Low Calorie vs. Low Carb for older post ops

November I will be 3 yrs post op, I have gained 30 lbs w/i the past year. I have come to the conclusion the low carb is no longer for me, so I have started watching my calories instead. I am having more success with watching my calorie intake, drinking lots of water, limiting my salt intake and started exercising. When I was trying to do high protein/low carb I would experience a problem with water retention and constipation no matter how much water I drank. Now I eat fruit, wheat bread, and lots of veggies, Special K cereal, oatmeal, and popcorn. I no longer retain water and my bowel function has improve 100% and the weight is pouring off. I had tried over and over again to go back to eating the way I did when I first had surgery and it just didn't work for me. So far, I have lost 10 lbs in 3 weeks, most of it I lost this past week when I started eating more grain, fruit and veggies. Has anyone else experienced this?

WOW, good for you Nancy. I too felt better in general when I added back some good carbs to my diet. If I would just add some exercise to my daily routine I would have this last 20 pounds gone.

Are you exercising too? More or the same as before?

I go to the gym for 1 hr everyday, I do 30 min on the treadmill, 30 min on the stationary bike, 10 minutes on the Eliptical machine, I do 30 crunches using the ball, and I use a few arm toning machines. I noticed that my body started rejecting the high protein, low carb foods. My bladder began to bother me and no matter what I would take, I was always severely constipated. I feel sooooooooooo much better now and the weight loss has just skyrocketed. I am not a doctor, I can only speak for myself, I think after awhile your body can get too used to something and start to reject it.

Hi Nancy, I am 2 years post op and I was having the same problems. I joined Weigh****chers last week and I have lost 6 lbs already. The high protein, low carb just wasn't doing it anymore for me. I am enjoying a wide variety of foods (but I still try and focus on protein by having 2 protein shakes a day 3 points each, 20 grams protein each) and seem to be losing again. Of course exercise (ugh) is helping. I have been working out with a personal trainer twice a week and walking 2 miles the other 3 days....(did I mention I HATE to exercise...lol) Good luck to you and thanks for the post Terese -130 8-19-03 RNY

Terese: Congrats! I am glad to see that other people are experiencing the same thing and that I am not crazy, lol. Sometimes, you have to do your own research and try to figure out what is right for you. Please keep in touch and let me know how things are going and I will do the same. Good Luck!

Hi Nancy, Good for you on the weight loss. I too had a problem with not losing. I went to a diabetic educator, she put me on a lower fat, lower carb diet. This includes breads, veggies, fruit, etc... I have lost 30 lbs since late Feb. Seems like adding some things back in have helped the body get back into the swing of things. Happy losing MaryLyn -180

Hi MaryLyn! Isn't it amazing! I feel like my body needed to be detoxed, like I said earlier, I had problems with my bladder and bowels, so I really believe that me not being able to get rid of waste (not trying to be gross) was poisoning my system. Now that I eat mostly fruits, grains and vegetables, I have sooooo much energy and my stomach doesn't hurt everyday, therefore, I want to get up and go, go, go!

Just think Nancy, you will be healthier because of the new habits... Marylyn