THANK YOU!!! You just confirmed my own gut instincts

Birdiegirl: Throughout most of this journey I've felt focused and in control --- until my 3 month NUT appointment. I don't consider myself a passive follower and I usually research things before I make decisions, but when I left my appointment I felt very confused. The NUT told me my protein should go down to 68g according to some calculation (not explained to me), and that I should have more carbs etc. I actually felt frustrated and kind of lost for a couple of weeks afterwards.

I know VSG is slower than RNY, but the basic principles are the same. Your post, IMHO, is right on...actve lifestyle-important, being aware of your carb & protein counts-imperative.

I appreciate and agree with what you've said, and I appreciate your daily comments on the "What are you eating?" posts. I'm back on track emotionally and motivationally. I want to thank you and the other vets who have been so generous with your advice --- all of it has given me the support, encouragement and information needed to keep me on the right path. I know the meetings with hospital staff are important, but the insight from experienced vets is invaluable.

Heyy Libra1

When I went to my 3month follow up too, I left feeling VERY confused and overwhelmed! I was doing sooooo well and losing losing losing and when I left, I was second guessing EVERYTHING I was doing and eating. 

She told me the same thing, lower my protein, add more carbs. I actually blurted out "Are you nuts??! I don't think so!" 

They say that if you take your weight and divide it by 2, that's how much protein a person should eat. But not going over 120g protein in a day because out bodies don't absorb it. That is what I was told. 

Exactly Leanne -- confused and overwhelmed.

For a period of time after that appointment I lost nothing. Now I follow my own gut and advice from people like yourself. I've begun to lose again and I'm feeling more confident in my choices. Thanks for your post.

Everyone needs to remember that Dietitians are governed by their College and they are only allowed to tell us how to eat according to their College's rule, which means following the Canada Food Guide. I don't think they are stupid by telling us to eat more carbs, they are simply doing what they are legally bound to do.  A nutritionist on the other hand is not governed by any body but they also don't have the education that dietitians have so you have to tread lightly listening to them too.  I believe they need to have bariatric nutritionists in our programs and not Registered Dietitians because we don't eat like normal people.  Keeping carbs low and protein high is what works best.  My RD told me to decrease protein to 70 grams and to consume 150 grams of carbs, well guess what, I gain weight on that and she told me that I needed that many carbs for good brain function.  I said is there anything wrong with my brain function as far as you can tell?  She said not at all, you are as sharp as can be so I told her that I had kept my carbs low for 8 years so I guess obviously my brain doesn't need 150 grams of carbs.  She didn't know what to say.

As far as net carbs vs full carbs, I don't go for the net crap either. If I put it in my mouth then it's full on carbs, doesn't matter if it has fibre or sugar alcohols that I can deduct, I claim the full calorie count for those items so only makes sense to count the full carb count as well.  I stick to veggies for my carbs, with the odd piece of fruit and very rarely do I touch bread, rice, potatoes, noodles, etc.  I ate some whole grain bread the other day and I was bloated for 2 days after. Not worth it plus it triggers cravings for more carbs for me.  I do eat legumes, beans, etc but they don't seem to trigger carb cravings like other stuff does.  I love quinoa but it triggers cravings so I eat that mostly in the summer in salads.

Hi Tracey. I take everything with a grain of salt and I have never seen a fat dietician, so whatever wisdom they can share comes from books and regulations. They've never lived in a fat person's body. They've never experienced different metabolisms from within. So, guidelines are great, you use them according to your own needs. I am insuline resistant, so my carb intake should be 20-30g all the time, or I will not fit through the door. And I am pre-op. It can be done, if you curb your cravings and I did try it hardcore way... and starting passing out two-three weeks later and was hazy half the time. I had hard time concentrating and ever speaking coherently. Our brains do needs glucoze and the best one does come from carbs consumed, not from burned fat and muscle. I wouldn't go 150g of carbs to be the sharpest tack in the box but you can play with YOUR OWN safe numbers. It's trial and error. I find that listening to your body is the best guideline you can follow

Great post, birdie. It's sad to see so many people go through surgery and come out more confused than before. Post-op is action time, not to be wasted on searching for information that should have been given or researched prior to surgery

Always interesting to read the expertise and experience of so many people. I try not to obsess about food too much but I'm not as experienced as some of you are but I just want to continue changing my relationship with food or let's say  - I want to think about food less. I really can't eat things like that are unhealthy anyway so that's not a problem and even before surgery I favoured whole grain foods like brown rice, whole grain breads, legumes and whole wheat pasta. I really enjoy soups like a split pea soup etc.. I was told to eat of small plates (which I started doing before surgery) and I was told that half this small plate should have protein, then of the remaining half 2/3rd's should be veggies and 1/3 should be a whole grain carb. I try to follow this guideline. I do think that whole grain carbs are very important for nerve growth and that there are so many micronutrients in foods  - I don't think it's wise to dismiss any whole food. As for protein I try to get it mostly from organic meat /legumes/ nuts / seeds and tofu because saturated fat is still saturated fat and nobody will convince me that eating a lot of animals (and concentrated pesticides/antibiotics'/etc.. is good for you. Maybe I'm wrong but my problem was that I used food to cope with stress and to achieve a certain feeling. For me, the challenge is not so much about obsessing more about food (calorie counting/protein/carb wars/ and tracking all the time) it's more about learning new ways of coping and really focusing on all the benefits I feel from losing the weight. I so appreciate everyone's input but for me, it's about so much more than the food. 

Karen

You have been so helpful in my journey, I am just over 3 months out and your "what are you eating/doing" has been a big part of that. Logging on your post makes me look at what I am doing and seeing what others are doing. The suggestions and helpful words have been invaluable!

I appreciate your advice and as someone who wants to succeed, I say keep talking  cause I am listening...and I do not seem to be the only one!

Keep up the great work.

Katie