surprised because I dont weigh every day.

I have an endocronologist/internist managing my care, at Bronson hospital, along with several other specialists. I consider people lucky to have medical relatives available to ask health questions.

 I thought it was interesting receiving this 6 month diet packet with many differences from what the major consensis is out there about how to manage the D.S. My NUT has told me to up my fat, and protein, 3 months ago, to incourage breaking my stall.  She's the same one who gave me this different D.S. diet( specific fats are allowed) I'm sure when I am maintaining, and have years experience under my belt, I will be looking for more calories to keep from losing below a healthy weight. I do eat cheese cake from time to time.  For now I am looking for any way to get to my goal while I can do it easily. The further out the more difficult it will be, every one says. I hope people will gain some information from my posts, because I am gaining lots of information from theirs.

Sandra  ;-)

Do you honestly believe that doing something different than every successful DSer is going to bring you success?