Hello VST. First off, I have to admit to not being a very good sleever food-wise this week. I've been getting enough fluids in, working out, etc, just didn't eat as well as I should the past few days. That being said, it seems my body does NOT like it when I low-carb it. I've had two mini-stalls the past six weeks, bouncing back between the same two to three pounds for a few weeks. Well, in the past week, after not really paying attention to how much carbs I put in, I've lost four pounds! I've noticed when I'm really strict with myself and drink at least one protein shake a day, my body just doesn't respond. I also feel very lightheaded and weak if I low-carb it.

Now, this isn't to say I'm going to stuff my face with whatever, it just feels like my body doesn't appreciate it when I follow the usually recommended Atkins diet (and yes, I'm calling it a diet) most sleevers adhere to. Any thoughts?

Low carb diets have their stalls, and one of the most tried and true ways to break them is to temporarily increase carb intake. Another method that almost always works is the Atkins "fat fast." People also usually have good luck by upping their fat intake. I did a very strict version of Atkins for a very long time, and without fail anytime we had gone out for crab legs the night before (I'd crack several into a bowl, then just pour the melted butter in until they were saturated) I'd wake up 4 lbs lighter. I don't really advocate drinking butter, but you can add in healthy fats with olive oil (add a tbl to some tuna salad), avocado (also good in tuna salad, or on a spoon, I'm not picky with my avocado), etc.

You also don't want too much protein. Most people don't know this, but your body can become very efficient at converting protein to glucose if you have too much of it in your system.

I never counted carbs. I remember I tried to do Atkins years ago, before I had the sleeve - I spent all week on edge and ready to rip out people's throats, then found I GAINED a pound.

Screw carb counting!

I'm a big believer of everything in moderation. I've been struggling greatly with energy levels since my surgery and my doctor admonished me for not getting in enough carbs. Whether or not our bodies like it, we do need carbs in order to survive.

I don't carb-count - I hated being in ketosis early post-op and purposely upped my carbs to get out of it. I find that my carbs naturally remain below about 50-60 a day if I'm following an appropriate diet and focusing on protein first, though. I've lost steadily regardless.

As long as we aren't getting our carbs from doughnuts and potato chips, carbs are fine. A little whole wheat bread is good for us!

The week before my cycle there aren't enough carbs in the universe and I want every last one of them, be they from doughnuts, snickers bars, chips n dip, I'm a complete crazed carb maniac. Once the dust settles though, lol, they aren't as desirable to me. That said, when I try to go very low carb <30 I am ... unpleasant to be around, to put it mildly. That coupled with very low calorie <800 and I feel like what I imagine withdrawals to be like, shaking, shivering, headache, lethargy, heart palpatations, nausea, all of it! Carbs have a very drug-like effect on my body and mind, more so than sugar, carbs can actually manipulate my mood, which is a little creepy...

I gain also on an all protein diet. I only will lose if my carbs hover above 50. I keep them under 80 to be safe, btu I've stopped cutting them and actually make an effort to add some or I just stall out or gain.

Thanks for the replies guys! Glad I'm not alone when it comes to my opinion on carbs.

The week before my cycle there aren't enough carbs in the universe and I want every last one of them, be they from doughnuts, snickers bars, chips n dip, I'm a complete crazed carb maniac. Once the dust settles though, lol, they aren't as desirable to me. That said, when I try to go very low carb <30 I am ... unpleasant to be around, to put it mildly. That coupled with very low calorie <800 and I feel like what I imagine withdrawals to be like, shaking, shivering, headache, lethargy, heart palpatations, nausea, all of it! Carbs have a very drug-like effect on my body and mind, more so than sugar, carbs can actually manipulate my mood, which is a little creepy...

It's funny you say that globetrotter. I was talking about how I couldn't stop with the carbs, and it so happens that my TOM started the day after I posted that! We must be similar in that regard. I did find this http://www.geneva-health.com/sciencehealth/lowcarb.html so that probably explains why people like us get crabby if we try to low-carb it. I've known for a while that carbs are a mood enhancer and can make most people feel better.

The sleeve isn't a diet, it's forever.

Learning to eat normally, in moderation, is key to your long term success.

During the loss phase I usually got somewhere between 60-100 grams of carbs a day. In maintenance it's more like 150-170 a day.

Find what works best for your body - we're all different. Track your food and see what your line/limit is and also be cognizant of trigger/problem foods that you might need to be careful about.

I'm a mean little person when I try to low carb it. Mean enough that my normally laid back husband will pull me aside and yell at me to eat a damned sandwich already!

~Cheri