Question:
Are carbs from beans o.k.?

I'm 10 weeks post-op RNY. I have said I would never go "no carb", I have had a little bit of everything in my diet as soon as I got home: milk, meat, vegetable, fruit and starch. I'm getting between 75-95 grams of protein in a day but I'm shocked at how many carbs I'm getting...close to 100. I'm only allowed very small (1/4 cup) of a starch 3x a day and usually don't eat three. But when I started using fitday...I realize I have a lot of carbs coming from milk...and a ton from beans. I eat fat free refried beans or baked beans with fat free hotdog slices. Aren't these the good carbs?    — Sarahlicious (posted on June 16, 2003)

June 15, 2003
I have to agree with you about carbs. I think they tell you to limit carbs to maximise weight loss. I don't see the value in this. After several attempts at the atkins diet, I achieved great weight loss only to be undone by cravings for bread and pasta. I don't deny myself anything, but I'm careful not to overeat. I'm six months out and I've lost 155 lbs. I can see my diet becoming healthier and my preferences becoming easier. Hang in there.
   — V R.

June 15, 2003
I am not trying to make a new land speed record for dropping weight so with that said, I do try to watch my carbs but it is not some obsession with me. My surgeon and dietition(sp?) both agree that we need carbs in our diet to be healthy. Just watch the "bad" carbs like bleached wheat, rice, bread and pastas, ect. No one ever got fat from eating fruits and veggies, its the other junk food we all ate that did that. Beans are good for you so dont worry too much about it. Just my 2 cents. Take care and good luck. ~Sidney~ Open RNY 10-23-02 down 100 and counting.
   — Siddy I.

June 16, 2003
I'm like the other two posters. I'm not going for speed records, just slow and steady. I try to eat as "normal" as possible so that I can maintain this way of eating. I would hate to be restrictive now (except for sugar which seems to be a healthy restriction that should be a part of everyone's food plan), drop all of my weight and watch it come back or some come back, later, when I'm sick of the "restrictive" nature of my food plan. I eat 5-6 small meals a day, get protein in first and then eat healthy carbs, fruits, veggies, beans, etc. I also eat a bowl of cereal every morning. For me this is a treat. Before surgery I could not eat cereal because I couldn't eat a bowl. I had to eat a box. So now I have a small bowl of Cheerios with bananas or strawberries and skim milk and I stop at a small bowl. Nice. The way I always wanted it to be. I have similar experience with rice and pasta. I use them as side dishes only and mix with generous amounts of protein (meat and fish) so that they do not become my "staple" food. I avoid sugar and bread (because I don't want sugar and I don't tolerate bread) but otherwise try to eat a well-balanced diet rich in protein and healthy carbs.
   — susanje

June 16, 2003
I am a believer in "everything in moderation" and have never gone no-carb. Your protein intake is extremely good for someone 10 weeks out. Beans have plenty of fiber which really helps keep things moving when you're on high protein. Liquid milk, weeeell . . . Really caloric liquids are supposed to be a no-no. Now if you're using it to prepare other stuff, that's probably better. (I use it for soups and for oatmeal and other high-fiber cereals instead of water.) The bottom line is you have to make sure you're getting plenty of protein, taking your supplements, and not consuming too many calories. You have to get in the protein, so if you need to cut calories, guess where that needs to come from? LOL If you're losing good, don't worry about it.
   — ctyst

June 16, 2003
Check the label on the can of beans. If you eat them baked they have far less carbs than fat free refried.
   — mrsmyranow

June 16, 2003
Unless your surgeon's eating plan restricts carbs, then I would not worry about the amount of "good" carbs that you are taking in, especially with the great amount of protein you are consuming. I have never counted carbs, and like the others, just try to eat well-balanced diets with protein first, veggie next and if room (and not often!), a bite or two of a carb, like pasta, rice or potato. The "bad" carbs are the white flour ones, like white breads, cookies, candy, cakes, which usually have sugar in them too and we should either eliminate (I choose not to), or in my case, try to keep those amounts low.
   — Cindy R.