bradsgirl007

Soooo....after having two more "attacks" I finally had my gallbladder out. Just thought I would update everyone. Thanks for all your input!

Soooo....after having two more "attacks" I finally had my gallbladder out. Just thought I would update everyone. Thanks for all your input!

Great job! I can tell a difference!! Keep up the great work!!

That's a really good idea! I will have to try that!

So, like others have said, every dietician/surgeon has a different plan for eating post op. I want to share what has worked for me.
My ONLY restrictions are no more than 30 grams net carbs and at LEAST 90 grams of Protein. I have absolutely no fat or calorie restrictions. Let me tell you why.... Our bodies use two things for energy...carbs and fat. Carbs are the easiest to use and our bodies are lazy. Using fat for energy is a much harder harder process. So, if we don't give our bodies the carbs for energy, it has to use the fat. Now that fat comes from the food we eat and the stored fat in our bodies. If we don't give our bodies the easy fuel ( carbs ) it has no choice but to use the fat as fuel. That's why low carb works so well.
Most people, including myself, look at the above info and say, ok so if I reduce the amount of fat I eat then my body will have to use the stored fat, but for some reason, that doesn't work.
As far as net carbs, and please forgive me if you already knew this, that is the amount of carbs minus the Fiber. So if you ate something that has 10 carbs and 3 grams of Fiber, you subtract the fiber from the carbs and get 7 net carbs. It makes it a lot easier for you to find a nice balance between trying to swear off all carbs and being able to add more foods in for variety.
If you are interested in the very lengthy, but very informative study behind the low carb approach, my surgeon emailed it to me and I would be happy to email it to you.
So my advice, try only limiting your carbs. Don't worry about the fat and calories. I promise your scale will start making you happy!
I was literally told, DO NOT EAT LOW FAT! Low fat translates to "more carbs". Because they have to replace the fat they have taken out with something that will make it taste better. And that is always sugar. Take a look at the low fat labels next time you are at the grocery store next time, if it says low fat, compare it to the full fat version and see which has more sugar. salad dressing is an easy example. People have been brain washed to believe that fat is bad, it's only bad when combined with high carb.
Sorry this was so long, it just kills me to see people feeling restricted after this beautiful gift we have been given. Please feel free to message me on here or add me on my fitness pal. My user name there is sleeve2012.

Thanks for all the replies! I still eat them once a day, maybe twice if I don't have anything else handy on the run.
For everyone worried about fat...why? I know we are told different things. But look into low carb. The only restriction I have is no more than 30 net carbs a day. I was literally told (by my surgeon and dietician) DO NOT WORRY about calories and fat anymore. As long as I stay below my carb count I am free to choose what I want. I actually stopped losing when i started worrying about calories. I had read to much about how sleevers were concerned with it and got confused about my own directions. A trip to the dietician got me back in track. Now, when I get to my goal I can up the carbs slowly until I figure out my magic carb number. That's the number I will be able to eat in a day that doesn't make me gain, but stops the weight loss.
Anyhow, just thought I would share that. Oh, and for he person concerned with nuts being a slider food...of course this could just be me, because we are all different, but I portion out 1 oz and it fills me up. No need to eat more. Then again, they so taste good so I could see that being an issue for some.
Thanks again for all the help!

For me, the feelings of regret were in the first month post op. I kept thinking "what have I done to myself". It was ALL head hunger or what I lovingly called my "fat brain"! It was only my fat brain that wanted pizza and all of those other delicious carbs that got me in trouble in the first place. I even told my surgeon, about 2-3 weeks post op, "I don't think I can do this low carb thing for the rest of my life." I was just being honest with him. And he told me "you don't have to." He told me that if I did nothing except reduce the amount I ate, which would happen whether I wanted to or not because of the surgery, I would still lose weight. However, if I followed a low carb plan until I got to my goal, I would lose it faster. And my FAVORITE thing he said to me...once I got to my goal, I could slowly increase those carbs until I hit my magic number. Meaning, instead of my limit of 30 net carbs now, when I reach my goal I could steadily increase it until I noticed the weight loss stopping or that I gained weight. Playing with those numbers would get me to my maintenance carb number. His happens to be 60 carbs a day. If he stays between 50-60 carbs a day, he doesn't gain.
I personally found that comforting. I know that in general I have to change my habits, but it isn't a life sentence. You will fin things you like and it is really not hard to enjoy eating out with friends and family, I do it all the time. I just chose better options. Like a couple of weeks ago we went to a steak house and I shared a meal with my husband. It had steak, shrimp, a baked potato, and we added asparagus. I ate the shrimp (which I love and he hates) and the asparagus. He ate the potato and the steak...except for the bite or two I stole! I love steak!
Just be creative. I use the my fitness pal app and it REALLY helps me find things to eat no matter where I am. And it helps me stay accountable for what I eat. My dietician set it up for me. My only restrictions are no more than 30 net carbs and no less than 90 grams of Protein.
All in all, yes, you're relationship with food will change, but only for the better. Oh, and that pizza craving...it didn't go away, but I figured out a way to have some...I use a fajita sized low carb tortilla (carb balance) a tablespoon of pizza sauce, as much mozzarella as I want ( I like a lot!) and about four or five slices of pepperoni. It's great!! My husband and kids eat them too! It kicks my craving and it tastes good. You just have to get creative.
And once you get through that first month, those craving change. Your body no longer craves those carbs that it was addicted to and many of your tastes change. At least that's the case for me. And if you want a little something "naughty" every now and again, you can have it, but a bite or two will do. Don't deprive yourself.
Feel free to message me if you would like. I would love to help if I can!
Btw, my Surg date was 12/28/13 I weighed 250 and I am down 56 lbs to 194. I can tell you I have NEVER been able to say that before!!

So, like others have said, every dietician/surgeon has a different plan for eating post op. I want to share what has worked for me.
My ONLY restrictions are no more than 30 grams net carbs and at LEAST 90 grams of Protein. I have absolutely no fat or calorie restrictions. Let me tell you why.... Our bodies use two things for energy...carbs and fat. Carbs are the easiest to use and our bodies are lazy. Using fat for energy is a much harder harder process. So, if we don't give our bodies the carbs for energy, it has to use the fat. Now that fat comes from the food we eat and the stored fat in our bodies. If we don't give our bodies the easy fuel ( carbs ) it has no choice but to use the fat as fuel. That's why low carb works so well.
Most people, including myself, look at the above info and say, ok so if I reduce the amount of fat I eat then my body will have to use the stored fat, but for some reason, that doesn't work.
As far as net carbs, and please forgive me if you already knew this, that is the amount of carbs minus the Fiber. So if you ate something that has 10 carbs and 3 grams of Fiber, you subtract the fiber from the carbs and get 7 net carbs. It makes it a lot easier for you to find a nice balance between trying to swear off all carbs and being able to add more foods in for variety.
If you are interested in the very lengthy, but very informative study behind the low carb approach, my surgeon emailed it to me and I would be happy to email it to you.
So my advice, try only limiting your carbs. Don't worry about the fat and calories. I promise your scale will start making you happy!
I was literally told, DO NOT EAT LOW FAT! Low fat translates to "more carbs". Because they have to replace the fat they have taken out with something that will make it taste better. And that is always sugar. Take a look at the low fat labels next time you are at the grocery store next time, if it says low fat, compare it to the full fat version and see which has more sugar. salad dressing is an easy example. People have been brain washed to believe that fat is bad, it's only bad when combined with high carb.
Sorry this was so long, it just kills me to see people feeling restricted after this beautiful gift we have been given. Please feel free to message me on here or add me on my fitness pal. My user name there is sleeve2012.

I know we all get different instructions from out Dr's and dietitians, but mine say high Protein and low carb. cheese has little to no carbs, so eat all you want. I eat cheese a couple of times a day. I put it on chili, on eggs, roll it with deli meat, and my personal favorite....on a low carb tortilla!!
I've been making a mini pizza with the following:
1 fajita sized low carb tortilla
1/4 ( or more if you like, I pile it on) shredded mozzarella cheese
about 6 pieces pepperoni
1 tbsp pizza sauce
sprinkle of pizza seasoning
sometimes I add some real bacon pieces that come prepackaged for salads
Bake on 400 until cheese melts!! Yum!! I can only eat 3/4 of it and it kicks my craving for pizza!

Thanks to everyone for their replies. It's getting better.

By the way... I am doing great on the weight loss though. Weight on surgery day was 250, today's weight 222.