Making a case for carbs...

“Nuh-uh, Nik! My NUT told me to be carb free!!!"

 

Yeah. That’s not a good idea. I don’t even think it’s possible. But going further than that there is a case to be made by not going “low carb" at all.

 

DISCLAIMER: I am not necessarily speaking to newbies on this one. The amount of carbs you eat should be taken into consideration with the number of calories you eat. Less calories = less carbs. However, when we are far enough out to eat a normal amount of calories (and yes 1,200-1,500 is pretty normal for many non-ops who eat healthfully), we should adjust our carb intake accordingly.

Here, in my estimation, are a few very good reasons to NOT have a super-low carb diet.

 

1.      There are nutrients in those carbs! Veggies are loaded with vitamins and minerals and whole grains are a good source of B vitamins and selenium. Yes, we malabsorb vitamins/minerals for pretty much the rest of our lives, but it stands to reason that the more we eat, the more we get.

2.      FIBER! Here’s some carb common sense (at least to me), especially for those “I only eat 30g of carbs a day!" folks. If the average healthy human needs 25g of fiber, how do you propose getting that without taking in at least 25 grams of carbs FROM fiber? And if you do so and adhere to the “30 grams" thing that only leaves you five grams left. For the whole damn day! Considering we can’t absorb fiber or convert it into energy AND that we need carbs to…um…not DIE before a workout, it would stand to reason that you should probably get more than 30g of carbs a day. More than 50 even, I’d argue.

3.      Fiber has more than one use. It helps us poo, yes. But some types of fiber help regulate how our bodies use fat. Hence, Cheerios claim to help your heart (although that may have been disproven). So integrating whole grains with insoluble fiber can help you have a healthier heart. I dunno about you but I am in this to live a longer life. Scale be damned. I don’t want to be skinny and dead of a heart attack!

4.      In the long run eating veggies (a source of carbs) can help control your caloric intake when you can eat more. I eat a humongous salad every day. In and of itself the salad has, what, maybe 150 calories (maybe). I put about 5 oz. of protein on top and eat myself silly. Now if I did that with a burger and fries, even though I could not eat much of it, can you imagine how many more calories that would be?

So I guess what I’m saying is two things. First, not all carbs are the same. We know that. I don’t like the term “good" and “bad" carbs. There are ones that are nutritious and ones that are not-so-nutritious. Not all carbs are starches. Milk is 50% MORE carbs than protein (check the nutrition label…it’s true). So don’t lump all carbs into one category. You’ll do yourself a BIG disservice.

 

Secondly, although we have altered guts, our bodies still need what they need. And for us, unfortunately, they need even more of it because of our absorption issues. So take that into account when making any food decision. Is your choice helping your body get what it needs or is it taking essential nutrients away. Your labs may be fine now, but these things don’t start showing up until way late sometimes. So when making food decisions, use good common sense and consider your HOLISTIC health, not just your weight loss. Because like I said…I dunno about you, but between being the skinniest I could be and being alive…I choose being alive!

You make a very good point! To me, what I know i'll need to work hard on avoiding (because it's a trigger now), are those overly refined carbs, like pizza crust and noodles. I just have a hard time with portion control on those.

may that change? hopefully, but I know it's something i'll have to watch out for.

I'm hoping to be able to eventually eat my fruits and veggies without issues!

I just LOVE you Nik....you always speak what I think!!!!! 

Plus we need carbs for brain function.  I want my brain to function!  Somedays it does on a smaller scale.

I agree absolutely that carbs have to be a part of a healthy diet - but I think that people who have not studied nutrition or been diabetic might not understand what "carbs" are, and why some are healthier and less of a "trigger" than others.

I always say that I try to limit simple or white carbs - simple as in sweets, chocolates, cakes, cookies etc and white as in white bread, pasta, rice etc - anything that has been processed out of its original nutritional value!!!!

I really try to eat only wholegrain bread, brown rice or quinoa - I will eat couscous for variation and because I really can't eat very much of it.   I rarely eat sweets, cakes or cookies but if I do, I eat the REAL thing - no sugar or butter substitutes!   For me, I think it would be a slippery slope to put a scoop of protein and splenda in a brownie and say it was good for me!!!!  Not saying that doesn't work for some, but at this stage, I really don't crave these foods very often.    If I had ANY choice for dessert it would be fresh fruit ****tail - HONESTLY!!!! - still a carb, but a little more nutritious.

My weakness is chocolate (another fine carb!) but I try to eat the highest cocoa content I can find - 70% is ideal for me - and then I will just eat one or two squares and NOT the whole bar!!   I have never really appreciated American chocolate as much as our English stuff, so forgoing the Hershey bar is a little easier on me probably!

You are right about English chocolate! I do not nor have I ever craved or been a "chocolate" person, but my close friend from Bristol introduced me to the good stuff! I've not had any since surgery, but I will try some again in a year or two.

Great post -- another point is that if anyone's goal is to do any type of endurance sport (other than bodybuilding which still requires some carbs), then carbs become crucial. Just not junk....

and let's face it -- who ever got fat eating an apple? If an apple was bad for me, no wonder i ended up where I was....: )

Excellet point Kitten!

In addition...

You don't even have to do endurance events. 

If you maintain an ultra low carb diet you will deplete your glycogen stores, which forces your body to turn to carbs for energy BUT WAIT! you do ultra low carbs so you have no carbs to convert to energy so yes then your body will begin to use muscle.

Have no energy at the gym or while walking?  Do you smell like amonia after your Zumba class both are signs that your body does not have the proper fuel for the activity.


You will see people post that when they eat some carbs they instantly start gaining weight.  The reason is they probably have low glycogen reserves and when they get the carbs in their system their body starts converting them to glycogen.

1 pound of Glycogen requires about 2 pounds of water to be stored  meaning for a pound of glycogen your body will have 3 total pounds.  Your body on avergae will store around 2 pounds of glycogen.

Remember all those other diets you tried where you lost 5-10 pounds in the first couple weeks  probably not fat it was you using your glycogen stores.  This is where the term "Water Weight" comes from.

So many people here preach about educating ourselves on vitamins and such but I feel very little is said about educating ourselves on a healthy diet, and so many would rather just go along with what someone told them.  Wait Beans are carbs!  so I won't eat beans!  But damn if I won't chow a Banana because that is a fruit and better for me!

If you want to be successful in your post op life you need to educate yourself on all aspects of your new life and then live that way.

puh-REACH it Paul!

What I think bugs me is the mindset of weight loss over holistic health. We're still human. We still need the things that every healthy human needs. Don't sacrifice your long-term health. It is possible to lose the weight AND maintain health. It might not come off in six months flat, but in the long run you'll be just as small and healthy!

People who think that can lose weight and live and become healthy without a Healthy Diet and Exercise should google the term "Skinny Fat People".

Just because you don't weigh 300 pounds anymore doesn't mean that you are now Healthy.

Having a normal BMI doesn't make you healthy sure you are no longer obese or over weight but if you weigh in at 160 and have 30% body fat makes you less healthy than me at 220 with 21-22% body fat.

Nik I LOVE! the fact that you do not obsese over A goal weight or a number on a scale but have found the point at which you are happy.

YOU ARE AWESOME!!!

Oh yeah and as for carbs I had chips and salsa for dinner the other night  and had ZERO guilt.