I started seeing a new therapist to continue to work on my eating issues. I really enjoy working with her and think she has a lot of great insight. She asked why I focus my meals on high protein/low carb. I told her that the high protein helps the body to heal after surgery and my small stomach doesn't have room for much else, so getting some vitamins through veggies is next and if I am still hungry then to have some healthy carb. She said that if I had surgery almost 3 years ago, isn't my body healed? And if so, why do I continue to eat the high protein, low carb? Other than this type of eating leads to weight loss/helps to maintain weight loss, is there any other reason to continue to eat this way? Can't we get proper nutrition/maintain our weight through healthy eating and not having to follow the "rules" so rigidly?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Patricia

I’m about 3.5 years post-surgery, and I don’t follow the Bariatric diet at all. I became very active (swimming, biking, running) after surgery and my food intake was all wrong for my athletic performance and training needs. So I switched over from a Bariatric nutritionist to a sports nutritionist and never felt better. It’s important to balance your macronutrients to fit your activity level, watch your caloric intake, monitor your weight, yadda yadda. But no, you don’t need to eat like a new patient forever.

There's really no need for it, even during the weight loss period. We concentrate on protein early out because that is essential and there is no replacement - no supplements other than protein drinks until we can get by on real food. But even early out, our diets aren't really high protein, but rather "just right" protein to meet our needs; it's only high protein relative to everything else that we can, for a time, get from pills. Protein consumption later on, in maintenance and beyond, doesn't need to be any higher, but other things will be higher to go along with it, as our calorie needs increase from loss to maintenance. For an average or shorter than average woman, 60g per day of protein is usually considered to be plenty (if not more than plenty.) The only real exception to this is for those who get into body building and need extra protein for added muscle growth.

The low carb part has never really been part of the "bariatric" diet, but is simply a carry over from the currently popular fad diets in the weight loss industry. Classic bariatric diets are simply protein first and then whatever else fits after; they are by default low carb and low fat, so no effort needs to be put into that aspect of an eating plan. Carbohydrates don't lead to any more weight gain long term than fats or protein does, rather it is the excess of any or all of them that leads to weight gain. It is only current diet mythology that preaches that low carb is needed to lose or maintain weight (because they still have lots of low carb diet products to sell....)

2 hours ago, ForLfKlovr said:

I started seeing a new therapist to continue to work on my eating issues. I really enjoy working with her and think she has a lot of great insight. She asked why I focus my meals on high protein/low carb. I told her that the high Protein helps the body to heal after surgery and my small stomach doesn't have room for much else, so getting some Vitamins through veggies is next and if I am still hungry then to have some healthy carb. She said that if I had surgery almost 3 years ago, isn't my body healed? And if so, why do I continue to eat the high protein, low carb? Other than this type of eating leads to weight loss/helps to maintain weight loss, is there any other reason to continue to eat this way? Can't we get proper nutrition/maintain our weight through healthy eating and not having to follow the "rules" so rigidly?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Patricia

Only my opinion.. I had a few sessions with an eating disorder therapist....

Your situation with the therapist may be a few things

Sometimes therapist see a fine line between eating disorders and bariatrics...She may be trying to see if you are afraid of foods, have extreme views of good and bad foods and following rigid rules.

Yes, We have healed from surgery, Thats a non issue. Protein, and adding healthy carbs is a standard bariatric maintaining instructions by our dieticians. Ask yourself . how rigid are you about following low carb high protein....Do you indulge once in a while? Are you still in the process of finding what works for you personally and your body to maintain weight? What does healthy eating mean to you?

The mental side of bariatrics sometimes is fighting with the former fat person that fears regain.

Wishing you the best

Jenn

In my opinion, if you are maintaining your weight loss with a lower carb, higher protein diet, then adding carbs you are likely to gain. We're you overweight your whole life or did you gain weight as an adult after pregnancies? For me, I was overweight my whole life. It is in my genes to be overweight. Eating less isn't going to allow me to lose weight. I had the sleeve and only got down to 200 and maintained at 210 for about a year. Now I'm gaining. I'm going in for a conversion to bypass and will not be trying to eat "normally" this time around. Normal for my body means gaining weight even at appropriate portions.

This is a question I have asked myself also. I see that studies show plant based diets are proven to be very healthy and so, I questioned basing my diet on protein. I now do plant based, low carb, but not keto low and healthy fats. I have gained about 5/6 lbs and seem to stay there as long as I don't add processed foods or sugar to my diet. My blood work #s are excellent. I am experimenting with intermittent fasting 8:16, hoping it will help me drop a few more.

I am 6 yrs out and added some sugars via frappuccinos. I gained weight. In the last month I started WOE Leto. I increased my fats by eating bacon, butter and other non processed foods. It had worked and I lost 15 lbs. Went back to wearing size 10 jeans and they are slipping now. I love eating keto.

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I love reading all of the different (but in lots of ways similar) responses! Thank you for sharing what is working for you, what you may have struggled with and your thoughts and suggestions!

I never did low carb. but lost with balanced macros. Still high protein, but moderate carb and lower fats. i think as long as food choices are healthy and you are getting all of the necessary nutrients and are happy with your weight whatever works is fine.

Well I eat 60/80 grams of protein and keep my carbs below 150. This seems to work for me. I eat meat, veggie, some whole grains, fruit and try to Avoid cookies, cakes and muffins. Most of the time, I do indulge occasionally. So basically this is healthy eating more than high protein low carb

I never reached my final destination of 'goal weight'. I am 4 years out and I too began slowly adding sugar/carbs back in to my diet about 2 years post op. I regained a lot of my weight and felt terrible. Last November I began Keto and have lost about 40 lbs on that- losing all of my regain except a few pounds.

I'm a believer that sugar and carbs in general are not what our body needs. There have been many randomized controlled trials looking at the results between caloric deficit diets vs low carb diet and the low carb has better results, every time, hands down.

Different approaches work for different folks, so find what works for you and stick to it. Good luck