Question:
I know we are not supposed to eat many carbs, but everything has

carbs in it...what should i limit myself to a day...I have no idea...any suddestions??    — tylerswife (posted on March 12, 2002)

March 12, 2002
This is just my personal opinion, but human beings need some carbs to function. My rule of thumb is to use moderation in my decisions. Moderation would be a 1/2 c. serving of complex carbs (pasta, rice or bread) with dinner. I would NOT suggest eating candy, pop, etc. since this is mostly junk food. This way of looking at things has led me to 166 lbs. weight loss in 1 year. I am thrilled with my loss and couldn't ask for better. I don't count carb grams, and I don't diet. I just try to be reasonable and eat small, moderate meals.
   — Terissa R.

March 12, 2002
I completely relate to your question, at my first post op appointment with my surgeon I asked him almost the same question, and he said I don't know.. ( great help huh?) Then this weekend I watched on the Discovery Health Channel a program they have called the body challenge. There are 6 people who are in a challenge to lose weight over 16 weeks. Each one is given a personal trainer and a nutritionist. One nutritionist answered my question. She said when people are on a rapid weight loss program, she likes to see them keep their fat grams to 20, proteins to 60 ( All of this I have heard many times) and she said carbs between 200 - 250. Now this sounds reasonable to me. Another way I look at it. Until I actually hit my first plateau, Im not really worrying about it, cause Im concentrating on proteins, so if that means I eat a peice of toast with my eggs in the morning so be it.
   — Diane Rhoads

March 12, 2002
I have a book called Protein Power that I found well thought out and an interesting read. It is not as severe as the Atkins diet. They recommend 40 grams of carbs a day until you are within 15 lbs of your goal weight then adding 10 grams of carbs to your daily total every week until you start to gain. At that point you bump back down to the previous level and that is your maintenance level. Don't get me wrong--40 grams a day is not easy to achieve and I do often eat more than that but when I was eating less during my first 6 months post op I think I probably ate 50-75 grams a day and lost just fine. You do need carbs and fat for your body to function. And who wants to eat a diet of straight protein? Not me. I did this so I wouldn't have to be on a diet! At 10 months out I am now averaging 75-125 grams of carbs a day and still slowly slowly dropping.
   — ctyst

March 12, 2002
I guess it just depends on how rapidly you want the weight off. I stay on the Atkins program myself. I stay below 20 carbs a day, because I want to lose the weight NOW, not in a year from now. Sure this surgery has given me the ability to lose weight easier then pre op, but the weight can come off slowly with WLS. My levels are fine, and I'm very healthy. After I get to goal then I plan on following Dr. Akins maintenance and adding healthy carbs, but as for now, I'm sticking with the low carb, and doing fine. I've lost 135 lbs in 7 months and have 60 more to go, which I will do before my year anniversary. It's all a matter of choice and what you can live with. Good luck to you.
   — Carey N.