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!

I keep an eye on carbs. Right now my macros is set to 30% carbs 45% Protein and 25% fat. I have been told to watch my carbs. When I got to the purée stage, I was told I could purée Campbell's Chunky Healthy Request New England Clam Chowder which has potatoes. My NUT said that was fine. I still eat puréed Soup because I'm not at a stage where I can eat Soups without them being puréed. I usually get over 100 oz of fluids and between 80 and 100 grams of protein and about 70 grams of carbs, which is interesting to me because most of what I eat doesn't have carbs. My drinkable yogurt has quite a bit of carbs, and the soups I eat for lunch. The carbs may be helping me though, as I've been exercising more and more every week. Idk

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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 mix my water with diet cranberry juice or Powerade zero. It helps me get in my liquids. It is usually 3 parts water to 1 part juice.

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Right now I'm tracking everything and seeing how my body reacts, not just weight loss but how do I feel with higher or lower amounts of carbs, I haven't gone over 100 net carbs a day and try to stay around 50-70. I am just trying to figure out what works for my body right now

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I am just now getting into the bariatric stage of my diet. Right now, I make a distinction between carbs: insoluble Fiber is limitless, soluble is less so, and complex starches are at a minimum.

For simple starches and any kind of sugar, I keep it below 15 grams per day.

Here's a link, with data from the USDA, regarding the values of soluble vs. total fiber in common foods:

http://ocw.tufts.edu/data/47/531408.pdf

Our surgeon wanted us to extremely limit carbs at first. After the first 6 months, he wanted us to focus on getting some complex carbs. My workout regime was intense so my nutritionist wanted me to get even more carbs. Now, almost 2 years out, and WELL below goal weight, about 50% of my diet is carbs. Again, my workout regime is relatively intense. I let My Fitness Pal count my carbs, but I rarely look at it. My diet doesn't vary too much except for on weekends.

As far as my body is concerned all carbs are bad carbs. I have to stick to less than 20 net carbs in a day, period.

With the Band...there are some foods that are difficult if not impossible to eat.

Just so happens that the majority of these foods are also high in carbs....so it all works together well, don't need to count or be mindful of carbs.

fruit juice is okay if you're being smart about the selection. Pasteurized, meaning actual fruit juice and not from concentrate, no sugar added, etc. That is a good drink choice for once in a while. The sugar in those kind of juices are natural sugar that is only found in the fruit itself, not added. As long as you're limiting it and not drinking a ton of it every day, it is fine to have. I drink 8oz of it once a day or every two days. If I don't one day, I might add it to a smoothie another day. But I stay away from anything from concentrate or that has sugar added. Those are the ones that offer no nutrition. I have to have something like this. I can't just drink Water all the time, and the things like Crystal Light, etc. are disgusting. The artificial sweeteners are horrible.

As for carbs, I don't count them. I will keep track of things with carbs that I can count loosely as a note in my head. So if I have a cup of OJ and it has 26g of carbs, then I tend to keep it super low on anything else for the remainder of that day so I don't go over 50g. Some days I go over, but then other days I hardly have any, and it seems to balance out. I have fruit every so often, not daily. I've mainly been focused on vegetables with lean Protein on the side. That has helped me get out of a 2 month stall, so it's going well. I have a smoothie 1-2 times a week, and it's that that seems to boost everything for me.

I have hold carbs because of my dr baker makes decision says no pizza,Pasta and mores due my surgery or i would straighten to hospital immediately for surgery again..

I have hold include sushi,steak,bread,salad,rolls and lots of mores what do and don't for me eat i have patient till on first of march or after..

I have careful to drink juice but would says no sugar free and orange juice also must be under 100 calories..if you plans go groceries store and you looks label have under 100 take that if over 100 don't buy that period!

My mom also nurse and she is post surgery of gastric sleeve surgery gives me tips do and don't for restaurant after surgery they can choke food if you plans go there and you cant behind the doctor BANNED! And you must eat food at home 6 weeks to months till lose the weight..

My doctor give me tips slow eat not too fast i says fine before my surgery i got fast but i got change chapter my life i must slow eat..

If you and partner&spouse can share food not whole food after surgery but my mom and me share food after my surgery its fair no argue period!