Question:
What are healthy daily fat and carb intake ranges?

I'm 1 month post surgery and have been tracking my daily food intake with Health Tracker (on this website) but it doesn't say what good limits are for various things like fat and carb gram intake. I know my protein intake has to be 60-80 per day and I'm fine with that. It's hard to track the other stuff when you don't know what the ranges should be. Will see my NUT soon.    — Jardee (posted on April 25, 2010)

April 25, 2010
I was not allowed NO carbs until I lost 75% of my weight. After that I am supposed to eat my protein first then I may have a high complex carb, i.e., brown rice, quinoa, oatmeal, whole wheat pasta and the such. I would check with your Dr. Good luck!
   — FSUMom

April 25, 2010
You're off to a good start with the lifestyle changes. Being conscious of what we eat is priority as much as the quantity. My nutritionist, who works with my surgeon, recommends a 40/30/30 balance of protein/carbs/fat, with protein the highest and consumed first at each meal. Early out it is near impossible to get in all that we need due to our reduced capacity so don't fret over it, just aim to meet the protein and fluid goals for now. I use the Daily Plate on www.livestrong.com to track my food intake. It has a pie chart that shows it in the percentage format as well as total the daily and weekly values on calories, fat, carbs, sodium, etc. You can even print them out if you need to and show them to your nutritionist. The one on OH may do this also, I just don't know it because I haven't used theirs. I would caution against the advice of zero carbs as that is dangerous to your health. The human body requires 40g of carbs per day for brain function alone. I gave up extreme dieting when I had my surgery as my surgeon advocates a nutrionally balanced eating plan similar to the old standby, US food pyramid. He does not believe in cutting out any one food group unless you have an allergy or if it is non-nutritional (i.e., sugar). It doesn't show which type of surgery you had but I believe the advice I've shared is sound for any type. If you begin an exercise program at a gym, ask if they have a nutritionist or registered dietician on staff. Some do and this can help you tremendously if your surgeon's office doesn't have a recommendation to one for you. Best of luck on your journey!
   — Arkin10

May 2, 2010
My nutritionist kept drawing a circle with 1/4 of it blocked out. She kept saying that 75% of each meal needed to be protein, and the other 25% could be carbs. That confused me soooo much until I finally had the chance - months later - to ask another nutritionist at my surgeon's office what the first one meant. This one drew the same circle...and I was so frustrated, until it finally dawned on me that what she was drawing was a PLATE....and that whatever you had on your PLATE should be 75% volume protein, and 25% volume carbs. THEN it made sense. She said if you eat each meal like that, then it should work out to about 10-15 grams of protein per meal, and about 5-8 grams of fat, and about 10 grams of carbs. And, of course, she's talking about eating 6 small meals per day. One thing that might help you is to eat off of a very small plate. It actually holds more food than you can eat, and I'm over a year out and STILL eat off of a sandwich plate all the time.
   — Erica Alikchihoo