Carbs often get the blame for weight gain and for plateaus. There is good reason for that, since some of the highest-calorie, lowest-nutrient foods are carb-heavy. White bread, crackers, Pasta, chips, and rice are all packed with starches, while soft drinks, ice cream, cakes, Cookies, and jam are laden with sugar.

Your diet plan after weight loss surgery likely limits carbs, but different plans and patients approach the limits in different ways. Some plans suggest counting carbs, while others simply suggest cutting back on low-nutrient carbs while including moderate portions of higher-nutrient fare, such as oatmeal and other whole-grain cereals, whole-grain bread, sweet potatoes, fruit, and Beans.

As you move through the weight loss surgery journey, how have you approached carbs? Did you begin by minimizing your intake? Do you count them? Do you think of all carbs as “bad,” or do you distinguish between different kinds? How has your approach changed as you have moved through the WLS journey? Do you count carb grams?

Share your carb strategies here!

Any fruit will take you out of ketosis because your body processed fructose the same way it processes any sugars. Fruit is basically candy with some vitamins and minerals. So I don't eat fruit, not until I reach my goal weight. If I did I would count it.

Any fruit will take you out of ketosis because your body processed fructose the same way it processes any sugars. Fruit is basically candy with some vitamins and minerals. So I don't eat fruit, not until I reach my goal weight. If I did I would count it.

Darn, this depresses me. Water has made me nauseous and about the only liquid I can stand is OJ. I'll have to find something else!

Any fruit will take you out of ketosis because your body processed fructose the same way it processes any sugars. Fruit is basically candy with some Vitamins and minerals. So I don't eat fruit, not until I reach my goal weight. If I did I would count it.

Darn, this depresses me. Water has made me nauseous and about the only liquid I can stand is OJ. I'll have to find something else!

I was like that for a while. I can only drink artesian spring water (I know super specific) and for a while I was only drinking Bai or Vitamin water zero. I attached a list of what my Nutritionist approves. Anything with stevia is okay, nothing artificial including sugar alcohol (they can hinder weight loss and induce diarrhea). I hope this helps.

I count my carbs and that includes the ones in the Protein drink, Vitamin gummies, seed/nuts everything. I try to keep it below 50 g to keep my body in ketosis. When I went over that I was in a weight loss plateau for 3 wks wondering why I wasn't losing weight. Now I keep my carbs low, calories higher, and protein higher and I am back on track. BTW I am only 2 months post-op.

Do you count the carbs in fruit? I drink a lot of fresh squeezed orange juice and am a bit confused on whether those carbs take you out of ketosis.

yes you do count the carbs in fruit...the good news is that fruit comes with finer which helps temper the sugar. I don't suggest drinking juice, no finer and pretty much just sugar. If you want fruit you are better off with the real thing. Berries are generally lower carb than other fruits.

I count my carbs and that includes the ones in the Protein drink, Vitamin gummies, seed/nuts everything. I try to keep it below 50 g to keep my body in ketosis. When I went over that I was in a weight loss plateau for 3 wks wondering why I wasn't losing weight. Now I keep my carbs low, calories higher, and protein higher and I am back on track. BTW I am only 2 months post-op.

Do you count the carbs in fruit? I drink a lot of fresh squeezed orange juice and am a bit confused on whether those carbs take you out of ketosis.

yes you do count the carbs in fruit...the good news is that fruit comes with finer which helps temper the sugar. I don't suggest drinking juice, no finer and pretty much just sugar. If you want fruit you are better off with the real thing. Berries are generally lower carb than other fruits.

I know, it's just the only way I get fluids in for the most part.

I count my carbs and that includes the ones in the Protein drink, Vitamin gummies, seed/nuts everything. I try to keep it below 50 g to keep my body in ketosis. When I went over that I was in a weight loss plateau for 3 wks wondering why I wasn't losing weight. Now I keep my carbs low, calories higher, and protein higher and I am back on track. BTW I am only 2 months post-op.

Do you count the carbs in fruit? I drink a lot of fresh squeezed orange juice and am a bit confused on whether those carbs take you out of ketosis.

yes you do count the carbs in fruit...the good news is that fruit comes with finer which helps temper the sugar. I don't suggest drinking juice, no finer and pretty much just sugar. If you want fruit you are better off with the real thing. Berries are generally lower carb than other fruits.

I know, it's just the only way I get fluids in for the most part.

. Early days, do what you've got to do. I found warm or hot liquids were the only way I got my liquids in early one. Couldn't tolerate anything room temp or cold

I count my carbs and that includes the ones in the Protein drink, Vitamin gummies, seed/nuts everything. I try to keep it below 50 g to keep my body in ketosis. When I went over that I was in a weight loss plateau for 3 wks wondering why I wasn't losing weight. Now I keep my carbs low, calories higher, and protein higher and I am back on track. BTW I am only 2 months post-op.

Do you count the carbs in fruit? I drink a lot of fresh squeezed orange juice and am a bit confused on whether those carbs take you out of ketosis.

Like @@Travelher said - fruit juice is not a good option. From a nutritional standpoint you might as well drink a coke and take a Vitamin C tablet. Once you remove the Fiber that is in the orange, you are just consuming straight sugar.

And this is from a guy that eats a ton of fruit everyday. But I never drink juice. I will make smoothies out of the whole fruit, as it retains the fiber. But no juice.

I count my carbs and that includes the ones in the Protein drink, Vitamin gummies, seed/nuts everything. I try to keep it below 50 g to keep my body in ketosis. When I went over that I was in a weight loss plateau for 3 wks wondering why I wasn't losing weight. Now I keep my carbs low, calories higher, and protein higher and I am back on track. BTW I am only 2 months post-op.

Do you count the carbs in fruit? I drink a lot of fresh squeezed orange juice and am a bit confused on whether those carbs take you out of ketosis.

Like @@Travelher said - fruit juice is not a good option. From a nutritional standpoint you might as well drink a coke and take a Vitamin C tablet. Once you remove the fiber that is in the orange, you are just consuming straight sugar.

And this is from a guy that eats a ton of fruit everyday. But I never drink juice. I will make smoothies out of the whole fruit, as it retains the fiber. But no juice.

I know. I'm cutting back as I've found a Water brand that doesn't make me nearly as nauseous.

Do you count the carbs in fruit? I drink a lot of fresh squeezed orange juice and am a bit confused on whether those carbs take you out of ketosis.

If you insist on being in ketosis because you think it's the right way for you to go you not only have to watch the carb intake, you also have to eat rather high in fat.

The body is not stupid. When there are not enough carbs available, the body is able to make glucose out of amino acids (gluconeogenesis). So simply replacing carbs with Protein won't work that good. Protein is also more insulinogenic than many people think.

Do you count the carbs in fruit? I drink a lot of fresh squeezed orange juice and am a bit confused on whether those carbs take you out of ketosis.

If you insist on being in ketosis because you think it's the right way for you to go you not only have to watch the carb intake, you also have to eat rather high in fat.

The body is not stupid. When there are not enough carbs available, the body is able to make glucose out of amino acids (gluconeogenesis). So simply replacing carbs with Protein won't work that good. Protein is also more insulinogenic than many people think.

There is nothing wrong with eating high fat!.... we are drummed into believing that high fat is wrong for some reason. People need to educate themselves on this.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

There is nothing wrong with eating high fat!.... we are drummed into believing that high fat is wrong for some reason.

Where exactly did I say it's wrong to eat high fat?

People need to educate themselves on this.

Indeed. Maybe it prevents people from going low carb/low fat at the same time.

Didn't say you did!!

You made a comment stating you would have to eat rather high fat..

and I was saying people need to educate themselves on this way of eating..

I didn't say you thought it was wrong!..

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thanks for clarifying.

I'm only 7 weeks out and still figuring out my macros. My plan says nothing about grams or percentages, just stick with complex carbs. I found that I can't go too low because I get hypoglycemia even with eating all complex carbs. I have a hard time eating veggies so I've got to eat grains to keep my fiber up. 50 grams seems to be too little, I feel better around 80 - 100 grams. Plus I'm exercising like a beast and I've got to have me some carbs!

I stay away from the bad carbs, but I have not eliminated them completely. I mostly try to make sure I am getting in all the protein, which can be very difficult .