South Beach Diet - TMI warning! (cross post)

Ok, so my husband has decided to drop about 10-15 pounds and wanted to try the South Beach Diet.  Since I'm the only one who knows how to work the stove in our house (grrrr...), I went out, bought the book, and started planning meals for Phase 1 of the diet.  I decided I'd be the supportive wife and try to follow the plan with him, since it probably wouldn't take him long to lose the weight anyway.  Typical man... My only concern with South Beach is that everything is low- or non-fat.  I had the DS.  I need some fat in my diet.  But I figured it wouldn't kill me.  Whooooo, boy.  Was I wrong. Between all of the vegetables (high in insoluble fiber), the lean proteins, and the reduced fat dairy and dressings, my colon has been bricked up tighter than Fort Knox!  Without all of the fat in my normal diet to lubricate that fiber, I've been blocked up.  In my 22 months as a DSer, constipation has NEVER been a problem for me, so this has really upset me. Now, had I only 30 pounds or so to lose and was of normal unaltered anatomy, this would be a great, liveable diet.  As it stands, though, this is not a post-op DS diet.  An RNY might be able to do it, since they don't lose as much of the fat as DSers do through malabsorption.  It would probably be ideal for the VSG crowd. That said, I've loved a couple of aspects of this diet: 1.  my DH has started cooking us both breakfast in the morning (eggs!! with stuff in them!!) 2.  it's low-carb, which can't hurt me! 3.  we've been trying out lots of new recipes 4.  we've been doing something together (even though I've been "cheating" recently at this diet, because I needs me some grease!) 5.  my DH is not liking this diet much, and I'm enough of a spiteful ***** to appreciate the schadenfreude - after 15 years of hearing "Just suck it up and diet!  Take a walk and excercise!" from him, it's nice to be the one in the relationship that doesn't have to diet... 6.  Oh, and I've lost about 4 pounds.  I didn't need to, but it's a nice fringe benefit, I guess.

Hi, Bronwen, There's nothing that says you can't go to Stage II or III for your own food intake, is there?? I know I've upped my intake of EVOL and maybe more avocadoes just to increase natural fats intake because it really helps the "bricked-up" feeling.  Also, an OTC stool softener works, too. Good luck.

Nothing except the desire to be kind to my husband - I've only gone off-plan when he's not around.  It's not nice to eat things he can't have in front of him, and truly, it's the lack of fat that's killing me more than anything., and that doesn't change in Phase 2 or 3.  I can do without fruits & carbs for a while - it's the fat I need.  Having something to put it on is more of an issue - if I'm not eating bread or crackers, what am I going to spread that stick of butter on? I've been totally eating loads of avocado and nuts and drenching my salads in olive oil just to try to get more fat into me, but it's not really working.  And I'm not sure that I really want to go the route of taking a stool softener, you know? I just wanted to put it out there - this may be a great diet for other surgery types and non-ops, but it's rough on a DSer.  Just out of curiosity - it sounds like you're doing this diet.  How do you like it?  Is it working for you?  And by that, I don't just mean weight loss/maintenance, but general liveability.

I have tried the SB, but not since the surgery.  I do like their recipes--the Thai Coconut Shrimp is great! I eat a lot of protein, some veggies and greens, and very few white foods--I guess that could be construed as the SB, but I am not strict about it. The pouch keeps me honest!  I still can't eat a large quantity, thank heavens, but I have to be careful about grazing. You're doing well with the dietetic fats, but sometimes an OTC stool softener is the only thing that works.  I know that's the way it is for me. Good luck to you and your DH.

I've been South Beachin' (I made that up !) for about 2 months and even as a RNY post-op, I didn't follow the low fat guidelines.  I ate skinless dark meat (poultry)because it just agrees with me better than the white meat, kept my butter (I defy ANYONE to take that away from me!), ignored the dairy for the most part, and still eat quite a few avocadoes.  I'm about to go back to Phase I in an effort to reduce my body fat percentage over the next 4-6 weeks as I work with a trainer, but that's a plan most post-ops would have to modify for one reason or another.

I agree totally!  We are each individuals with special likes and dislikes--SB is a good way to help us  stay focussed, but it is only a guide. Good luck with your trainer!

I had RNY and I can't do that low-fat thing either, for the same reasons as you. I think we all need a little lubrication, some more than others. I had trouble following WW because of the low-fat diet. I hope you get your innards straightened out soon.

As an RNY er I guess...Never cared to get involved in the label or my surgery is...part of the board...I have used the last two stages of south beach with no husband to be kind to successfully for maintainance for the last two year successfully.  I do not alway adhere to the low fat part so well as I do like my red meat a little on the fatty side but otherwise it is a great maintanance plan for me.

Bronwen, buy you some heavy cream. Stick a straw in it, and suck it down! Just kidding about that (Well, I have been known to do that when constipation is an issue!)  I figure if your hubby knows you are having issues, I figure he wouldn't mind too much if you put a little dash of  heavy cream into your coffee, tea etc. Especially since that would mean you could continue to eat like he eats but not deal with the constipation issues.

Try a dose of MOM...it works like a charm.  I do MOM once or twice a week,and 1000 mg of  mag oxide  on the othe days....my iron suppliment and the 2 bananas I eat a day plus the fiber i add to my protein shake, bind me up too. Scott