I have just started a low carb diet which is required by my WLS practice prior to surgery (before the 2 weeks of protein shakes) and also seems to be standard practice for WLS success. I was shocked to discover how low the carbs are in my plan. 40 to

80 grams. Is this standard? I've tried these plans before and I never adjusts to them. My body always felt weird and after a few

months I would get depressed (which the Social

Worker who cleared my surgery said is a real

Phenomena because your body uses carbs to make serotonin. ) I know it will be different after surgery since I'll have a tiny stomach and a reset metabolism to help me along. Just curious how everyone's adjustment went to a low carb lifestyle after surgery? I suspect that most of us really liked carbs prior to surgery - did any of that change afterward? Do you plan on staying at ultra low carbs for maintenance as well? Thanks in advance for sharing your experience!

if I remember right mine was 15-30gr for each meal, which was 3 meals a day. snacks if I had any was 12gr or less. I had to lose 5% of my body wt. prior to surgery. so I started when I finished all my other requirements. I got there and was really bummed out when my doctor continued this low carb. diet even to this day. lol.

My doc has always recommended less than 70. Most days I try for much less than that. It's really not as hard as you think if you cut out the obvious ones.

Prior to surgery, all of my meals included a starchy carb; brown rice, potato, quinoa, etc. I'd have my Protein, veggies and carb. Breakfast was always eggs, toast and fruit. Now, I've gotten so used to not having the bread, rice, potato, etc., that I feel bloated when I do have it. Through this transition, it also became crystal clear how when I do have carbs with meals, I get hungry much quicker. I'm not following a low carb diet, but I've learned that in order for the surgery to work the way it was intended, I'm better off without the rice :-) I'll have it once in awhile, but really don't miss it. However, a couple of times a week I'll snack on a bowl of popcorn. Now I just pick & choose where & when I have those types of carbs.

I dont know if this will help, but a year or so before I had WLS my husband was diagnosed a diabetic, so we immeditly started cutting back on carbs and anything white. We switched to whole wheat or whole grain breads , pasta, rice etc. We didnt mind the taste, and he immeditly noticed he felt so much better. By the time my surgery happened, I found I really didnt miss any carbs at all . I might have a little brown rice or whole wheat pasta 2-3 times a week. Try cutting back your quanties of carbs and try whole grain to see if this helps ? ( Ive dealt with depression too, I totally get the whole carb/seratonin thing, dont have it anymore !) Good luck !

I plan to be smart about my carbs after surgery. I want to eat real food instead of the carb laden chemical mixtures I had previously been subjecting my body too. There is nothing real or natural about white bread or pastas or Cookies and chips, and dont even get me started on pop. However, carbs in delicious berries, fruits and vegatables? Yes I will enjoy those. Spark People (a tool I have used) recommends the lower end of my carbs be at 135 per day, so the drop to 80 isnt that big of a deal, its the equivelent of a cup of grapes and a banana, or one english muffin. (If I were so inclined to eat bread). I figure thats an easy swap for some veggies.

my plan recommends 130-160 after 9 months.

my plan recommends 130-160 after 9 months.

Thanks that helps a lot! I can totally do 130 to 160 for the rest of my life; 40 to 80, unlikely.

Keep in mind that one carb = 4 calories. So, 80 = 320 which is about 25% of what most of us should be consuming a day unless you're a heavy exerciser. But you're doing this solely to shrink your liver so it's short term.

Keep in mind that one carb = 4 calories. So, 80 = 320 which is about 25% of what most of us should be consuming a day unless you're a heavy exerciser. But you're doing this solely to shrink your liver so it's short term.

Thanks! The part I was unclear on is how long the ultra low carb part is supposed to last. I can do anything for a short time - can probably even do it for a year - and my concern was that I'd have to maintain that level forever, which seemed like setting myself up to fail. I've contacted my NUT for more guidance because it seems like I don't have a clear enough picture of the weight loss vs maintenance phases.

I dont know if this will help, but a year or so before I had WLS my husband was diagnosed a diabetic, so we immeditly started cutting back on carbs and anything white. We switched to whole wheat or whole grain breads , pasta, rice etc. We didnt mind the taste, and he immeditly noticed he felt so much better. By the time my surgery happened, I found I really didnt miss any carbs at all . I might have a little brown rice or whole wheat pasta 2-3 times a week. Try cutting back your quanties of carbs and try whole grain to see if this helps ? ( Ive dealt with depression too, I totally get the whole carb/seratonin thing, dont have it anymore !) Good luck !

I hope the carb/serotonin thing goes away for me too! That's awesome. I don't mind giving up carbs, per se. It's the mood and energy drop that is awful. Glad you and hubby are doing so well!

It has been my observation that those that go low carb have higher success rates. I was a diabetic too (guess I am still but not on anything!!!) and carbs were the enemy. Even now I hesitate to put fruits back in my diet because of the fear of blood sugar spikes in even healthy foods. Forget white carbs after surgery. Stick to protein first, then veggies then carbs and you won't miss them! Really!

I plan to be smart about my carbs after surgery. I want to eat real food instead of the carb laden chemical mixtures I had previously been subjecting my body too. There is nothing real or natural about white bread or pastas or cookies and chips, and dont even get me started on pop. However, carbs in delicious berries, fruits and vegatables? Yes I will enjoy those. Spark People (a tool I have used) recommends the lower end of my carbs be at 135 per day, so the drop to 80 isnt that big of a deal, its the equivelent of a cup of grapes and a banana, or one english muffin. (If I were so inclined to eat bread). I figure thats an easy swap for some veggies.

For me the drop from 135 to 80 is a very big deal. Glad it isn't for you. I've had major depressions triggered by very low carb diets. I'm going to have to be vigilant and work closely with my team in this regards. Be well!

In general there is nothing in a carb your body needs other than energy. Simple energy. Protein and fat how ever have amino acids and essential fatty acids. Tryptophan is the precursor to serotonin. Tryptophan is an amino acid, a less common one. Ingesting carbs allows tryptophan to be taken up in the body faster but you could get a similar effect from ingesting more tryptophan.

Carbs are seductive I'll give you that. I used to feel awesome when I used to eat about 20g a day.

​Very complication explanation of the above if your into biochem

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201105/sunlight-sugar-and-serotonin

"Having obscene amounts of sugar and carbohydrate over long periods of time can max out our serotonin machinery, leaving us unhappy, carb-craving, and depressed."

Edited June 15, 201412 yr by Natasha Estrada

Thanks that helps a lot! I can totally do 130 to 160 for the rest of my life; 40 to 80, unlikely.

i totally focus on complex carbs that also give me nutrients i need, like protein and fiber... so beans, oatmeal, quinoa, sweet potatoes, dried fruit in small amounts. milk also has carbs. not only do carbs like pasta, bread and rice make me uncomfortable and sometimes queasy, the dont give me a whole lot nutrient wise.

however, you need a see how your body does, some people stall around9 months and discover by tracking that going below 40 grams of carbs they start loosing again. it moght be that these people are insulin resistant. something that doesnt magically go away with surgery.

I plan to be smart about my carbs after surgery. I want to eat real food instead of the carb laden chemical mixtures I had previously been subjecting my body too. There is nothing real or natural about white bread or pastas or cookies and chips, and dont even get me started on pop. However, carbs in delicious berries, fruits and vegatables? Yes I will enjoy those. Spark People (a tool I have used) recommends the lower end of my carbs be at 135 per day, so the drop to 80 isnt that big of a deal, its the equivelent of a cup of grapes and a banana, or one english muffin. (If I were so inclined to eat bread). I figure thats an easy swap for some veggies.

For me the drop from 135 to 80 is a very big deal. Glad it isn't for you. I've had major depressions triggered by very low carb diets. I'm going to have to be vigilant and work closely with my team in this regards. Be well!

I know, I am sorry if I sounded flippant. I am currently on about 45 carbs a day. Next week for my final two weeks pre op I drop down to about 24. (Three shakes a day) The less carbs I eat, the less I sleep. I dont feel tired, this is a very big change for me. I think post op, just working with your body to see how low you can go without suffering adverse reactions. I know at regular carbs 150+ I sleep 9+ hours, at 80 about 6-7 and at 45 its 5 or 6. I worry that at the 24 carb level I wont sleep at all!