I have a theory that all of the emphasis on the Atkins-like high protein/low carb eating patterns in this forum is because the US doctors are much more familiar with the bypass operation and they don't distinguish it from lapbanders. I want to see whether or not Australians are getting the same recommendations to eat high protein, drink protein supplements, etc. I know my doctor has not advised me to do this in any way and recommends a balanced diet of all the food groups, with smaller portions and low fat/low calorie intake. I feel this is a MUCH healthier approach, as there are distinct dangers in going the Atkins route (kidney stones, high cholesterol, etc). So what's your experience?

My doc does modified South Beach - NOT Atkins. His theory (and I agree with it) is that if you eliminate all white carbs (bread, Pasta, etc...you know... the stuff that gets most of us in trouble in the first place an causes cravings because it's still in your diet) it will be easier to stay the course through your weight loss period. Once you go into maintanence, he lets you bring back the white carbs. So it's not Atkins he's got us following -Atkins is all Protein via high fat which will kill your Gallbladder, it's healthy food, protien, fruits and veggies.

Like other posters, it's, "eat your protein first", then the veggies. He also allows protein shakes. 4 cab max. No Atkins or Slimfast.

Hehehe, I'm pretty sure different as we do it, neither American nor Australian doctors would recommend a bucket of hot chips at your kids basketball and a huge vanilla slice (delicious concoctions of choux pastry and vanilla custard) as your entire day's intake - I kid you not. Ugh. I feel sick. I cant even think of any dinner. Boy it was good though. Luckily, that's a maybe once in an entire YEAR day's eating for me. Oh, I had about four cups of coffee as well and might as well finish it off with a wine.

Stupid thing is, because it very high calorie but very low volume I'll probably have lost weight tomorrow!

Again with the vanilla slice references! You're a cruel cruel woman!! TIM TAMS!! :biggrin::tongue2::thumbup::tongue2::crying:

My doctor says eat normal food, just in smaller portions. When I asked him about the protein issue he said so long as you're eating protein first you'll have no problem getting your protein in. He is ABSOLUTELY against liquid calories and does not want us drinking protein shakes. He did say avoid bread, pasta and rice because they can get stuck in the band because of the clumping factor.

Well, definitly hi pro, low carb... but eat anything the band will allow... just eat the protein first.

I'm on a high Protein, low carb diet now, because that's what I was on before my surgery, when I had this rude awakening that I had become a diabetic. I had finally done enough damage to my body, that any auto-immune deficiencies and any genetic predisopositions were kicked into high gear and I was now a member of the club I didn't want to join, Type 2 Diabetics.

My doctor suggested diet and exercise first, since he knew I was going for the lap band surgery and he felt I could get this "somewhat" under control that way. What was interesting was that the ONLY diet that got it under control was a low carb diet and for me that meant few carbs before noon and only 15- 30 for lunch and dinner and only 15 for my afternoon snack. Sure enough my bg started to come down and so did my weight.

My blood sugar is much better now that I've had surgery, am eating less and weigh less, but I am STILL a diabetic. I will ALWAYS be a diabetic. I might control it better; I might manage it better, but those little beta cells in my pancreas have been damaged beyond repair and to save the few I have left, I need to low-carb it forever. Sure, my numbers are better and if I cheat and my blood sugar spikes, it is spiking from a lower number than before. The meter reading may not be as scarey, but truth be told, it's still a spike; it's still going up more than a non-diabetic, even though the numbers look better on the screen.

I can't speak for everyone, but for me, an Atkins-type diet saved my vision and kept me from having to go on insulin. Now hopefully losing the rest of the weight and exercising more will take me the rest of the way. I will never have a baked potato again, because my numbers still go up 40 points afterwards. I can only take certain allergy medications, because some make me go up 50 points. The final number may "look" like it's normal, but it's the spiking that does the damage.

So for me it's low carb all the way!!!!

I'd love to hear from other diabetics who have been banded.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Ellen

Well, definitly hi pro, low carb... but eat anything the band will allow... just eat the Protein first.

Yep, mostly to get the protein in first though...not so much a "diet", per se.

I learned something very interesting this week though. And it may be one reason why we dont do the low carb thing in general here in Australia.

SIL and BIL have been living in Canada and the States for the last 18 months. Sadly they had to come home for a family funeral but it was terrific to see them. SIL got in, went straight out to the bakery bought a loaf of bread and picked up a latte too. She is absolutely starved for real coffee (not that Starbucks crap) as in a REAL latte, the way the Europeans do it, which is mostly how our coffee is here. And she said all the bread is like cake, sweet, fluffy, and doughy. We have bread like that too of course, but there's also easily available, cheap GREAT bread, heavy, grainy and healthy, full of fibre.

So maybe when I bang on how bread and cereals are NOT bad food and people here think I'm crazy, we're talking about two different things?

Because if I was talking supermarket bread and Corn flakes, I would agree, those foods are best avoided.

Well, in a roundabout way...yes. They said Protein first followed by veggies, then fruit....etc. So it ends up being high protein/low carb.

But in low carb's defense, not all of the diets are as extreme as Atkins. I'm more of a SouthBeach girl, myself.

My doctor prescribed low carb for the pre-op diet. Post-op I was allowed carbs but told to try and get the majority of carbs from natural, unprocessed sources like fruit and milk and use whole grains. He never suggested anything extreme like Atkins.

I choose to watch my carbs because I know that is what is best for me. I don't think that it is meant for everyone but there is no doubt in my mind that it best for me. I absolutely disagree that at least for me, not having carbs causes head hunger. I have had almost no issues with head hunger except the typical TOM cravings and even those aren't as bad as they used to be.

My surgeon didn't ever say "low carbs" ... but the idea (even on the "Atkins" diet) is to eat LEAN protein and LOTS of vegetables. I have been doing low carb for many years, but that doesn't mean high fat, either. Eating refined carbs is a no-no for all bandsters, regardless of which "diet" they're adhering to. Also, white bread, rice, and pasta can be trouble for people with bands. They can get stuck and cause issues ... Why risk it just so you can eat something you only WANT, and that isn't even good for you? Whole grains have way more vitamins in them and actually have FIBER in them, which is something that a lot of bandsters have issues with.

I'm in the US and my doctors and nutritionists push for very high protein and very low carb. They stress it at every fill, every visit. They're nonstop about it.

I'm in the US and my doctor said low carb/high protein. I was banded a month ago and I lost 1 pound in the last 3 weeks!!! What is going on. I am allowed to have veggies and one piece of fruit, but I'm sapposed to have mainly protein. I'm not really happy with that. I do miss my carbs and if the weight was "falling off", I wouldn't mind, but it isn't. I'm getting pretty frustrated! I feel like I'm eating less than half of what I used to eat before surgery, why am I not loosing?? Any suggestions???

I feel like I'm eating less than half of what I used to eat before surgery, why am I not loosing?? Any suggestions???:drool:

The body goes through phases of weight loss. The first phase is the most difficult, since the body doesn't want to let go of any of that stored up fat. Some doctors will shock the body to get it past this stage quickly; this is the 2-week liquid diet that many surgeons have their patients go on before surgery. This also shrinks the liver, which is good for the surgeon during surgery. If you're eating too few calories, your body will not let go of any of it. Also, be aware of your sodium intake. If you're eating too much sodium, your body is probably retaining a lot of Water. Many processed meats have too much sodium in them. I suggest trying imitation crab or something similar in consistency. It's lower in sodium, is fat-free and loaded with Protein so it makes you feel full fast, and for a long time. Just eating low carb is not always the answer. Eating LEAN protein is the key. My calories are around 1200 calories per day, but I don't always lose weight (especially if I'm in the luteal phase of my menstrual cycle). This makes a huge difference. I usually lose 4-5 pounds after my cycle starts over again, but it can take a couple of weeks for my body to let that water weight go. Keep at it ... Don't give up. The weight WILL come off. I get frustrated sometimes too, but I know that if I keep at it, I will eventually see results. You will too! :w00t:

Sorry, I dont like to be argumentative but that's all a bit nonsensical.

there is one purpose of the pre surgery Optifast diet and it is not to "shock" the body into anything. Its to shrink the liver. the reason it shrinks the liver is because its low carb/high Protein - this leads to massive shedding of Water weight (since every carb molecule holds 4 water molecules with it) and depeletes the liver of all its glycogen, so it shrinks. It is in no way healthy for you and it does not shock your body into letting go of fat. You do not lose much fat in 2 weeks on optifast, you lose water. You're eating 800 calories a day, to reduce body fat and maintain lean body mass, you need to EAT, on 800 calories a day your body will have to let go of some of its lean mass. So you're right on that one. If you keep up Optifast over a period of months, of course you will lose a lot of fat - also a lot of water and a lot of muscle. Have you ever seen anyone who's lost to goal on a diet like that - they look appalling.

I'm not denying though that losing 14lb of WHATEVER in 2 weeks isnt motivating right before WLS. It feels awesome. But your body has not somehow been primed to lose weight well. In fact so many people are disappointed that after surgery it doesnt fall off like they expect - precisely becuase they're already totally glycogen and water depeleted from the pre op diet.

Sodium does increase water weight. But in the overall battle against obesity, water weight is irrelevant. If your body suddenly lets go of 4-5lb, mine does too, after your period, you havent suddenly lost fat. Fat loss is a slow process that takes a long period of time and over the course of losing 100lb, expecting to see it coming off every week is pretty unrealistic.

Those are different issues to whether you need a low carb/high protein diet for weight loss. There's credible information to support BOTH sides of that argument, and I think we have to work out for ourselves what fits our lifestyles, suits our bodies etc.

Edited December 12, 200817 yr by Jachut