Question:
Anyone tried Atkins or Southbeach after wls?

I am 8 months post op and dont have real support from my dr. on what to eat..just wondering if any wls patients have tried atkins or any other low carb diets after surgery to learn to eat right?    — Amanda P. (posted on January 11, 2004)

January 11, 2004
Hi Amanda. I am 9 months out and try to follow a modified Atkins/South Beach type diet. I try to limit carbs to under 50-60 grams per day and do allow myself unlimited vegies and some fruit. I eat high protein, lower fat. I never deny myself anything food-wise, I just do it in moderation. I think the key to success is finding and sticking with something that works for you. Not all of us can floolw the same plan with the same results. Best of luck! Barb 4/07/03 235/138/130
   — Barbara C.

January 11, 2004
Since I was able to eat real foods, I have counted carbs and supplement my diet with Atkins bars and Isopure shakes-- my diet is in line with Atkin's maintenance diet where one has about 40-50 carbs per day along with at least 60-80 grams of protein per day. Having been truly addicted to carbs, I know that I can never have ice cream, birthday cake or candy bars-- as one bite would be too much and a thousand bites wouldn't be enough. Also, I tend to stay away from pastas, rice and breads as they are too filling and don't really add any nutrients to my diet that I couldn't get from better sources anyway. Following this program has allowed me to continue losing into my 15th month-- I am actually about 30 pounds lighter than was my original goal (having lost about 278 pounds) and am the same size that I was sophomore year of college. Good luck in finding a lifelong eating plan that works for you.
   — SteveColarossi

January 11, 2004
I did South Beach about 6 months out. I was an old Atkins veteran (did it for the first time in 1972) so I didn't want to do it but I was drifting into carbs and struggling with protein intake so I did South Beach. The first two weeks are very difficult but worth it. I felt it got me back on track with my protein and helped kickstart a loss after a long plateau. Phase 2 seemed very healthy and easy to follow. I am glad I did it and would do it again.
   — susanje

January 11, 2004
I follow the South Beach Plan as a guideline. I'm almost 17 months post op and it really helps me to keep cravings in check. The first two weeks is hard and there are parts of South Beach that I can't follow because I still can't eat that much. Like it says in the book to have 2 cups of vegatables as a serving. If I ate 2 cups of vegetables I'd be sick and I wouldn't get any protien in. I follow the gastric bypass pouch rules first and then use South Beach as a guideline. South Beach suggests these Ricotta cheese desserts every night. I don't like Ricotta cheese so I eat either a piece of fruit or a protien drink. I thin South Beach is one of the healthies ways of eating that there is. This is just my oponion of course but I like it so well I started a group on MSN called Bypass on The Beach for gastric bypass patients who are trying to follow South Beach. It's not super active yet but I think more and more long term post ops are going to look to a plan like South Beach for there guideline as a way of life. It's not really a diet it's more a style of eating I think. Carrie
   — Carrie D.

January 11, 2004
Amanda Hi There...I am 19 mos post op, started out at 322 and am now down to 182 (by my home scales). I try to eat mostly proteins and few carbs. I am still on the losing side of this surgery. I not for sure what the southbeach diet is, but think I'm probably staying real close to the Atkins Diet. I do go thru stages, where I don't want to look at protein type foods and just go on a veggie binge...LOL Once in a while I do have a small piece of cake or candy,this is the get rid of the sweet craving that we all have at one time or another. Deb
   — Deb S.

January 12, 2004
I was going to follow Atkins - but my doctor says EVERYONE need some carbs and a little glucose - best to have carbs in the morning - burning off during the day and shut off carbs 4-5 hours before bedtime - so I stop any type of carbs by 5PM - and start proteins finishing 2 hours before sleeping. However, if I want a snack I have blue cheese Morningstar Farms veggie bacon - occasional I want something sweet so I have 6 grapes or Fuji Apple (mixture of apple/pear) very sweet. Also check out Dr. Phil - he has a food maintenance plan also - (Sorry I hate the word "diet."
   — Anna M.