Question:
How many carbs a day allowed ?

My Dr says NO carbs, Protein only till you lose 75% of desired weight. Well this is hard to do and I don't understand why so strict when I read on here that everyone else is eating carbs. Of course I know to eat mainly protein, but, I was wondering how many carbs you fast losers are eating a day. I am 6 weeks post op had it MAy 16. Started at 225 and am 5'3" have lost 40 so far. Thanks for your help    — robyn R. (posted on July 3, 2002)

July 3, 2002
It sounds like you doctor is pretty radical to believe in just protein. I believe (and so do most health professionals) that balance is the key, with protein *first*. How many carbs? That is a good question. After eating your protein, veggies and fruit, there isn't much room left for carbs, but I certainly fit mine in. I just don't know how many. Someone here should be able to help you out with that one. I started as a lightweight, lost my 85% within 6 months, now working on that remaining 15%!!
   — Cheri M.

July 3, 2002
From what I understand your body needs carbs to break down the fat and protein... I just had my 9 month anniversary and have lost 99 lbs (just 10 more to goal). I try to keep my carbs below 150 & it's easy to do, I don't think I have ever gone over 115 or so. My doc told me not to worry about carbs, with watching my fat and sugar, and diet in general, the carbs won't be too high. Anyway, www.ivillagehealth.com/tools/healthcalc will calculate what your body would need w/out WLS. It calcualted my carbs at 243, lol! I thought that was a little high, heh! When you think about it, there ARE carbs out there that are ok... I love bananas, but they are high in carbs, I don't worry about those kind of carbs, just the ones in junk food (that I try to avoid anyway). Hope this will help you some :)
   — DonnaCarol

July 3, 2002
HELLO, THAT IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION REGARDING CARBS!!! I AM 4 MONTHS POST-OP AND I HAVE LOST 70 POUNDS. I DO LIMIT MY CARBOHYDRATES. I LIMIT MY CARBS TO NOT OVER 90 TO 100 GRAMS PER DAY AND ON SOME DAYS I ONLY TAKE IN BETWEEN 65 TO 70 GRAMS OF CARBOHYDRATES PER DAY. I KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE ON A DRASTIC LOW CARB DIET AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF YOU LOWER YOUR CARBS TOO MUCH THAT THIS WILL AFFECT YOUR SKIN TONE AND YOUR HAIR GROWTH, IT WILL ALSO MAKE YOUR HAIR THINNER. THE PEOPLE WHO I KNOW WHO ARE DEAD SET ON LOWERING THEIR CARBS LOWER THAN 30 GRAMS DAILY ARE DOING THEIR BODY MORE HARM THAN GOOD! I NOTICED THIS BEFORE I HAD SURGERY SO I PROMISED MYSELF THAT I WON'T BECOME OBSCESSED WITH LOWERING MY CARBS TO AN OUTRAGEOUS LIMIT, AND THIS I HAVE STUCK TO. I ALSO HAVE READ DIET BOOKS THAT SAYS THAT LOWERING YOUR CARBS TOO LOW IS DANGEROUS. SO I WAS DETERMINED TO NOT LOWER MINE BELOW 40 GRAMS PER DAY AND I HAVE SHED THE POUNDS AT A NICE AND STEADY PACE. I WAS A COMPULSIVE EATER BEFORE THE SURGERY AND MY CARBS, FAT AND CHOLESTERAL WAS EXTREMELY HIGH THEN BUT NOW I HAVE LOWERED MY FAT, SUGAR, CHOLESTERAL, AND I EAT NO FRIED FOODS WHATSOEVER!!! I LOOK AND FEEL 120% BETTER THAN I DID BEFORE THE SURGERY. I THANK GOD EACH AND EVERY DAY BECAUSE WITHOUT THIS SURGERY I WOULD HAVE CONTINUED ON THE PATH TO SELF-DESTRUCTION!!! GOOD LUCK AND REMEMBER DON'T LOWER THOSE CARBS TOO LOW OR IT WILL SHOW IN YOUR SKIN, DIGESTION SYSTEM, FINGERNAILS, AND MOST OF ALL YOUR HAIR! THANKS FOR SHARING, SHIRLEY
   — Shirley M.

July 3, 2002
I have lost weight pretty quickly. 118 lbs in 5 1/2 months. I tried to do what my DR said and not second guess him. DRs should be trained in nutrition. They also have to be concerened in how you heal. Protein is important in the healing process and if you eat the correct amount,in my case 80gms per day, you will lose fat and not mussel<sp> It would be very if in ones rapid weight loss they started to lose heart muscel. Good Luck
   — Robert L.

July 3, 2002
I am a WLS success story! I have lost over 185 lbs. in the last 15 months, and watching my carbs has been KEY to my weight loss. I am realistic about things, though, and allow myself SOME carbs, but usually try to get my carbs from fruits/vegs rather than bread/potatoes, etc. My general rule is to try and keep my carb intake 100 grams per day or less ... of course, this is at 15 months post-op. Early post-op, when I was only able to eat about 400-600 calories/day, I stuck away from carbs almost entirely. Hope this info. helps ... feel free to email for more details.
   — Terissa R.

July 3, 2002
although I usually follow everything My doc says, it is nearly impossible to have NO carbs. Almost everything has a small amount of carbs in it. From what I have seen, many people keep it 60 grams a day. I am 4 weeks post-op snd my surgeon and RN said not to concern myself with counting calories, fat and carbs, but just get protein and fluids in first, since we new post-ops can only eat so little at first. I have lost 35 so far and keep my carbs usually to 60 grams a day, maybe 70. Usually if you stay away from the pasta, breads and rice you can do okay, but I am no expert! :) Goodluck!
   — Lezlie Y.

July 3, 2002
I, too am a WLS success story. However, NOT watching my carbs has been the key to my success. My surgeon believes in living a normal life. I have never dieted. I watch that I get protein, but have no idea how many carbs I eat. Dieting and being obsessed with food is what led me to be morbidly obese. This freedom is amazing.... BTW started at 264. lost to goal of 139 in 8-9 months. Lost to 120 in the next 2-3 months and have maintained 118-120 since Nov. 2001. So, it is definitely working for me. Good luck to you! Shelley
   — Shelley.

July 3, 2002
I too am a WLS success story...and I do not watch my carbs. I don't go overboard on them like I used to and I make sure I get my protein in first...but...113 lbs in 7.5 months and 3 weeks post op tummy tuck @ goal, I believe in living a "normal" life...and if I make myself limit, that's just too much like dieting and well heck, I dieted my way to morbid obesity. ~CAE~
   — Mustang