Question:
Post Op: What is the max of carbs you could have in a day and still lose?

What would be the most you could have of carbs in one day to loose weight? Thanks!    — Hazel S. (posted on August 4, 2003)

August 4, 2003
To lose weight and keep it off for life, you must change the way you deal with food and learn to live life without carbs... most surgeons recommend staying under 30 per day. Get used to 25-30 a day and you will just forget about pasta, bread and sugar after a while... so when you CAN eat a bit more after a couple of years, you wont want them. They will no longer be a part of your life and wont tempt you. ciao, Suze
   — SusanMaria

August 4, 2003
Everyone is different. Some people can eat lots of carbs and lose weight. Others (like myself) are insulin resistant and very carb sensitive. The way to find out how sensitive to carbs you are is to start with 20 grams of carbs a day for a week, then each week increase your daily carb intake by 5 grams until you stop losing weight. This will tell you where your threshold is in regards to carbs. I do have to disagree with Susan. I had lost 70 pounds in 9 months on Atkins (never exceeding 15g of carbs/day). My craving for pasta, sugar, and the like never did go away. My body stopped losing weight and I started eating carbs again. I went completely nuts after not having a grain of rice, a slice of bread, a tiny bit of sugar for 9 months and chowed, and (of course) I gained ALL the weight back and then some. Now that I have had wls I refuse to "diet" anymore. I refuse to deprive myself of certain foods. Maybe I am not strong enough to never eat a certain food again for the rest of my life. I think eating 20 grams of carbs a day for life is not the answer. Having that mentality and 18 years of depriving myself with diet after diet got me to 284 pounds. Our bodies need certain types of carbohydrates to function, along with fats, and proteins, etc. Everything in moderation is my motto and I do watch my fat, calories, carbs, protein, but I do not kill myself if I eat more than 20g of carbs a day. I am 6 months post-op and down 91 pounds. I must be doing something right.
   — Kristen S.

August 4, 2003
I never count carbs from veggies (this does not include roots - carrots, potatoes, etc. or corn) and only count carbs from starches, sugars (even fruit sugars), etc. And those I TRY and keep to 20 to 25 a day.
   — [Deactivated Member]

August 4, 2003
I really think this varies by individual. I've been able to eat over 100 grams of carbs a day since I was four months out or so and still lose very well, and my rule of thumb while losing was simply to keep my protein grams ahead of my carb grams (even if only slightly). It worked for me, but I'm aware it wouldn't necessarily work for everyone. Also, I like to exercise (running, weightlifting, other exercise machines, etc.), and don't believe I (personally) could ever have done so healthfully on just 20-30 grams of carbs a day.
   — Suzy C.

August 4, 2003
I TOTALLY agree with Kristen. I refuse to go on another "Diet" and believe that if I eat anything I want in Moderation, the weight will still come off..however, I am at a point (I've lost 120lbs., but have around 30 more to lose), that the weight is only coming off sloooooowly (a couple pounds/month), but I look at it this way, this is for LIFE! and the chances of my keeping my weight OFF forever is better if I loose it slowly. Good luck to you!
   — Kay W.

August 4, 2003
I'm not planning on giving up carbs completely. I do believe that weight loss is greatly enhanced when carbs are lowered however. This is true for both pre and post-ops who are dieting. Each individual is different in how they react to different foods, and we all have to find out what works for us. In my son's case (3-month post-op), he's able to eat carbs and is still losing very well. Like Suzy said, though, keeping the protein ahead of the carbs is a key while losing. Maintaining may be a different story, and hopefully, we can all enjoy some carbs and still keep our weight off. Choosing good carbs should help. Another poster mentioned that some folks are very carb-sensitive, while others can lose while still enjoying carbs. My feeling is that the younger you are, the more likely you are to NOT have developed as much carb sensitivity (like my son). Anyway, my main point is that we all have to find what will work for us, and use those findings to get healthier and lighter! Good luck to you.
   — Carlita

August 5, 2003
I agree with Carla...my 23 year old daughter had her surgery a year ago, in June, has lost over 120 lbs and has no problems with carbs. I, (age 50), have to watch my intake, or I stop losing. When I reach my goal weight I plan on gradually increasing my carbs until I find out what level is ok for me.
   — j D.