SUGAR

Dear good people, is there are way to eat carbs, good, complex, whatever without over-indulging if sugar is your drug???? I am not a meat lover, but am trying. I am not a bread person, but like cereal. Does anyone have suggestions about carbs that don't lead to full on blowout? Or, do I need to go "carb-free" all together? What and when to eat them?

I am awaiting your helpful information and suggestions.

Well most vegetables are good carbs, just avoid the starchy ones like corn and potatoes on a daily basis. Try googling low carb foods and see what you like from that list. As for cereals I'd try to stick to whole grain ones, they will have quite a few carbs but they are a good source of fiber so good for you. I don't think being carb free is a good idea, no need to go that drastic. Try going to Atkins.com and check out the foods and recipes there.

I still eat carbs and I was always a bread, potato, chips and pasta person. Now I eat good carbs. I love to eat oatmeal, but somedays my band doesn't allow it. I try to keep my carbs as low as possible but still have energy.

I have big issues with sugar.  For the first 9 mo. post op I limited my sugar by not eating anything with more than 5 g of sugar per serving.  It's not easy but it worked for me and I wasn't craving carbs. 

I also switched all my carbs from the "white" carbs, i.e. white bread, crackers, rice, flour, potatoes, to their comlex carb counterpart, i.e., whole grain bread and crackers, brown rice, WW flour and yams.  While a carb is a carb is a carb, I think it makes a difference for me and I know that the added fiber is an additional benefit.  Another important carb that I don't skimp on, (especially if  you don't eat much meat), are beans and grains like Quinoa.  Black beans are great to cook with and you can add them to almost anything from salads, casseroles, soups, etc. 

Hope this helps!

Lisa O.

I can eat steelcut oatmeal in the morning and do fine, but if I try to eat any kind of processed carbs (crackers in particular) in the evenings, I'm doomed.

You might want to also investigate Glycemic Index:  http://www.glycemicindex.com/


and the Fullness Factor:  http://nutritiondata.self.com/topics/glycemic-index#estimating

I try to limit the carbs.  I stick to the complex carbs and high fiber carbs.  I stay away from processed carbs and anything white.  I found that sticking to a clean eating  meal plan really helps.