How many grams of carbs

[Rhino89 4]

I'm 6 weeks out and have slowed down losing. I lost 30 in the first 3 weeks and then 10 in the last 2 weeks. So 39 pounds in 37 days but the last 7 pounds took 2 weeks. I try to do minimal carbs and stay at 700 calories. What should my daily carb intake be? Should I try and stay in ketosis forever? Is this the goal of WLS? Adkins with a 4 oz stomach? Help!

[2goldengirl 2,076]

39 lbs in 37 days is a huge achievement.

I don't know what your surgeon or NUT say, but 700 calories seems awfully low for a guy. It's quite possible you need to eat a bit more. It's also entirely normal for weight loss to slow or stop before picking up again.

[magtart 603]

I seem to have settled at around 60-80 grams of carbs a day. My losses are better at the lower end and with higher Protein. Right now I'm in my 2nd month of a stall.

[RickM 1,747]

Your loss will naturally slow down as you progress. Initially we tend to have a very quick drop whenever we start a major caloric deficit as our bodies burn up our quick energy reserves of glycogen (basically stored carbs,) which burn very rapidly. Then, once your body gets the idea that this caloric deficit thing that you are imposing upon it is for the long haul, it starts tapping its long term energy reserves of fat, which burn slower. So, your progression is quite normal.

In addition to these initial effects, over the months that our weight is dropping, we simply are hauling around less weight which requires less energy - we burn fewer calories carrying around 200lb than we do 300 or 400.

Carbs are a personal thing - most restrict them more then necessary because it's the thing to do these days (it used to be over-restriction of fats,) while some have a genuine medical need to do so. I varied between 70 and 120 during my loss phase, though I was not controlling them to any particular number, but working to optimize the nutrition of the non-Protein part of my diet, and that's how the numbers worked out.

As long as we are in a substantial caloric deficit, we will be dropping some ketones as we will be burning up our fat reserves to make up that deficit and that is a natural result of it. However, there is no reason to take things to the extremes that we have to put up with bad breath and BO (which is what most refer to as being "in ketosis" - that's just marketing hype to keep people buying Atkins products despite the unpleasant side effects.) The "smell of burning fat" that some refer to is actually the smell of not eating your vegetables as people have been burning fat and losing weight for centuries without smelling bad as a result.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

I'm 6 weeks out and have slowed down losing. I lost 30 in the first 3 weeks and then 10 in the last 2 weeks. So 39 pounds in 37 days but the last 7 pounds took 2 weeks. I try to do minimal carbs and stay at 700 calories. What should my daily carb intake be? Should I try and stay in ketosis forever? Is this the goal of WLS? Adkins with a 4 oz stomach? Help!

You are doing very well so far, but I would caution about getting into the mindset of minimizing calories and carbs as your primary strategy.

Everything I have learned from my NUT and surgeon, as well as my experience so far, has me focusing on maximizing nutrition.

I focus on getting in all of my Protein and fluids every day.

I take all of my Vitamins as required every day.

I track my food in MyFitnessPal in order to make sure I reach my Protein target.

I choose foods high in protein, low in carbs.

I avoid, for the most part, starches: rice, Pasta, potatoes, bread, etc.

I eat protein first.

If I do those things, then carbs and calories fall into place

If you focus on minimizing carbs and calories but neglect to get in enough protein and Fluid, you are being self-defeating.

Also, don't forget that none of us loses at a constant rate. Trying to micromanage the scale is also incredibly counterproductive and will drive you crazy.

Embrace the Stall!

http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

[ForLfKlovr 45]

I met with my NUT earlier this week - she said that I should try to not get more than 20 carbs per meal or snack. It is a lot to think about each day but better and healthier than my mindless eating from the past. All the best!

[Babbs 14,680]

The only carbs I had my first 8 months or so were from veggies, dairy and fruit. I mostly stayed away from starchy carbs like bread, rice and Pasta until I was 75% to goal. I tried to stay at around 50 grams. I still limit the starches now that I'm in maintenance, but have upped my overall carb count to match my Protein grams (70-100).

Good job on your weight loss! You seem to be doing great!

[Rhino89 4]

Thanks for the quick responses

[shellyd67 198]

In the beginning, I was keeping my carbs around 30-50. My labs showed that my Protein levels were low (even though I was getting between 80-100 grams per day). My NUT said I had to up my carbs to get my protein levels up. She said between 60-75 grams per day/. It's hard !! Ugh ????

[tugs 40]

39 lbs in 37 days is a huge achievement.

I don't know what your surgeon or NUT say, but 700 calories seems awfully low for a guy. It's quite possible you need to eat a bit more. It's also entirely normal for weight loss to slow or stop before picking up again.

ask your nut 700 is way too lol imo

[Pillar2butterfly 391]

I personally do not count carbs or calories. My doc and NUT says between 64-80 grams of Protein daily is required...and 64 oz minimum of Water.

I eat in this order: Protein, veggies, fruit/starch. Most of my actual carbs come from fruit. I don't drink juice, if I consume fruit, it is fresh, typically things like some berries tossed in my greek yogurt. I really do not have any room for carbs because by the time I am done eating my of protein, there is very little room for anything else. I take all my Vitamins daily. I do look at the nutrition labels on everything I eat. If it have more than 10 grams of carbs or fat, it doesn't go in my mouth. I'm down 62 lbs in 14 weeks. If I had to count everything, I'd go crazy. i just journal what I eat on Bariastic app.

Edited November 23, 2015 by Pillar2butterfly

[FocusOnMeNow 599]

Your weight loss will slow to 2-4 lbs a week. This is natural. I only lost 12 lbs in the past month and was in a panic at the Drs appt I had on Friday. The doctor said just think about it. Losing 12 lbs in a month is a lot. I would have been thrilled with that pre WLS. So take your time, your skin and hair will thank you????