Question:
Nutrition Values ??

Hi Everyone and Thank you in advance for your replies. I have a question. I am going to my PCP to discuss WLS and i know i have to be on a medically supervised diet for 6 months prior to insurance approval. I am a neurotic planner and I have figured out a meal plan but it looks like i am eating way to many carbs. What is a good ratio (percentage) of Fat, carbs and protein in a healthy diet. Please bare in mind that this is way way pre op.. So i am not on any restrictions besides what i put on myself to lose a few pounds prior to surgery and make insurance and dr happy. Does this sound right ? 20% Fat 50% Carbs 30% Protein Above is what the ADA says to have. To me that is to many carbs. especially since i am going to have to seriously limit them after surgery. What cha think.. ?? Thanks a bunch.. Michele    — michelemcd (posted on February 9, 2007)

February 9, 2007
I can't tell you what percentages to stay at, and personally don't believe in doing it that way. I'm 8 months post op right now and lost 50 lbs prior to surgery. I was not required to be on a medically supervised diet, I just started to watch what I ate and started to lose. Here is what I did and maybe you can gain some insight... For breakfast, I'd have an 8 oz Spirutein Protein Shake, I'd also have the same for lunch (both made with milk not water). THen for dinner, I'd have a SMALL Lean Cuisine or something else healthy and in small portions. For snacking, I'd have celery sticks, carrots, pretzels, popcorn, or any other healthy type of snack. I'd allow myself a snack in the morning, mid afternoon and before bed. I would also substitute another protein shake for one of those snacks. I was a binge eater, so I know that if I totally take the junk food and good stuff out of my diet then I'm setting myself up for failure. So, occasionally, I let myself have a bite or two of ice cream or a cookie, or something else that wasn't healthy aka junk food. Just enough to satisfy my urge but not enough to go graze on the item. I still do this today so that I don't decide to binge and get sick. This way you are still allowing yourself something good occasionally and rewarding yourself but also doing what you need to loose weight. In my opinion, doing this by percentages is setting yourself up for failure. So is having a detailed meal plan. You may not be in the mood for what is on your dinner menu, and then that will lead to not wanting it or getting something else easy like junk food for dinner. I filled my freezer with Lean Cuisines and would go pick what sounded good for that night's dinner. I also have a family and would cook for them. If I chose to have what they were having, which wasn't often, I'd severely limit my portions. Hopefully this will give you a good idea. It's possible that being a neurotic planner may not be a good thing when you need to eat what sounds good to keep yourself on the diet. I hope this made sense and helped some!
   — oceanrayne

February 9, 2007
i don't know what to tell you about the actual percentages, a nutritionist would be able to answer those questions specifically, but what may be a good idea is just cut your portions down. eat what you normally would only in smaller portions and try to make healthier choices. for example, cut back on junk foods and sweets, carefully monitor and cut back on fats. broil, grill, and bake instead of frying foods, etc. i am planning on having GBS whenever i can get insurance approval and the major changes i have already made are completely cutting out regular sodas and sweets. it hasn't been nearly as hard as i thought it would be. i have found some great sugar free alternates for sweet snacks and they have been a life saver. hope this helps holly
   — RNlvnCARSON

February 9, 2007
Hi Michele. Best of luck to you! I'm almost at my one year anniversary and would do it again in a heartbeat! To answer your question: Only a nutritionist can really advise you, but my pre-op weight loss instructions were mostly to wean myself off carbonated drinks and alcohol -- neither of which was an issue for me, caffeine, sugar, and high-fat foods; stop drinking any liquids 30 minutes prior to eating and for one hour afterward; and experiment with protein shakes until I found one that I like. (I also quit all snacking between meals. That had worked great for losing weight in the past, at least for as long as I could stick to it. Knowing that I had to lose weight to qualify for my doctor's and insurance company's approval was a strong motivation to stick with it.) I was told to puchase a food scale and get in the habit of weighing/measuring different foods to get a good idea of what a correct serving size is. Everyone has a different opinion on this, and each dr.'s program is different, but my advice pre-surgery is to focus on what is considered healthy eating for where you are now. The ADA guideines should qualify. Your body's needs will change after surgery anyway. Any good WLS doctor will have at least one nutritionist on staff, so you will have an expert helping you with this both before and after surgery.
   — packrat

February 10, 2007
Michele, I had to also do the 6 month Pre-Op diet for my insurance. So my surgeon put me on the same diet I'd be following Post-Op, of pure proteins. Just eggs, meats, fish & cheeses. I cut down to 4-6 ounces per meal 4 times a day before surgery and lost 40 pounds. You may want to start cutting at least the Carbs out that we all enjoy so much. As carbs make you crave more carbs. I've lost another 140 in the last 9 months as a Post-opter. Good Luck as you choose. Remember also to be creative when cooking so your eatting doesn't get boring.
   — Michael Eak

February 10, 2007
Thank you everyone for your replies. They were great. Good luck to us all.. Michele
   — michelemcd

February 10, 2007
You know what I eat what I want and what my body can handle without dumping everones body is different . So theres no answer . I dont own a scale or count calories . I never wanted to get to obsessed . I have lost 200 lbs in 2 years and I keep losing . I eat all sorts of things even sugars and things they say not to eat . I have no idea how I am still losing weight but it works for me . Actually the doc said dont lose anymore weight I weighed 347 day of surgery and lost 200 as I said above . Good luck for you hun !!
   — LongBeachDiva

February 12, 2007
YOu might as well get used to eating a lot of protein. Try the Atkins or South Beach Diet plans, because that is how you will have to eat following the surgery. Don't forget that your diet has to be doctor-supervised, so talk to your PCP about it. Your PCP will have to dsee you at least once a month to document your weight.
   — Novashannon