Question:
Post op diet similar to Atkins diet??
Can you please tell me if the post op diet that you should follow is similar to the Atkins diet- High protein/low carbohydrate? I am trying to learn as much as possible about the post op regime because I just got approved yesterday!! Yeah!:) Thanks in advance for any replies.. — [Anonymous] (posted on February 28, 2002)
February 27, 2002
It's similar in that protein is emphasized and carbs being mainly healthy
ones from fruit and veggies. However there is one HUGE difference. You can
have lots of fat on the Atkin's diet, but not post-op. In fact many people
dump severly when they eat high fat. It's also dangerous for your liver, as
it is already busy eliminating the fat from your body. It can also induce
gallstones which is also induced by losing weight rapidly, so that could be
a big problem. That's what I've found. I know when I told my doctor I was
doing Atkin's pre-op, she told me to stop right away. She said for someone
already overweight, it's incredibly bad for your heart. Hope this helps!
— [Anonymous]
February 27, 2002
My physician has us use the Atkins diet as a model for us to go by after
surgery.. Less Carbs.. Protein first.. You know the routine.. Anyway I can
eat just about anything and have not had any negative affects, I'm not sure
if its because of the Lap or what... but I don't dump or anything.. I have
though, gotten something stuck from not chewing enough.. But drank some
water and was fine.. It sure did teach me to chew a little better.. So
personally I just eat protein first and the rest in moderation.. I had my
surgery 13 weeks ago and am down 73 Lbs..Good luck and congratulations on
your approval!
— Kathryn C.
February 28, 2002
I use the Atkins diet, my doctor is well aware of this, and he is fine with
it. The Atkins diet is not dangerous. There have been so many rumours
about that it's bad for your liver, and all that mumbo jumbo, but there has
been numerous studies to conclude it is not. For those nay sayers, name on
person that has gotten liver disease from the Atkins diet??? There isn't
ONE case study. If you actually read his book you wil see that the first
two weeks are the only part that is really restrictive on carbs, then he
allows you "good" carbohydrates such as veggies to go into a
normal style of eating. People read the first two weeks and conclude,
"Oh my goodness it's bad for you". Without giving the plan it's
fair due. If lowfat is so great then why is more than half of America,
home of the lowfat dieters, fat??? Exactly..... Did you know that Europe,
namely France, eats protein over carbs, they have been thin and healthy for
years. It is only now that the Fast Food industry has gone over there,
that they are now seeing fat French Folks.., Same goes for Asia, they eat a
diet mostly of fish. Now McDonalds and all these other fast food joints
are over there, they are now getting fat. I'm sorry to ramble, but people
who state that the atkins diet is dangerous without facts are just like
those folks who knows someone that knows someone that failed at WLS. There
just repeating the media hype.. 7 months post op, 140 lbs down 55 more
to go. ON THE ATKINS DIET! VERY HEALTHY...... Good Luck to you.
— [Anonymous]
February 28, 2002
I wrote the first answer. Just to clarify, I wasn't talking about the
Atkin's diet being bad for your liver, but rather high amounts of fat in
the early post-op stages of WLS, when your liver is already quite
overworked. Sorry if that came across wrong. But I do have to comment on
the last posters answer. I am from Europe and have lived in France for six
years. And about emphasizing their diets on protein, that is quite simply
not true. If you've ever been to Europe you know that the bread is
outstanding and served with EVERYTHING not to mention pasta! The reason
people are thinner in Europe is that the portions are small, maybe a fourth
of the size here (but 10 times the price!:) ) and they are made fresh. Very
little preservatives over there. Also if you ever walk into a supermarket
in Europe, you won't see the vivid colours and packaging full of fatty
snack foods you find here. You'll find a fresh bakery, delicious hormone
free meat, fresh fruit and veg, a cheese aisle and a much healthier more
natural environment. Here everything is processed and massive in quantity.
But carbs definitely come first over there. Bread has it's own food pyramid
over there! In fact if you go out to eat you'd be very suprised how small
the meat portion is compared to the veggies and potatoes. Just wanted to
clarify that. I lived in America for a few years and gained a hundred
pounds or so, but when I went back to Europe a few years later I lost most
of it again, doing nothing and enjoying every pastry and bread I possibly
could. Then when I came back here again I gained it all back and then some.
To answer your question... post op diets are very similar to Atkins! :)
— [Anonymous]
February 28, 2002
Hi and thank you for the replies..
What I think I'm trying to get at is what is the typical kind of eating
that you do post op. What are the things you try to avoid the rest of your
life. I know that my entire eating lifestyle will change, I just wondered
what kind of things I can do to realistically re-learn how to eat properly.
I hope that what I'm asking is making sense, I just hope that I don't wake
up from surgery really hungry. I guess that is one of my biggest fears. You
are all very kind to reply. Thanks:)
— [Anonymous]
February 28, 2002
Hi, this is not directed at the poster of the question, but rather at the
anonymous poster saying that Atkins is not dangerous by any means. Just
because you have read studies saying that it is not dangerous does not mean
that it is never dangerous. It also doesn't mean that it might not be
dangerous in the long run. The diet hasn't even been out long enough to
find long-term effects of it yet. You talked about how Atkin's is always
overgenerized to be bad, but then you overgeneralize your statement by
saying it isn't dangerous. Being on it short term may be great for some,
but I don't think anyone truly knows what the effects of being on a strict
long term Atkin's diet will be. I can on the other hand name one person
who developed liver problems from the short term Atkins diet and that is my
uncle. He was on it for six months and his hair began falling out, he
turned really yellow, and he became nauseas all of the time. The doctor
said it was because of the diet and that his liver had been effected. He
told him to go off of the diet and when he did, in a matter of weeks his
hair began growing back, his color turned to normal, and the nausea
disappeared. I think that the Atkins diet can be too extreme and harsh for
some people and maybe it should be modified a little for those certain few.
Keep eating proteins first, but make sure to balance in other foods when
possible...even carbohydrates in moderation (a little more than what
Atkin's calls for). For those of you that the Atkin's diet works well for,
more power to you...maybe your body can handle it better, but I know not
everyone can. Just be cautious of bodily changes if you are following the
diet strictly. I'm sorry, but I had to say something because I felt like
the anonymous poster sounded very condescending when he or she inferred
that we all believe everything we hear or see without doing further
research. People are smarter than you think...please give them credit for
it. Thank you.
— [Anonymous]
February 28, 2002
Atkins MAY be bad for some diabetics. I tried atkins for a few months and
my blood work came back with abnormal kidney function. ANY diet if taken to
extremes can be dangerous, its best to follow YOUR docs orders.
— bob-haller
February 28, 2002
My doctor also advised an Atkins "type" diet post op. His words
were: High protein, moderate fats, low carbs, no sugar. I stuck to this
just about exclusively for about nine months & stayed close to this for
another 3 or 4 months. By that time I was within about 10 pounds of goal
weight & have found I can eat just about whatever I want now. I still
try to get protein in first & keep the idea of eating healthy in the
forefront, but post op really consists of two very different stages: the
weight loss stage, then the weight maintenence stage. I have found my
eating is quite a bit different now that I am just maintaining my weight. I
know I am somewhat unusual in that I don't dump from either sugar or fats,
except in very large quantities. My eating habits did improve a great deal
during my weight loss. I learned about proper size & portion control. I
now eat smaller meals, but more of them. I eat usually about five,
sometimes six meals of small quantities. Most people focus on the weight
loss period of being post op, but if it all works like it's supposed to,
you will be in the weight LOSS stage a very short time compared to the rest
of your life. It's a really new concept for many of us, to imagine
ourselves NOT being concerned with losing weight, but that point does come.
It's a real different mindset & one that still takes some getting used
to (for me). I'm not saying that after you have lost the weight you can eat
whatever & whenever... but, at least for me, I have a lot more freedom
& ability to vary what I eat now. I do eat carbs now, but still in
small quantities. I had fried rice for dinner tonight, but only about a
half a cup, which was all I wanted. I can eat bread now, but I never want
more than one slice. I can eat sugar, but more than a certain amount starts
to taste icky & I just don't crave it like I used to. Combine that with
the fact that I now exercise & have an active lifestyle & the
weight seems to take care of itself. I don't seem to WANT more than I USE.
Well, I took a different approach from some of the other posters, hope it
helps. Congrats on your approval.
— Kathy W.
March 1, 2002
My post op diet was very similar to the Atkins diet...the only
exception being that I was allowed to have breads and pastas. I'm
four years post-op and still 35 pounds from my personal goal weight (I
did lose 140 pounds). I'd given up on ever getting there. I've been
doing the Atkins Diet for two months and I've lost 20 pounds. It's quite
compatible with wls and might help folks when they plateau.
— [Anonymous]
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