Question:
Okay-are carbs that bad for you after surgery?

I know that we are all supposed to be on ahigh protein diet after surgery, but I am a public health major in college and I know that high protein diets consuming lots of meats and cheeses like many people on here report eating lead to high cholesterol-I have not eaten red meat or pork since my senior year in high school-just chicken, fish, and turkey breast-I am concerned with only being able to eat just a bunch of meat, cheese,some fruits if I'm able to tolerate-So are Carbs totally out the question because it limits weight loss-I'm not trying to get heart disease from this high protein diet -Any Suggestions???    — TotallyTori (posted on March 18, 2003)

March 18, 2003
Our bodies need protein, carbs and fat in order to function properly. You do need to get your protein in first, but you do not have to eat red meat or pork to do that. You can get it in with chicken, turkey, fish etc. You can also use protein supplements. There are lots of them on the market. There are at least a couple of places where you can get samples of them. That way you can order some to try right after your surgery to see which ones you can tolerate. If you haven't already read this, you should know that trying them pre-op may not be a good indicator of whether you'll still like them post-op. You will also want to stay away from starches, things like bread, pasta, potatoes, etc., but once you've eaten protein, you can have some veggies and fruit.
   — garw

March 18, 2003
When you add carbs, do whole wheat bread & pasta, mashed potatoes with cheese melted on top, brown rice...make those carbs count! First of all make sure you get your protein in. In the early days of post op I hate beans --Wendy's Chile, bean or split pea soup, you could also eat nuts
   — debmi

March 18, 2003
Before surgery I was on an atkins type diet, Sommersizing, very, very limted carbs. I ate LOTS of cheese ( not low fat ), meat etc. In 4 weeks my cholesterol dropped from 230 to 190, triglycerides, 263 to 223, my good cholesterol went up, my bad went down, my blood sugar dropped and so did my AC1. My friends family went on the same plan, Her triglyceries in 9 weeks dropped 300 points, all her other tests improved as well and she was taken off one of her blood sugar meds. Her husbands bloodwork was the same, everything improved. My sister, who was able to lose 100 lbs on her own (wish I had her willpower), after eating lowfat, no fat for several years also went on this program, she lost the 5 lbs she had been struggling to lose and all her bloodwork was great too. She has totally changed her way of eating now. There is a book by Diana Schwarzbein, MD called the Schwarzbein Principle, you may want to check it out. Hope this helps you not to feel so freaked out about the protein first. BTW, I am NOT trying to tell people not to eat lowfat, I'm just stating what my experience and several other peoples experiences were with this program.
   — Bethy413

March 18, 2003
Duke University did a study on the Atkins diet vs. recommended weight loss diet (low fat, low calories, with higher carbs) and presented the results (within the past year?) at a highly publicized doctor's convention. Sorry I'm not more specific, but it is too late and I'm too tired -- Google should help. Results were not as expected; they actually supported Atkins in many ways. Nina in Maine
   — [Deactivated Member]

March 18, 2003
There are a number of differing opinions on this very trendy subject. Allow me to throw in my own. I picked up a copy of "Protein Power" by a husband and wife team of endocrinologists named Eades. The book has substantial medical and biochemical evidence in support of an "adequate" protein diet with very limited carbohydrates in order to curb the subsequent rise in insulin released to the bloodstream. This condition of hyperinsulinemia has been linked to high cholesterol, obesity, high blood pressure, edema and just about every bad thing you can think of besides leprosy and poverty. It has been dubbed "Syndrome X" (try a Google search and see). By keeping blood insulin levels very low, you prevent this powerful hormone from stashing fat away, lining your arteries with cholesterol and raising your blood pressure. If you are even remotely interested in lo carb diet, make this book your first purchase and read it. They have done the research on their own patients and are extensively well read on the subject and have the data, studies, journal articles, etc. to back it up. It does make sense. From an anecdotal standpoint, the diet plan got my stagnated weight loss lurching along again, slowly but gradually. Fine with me, I got the rest of my life to make this work! So long as I know it's working! I keep my battered copy of "Protein Power" literally on my dining room table and pull my menus from the low-carb lists and menu suggestions provided. Open RNY 6/10/02 down from 475 to 331
   — Anna S.

March 18, 2003
I also do not prefer meats. And certainly never fish. Yuck. My surgeon requires and my labs surely agree that I need protein in supplement form. I prefer my meat CHOCOLATE. It is predigested, so doesn't place the same load on the organs as meats. The non-meats are so low on the BV scale as to be a waste of pouch space. I eat them, mind you, but I don't count them. I eat normal carbs, grains, veggies, like that, I avoid milk (but not dairy), and SUGAR. I don't care if it is "natural" sugar or not, as they all make me gain wt. My body doesn't care. Sugar turns into fatty tissue. Fat does not, however. I tend to stay away from "white things", milk, sugar, white breads... but I'm not perfect on the white bread thing. In short, accept for milk & sugar, I eat normal foods, but take my protein as supplement, and the basic 8 elements in supplement form, as well.
   — vitalady

March 18, 2003
I had surgery in oct and my chloesterol was around 280 i had blood work done last month and it is down to 204. I have been on atkins diet since surgery so its working for me.
   — qtalleycat68

March 19, 2003
It seems to me that since the diet after surgery is so low-calorie, the protein intake is still way lower than what most "normal" eaters are getting. If you don't eat enough protein, you can lose muscle, which is why it has to be eaten first.
   — sjwilde