No carbs starches or sugar?

jollyquilter

First of all I wish you well what ever you decide to do. But I wanted to let you know something about a friend who had the surgery done. He is only allowed to eat protein (meat) he at one bite of kale from his wifes plate and ended up in the hospital. he cannot eat bread or sweets at all and no beans either. He explained it to me that your stomach is so small that it causes your body to digest anything except meat in a way that your body cannot deal with. He has lost alot of weight. But he feels bad and is not very healthy looking. He has become depressed after losing so much weight and now feeling so bad and not being able to enjoy being thinner and having energy to do things with his kids. His medical crew tell him this is normal for those who have had the surgery. He wishes he had known this part before.

Wtn_Gurl

OP, besides what i said above (does he mean processed sugars or natural sugars like you find in fruit?

You need to clarify from your doctor what he meant, when you find you you will know why some foods are off limits.

could be it is temporary, as after surgery you go on liquids, then semi solids, then more solids, and some foods are introduced, some foods are forbidden like soda pop.

It may be like the poster above said, that you only have room for protein at first. this is the most important thing. it could be that sugars fill up your body with things that it does not need as much as proteins, but that might be temporary.

when i learned about weight loss surgery, i thought i remembered them saying some foods are gradually brought back in, but you HAVE to be careful as not everything can be introduced.

I've been watching on TV "My 600 pound life" on TLC, and i cannot believe the food some of the people eat post-op, i mean they eat fast food chicken nuggets and french fries and soda pop. I cringe when i see it and do noit know how they can eat that nor how their body doesnt vomit it all back up.

please check with your doc for specifics about your food post op, if you eat the wrong thing you might get serious complications post op. i would not leave it to guessing.

donohuge

I think your dietician may be wrong here but you'd need to speak to another dietician and/or a gastroenterologist. It is well documented that post surgery, protein is a major determinant in recovery but the avoidance of CHO shouldn't be recommended...the goal for 90% of dieticians is to ensure patients get enough calories to avoid something known as the 'vicious cycle of malnutrition' ask your dietician about it and they'll explain.

From my clinical nutrition experience, here are my thoughts: in gastric bypass patients certain foods can cause some mild to major problems, soda being a MAJOR culprit. In bypass patients soda can cause bloating, irritation, excessive gas and even malabsorption of nutrients.

Maybe your dietician wants you to refrain from CHO intake for a short period of time? Just to ensure you meet your protein requirements whilst you're healing, then reintroduce the CHO.

Another idea they might be toying with is what's known as a 'low residue diet' these diets aim to eliminate all fibre and are typically used in patients with GI issues such as IBD or diverticular disease...there may be applications for such diets in bypass surgery but again, speak to your gastroenterologist.

I hope this helps

Jordan

lisawinning4losing

There's someone on my friends list who had the surgery. He can only eat small amounts of food, so he mostly focuses on protein, but he does eat other things sometimes and even had a slice of pizza for dinner one night. I can show him this thread and maybe he can friend you and offer some advice. He has lost a lot of weight and works out every day. Good luck.

yarwell

I didn't ask her to clarify. What I've been told is when I eat post-surgery my proteins must come first, then the veggies or whatever else I'm having since I'll be getting the sleeve and I'll only have a quarter cup of stomach room to work with.

Makes sense, if you can eat very little the first priority should be proteins - even the word protein implies first or priority.

There are proteins, and some fats, that we have to eat as we can't synthesis them. This isn't the case with glucose / carbs.

400-600 calories should get you all the fats and protein you need and leave room for some vegetables.

guardianwill

Hello, great question! I went through bariatric surgery in Sept 23 2013. Was 2 pounds away from 300 pounds total. Had many issues that demanded my attention and surgery to help loose weight or I could have been refused surgery to save my life. Nevertheless-I got on the band wagon and followed completely and the last time I weighed myself I am now 184 and shrunk I just dont weigh myself that often. Nevertheless-Gastric Bypass surgery is what I had. I also do not eat, even now, much starches and not a whole lot of veggies ect. Mostly protein. I do take, as you will four vitamins a day to allow for such. The reason especially after surgery that sugars, starches ect are a no no is because of what they consider a dumping syndrome. Won't go into too much detail but if you get too much sweet or starches with sugar you could quickly loose your meal. Also, since your stomach pouch is so small if you were to eat anything but protein you would not get your 80 or so grams of protein in because the pouch would be full of other things. Anyway, stay in touch--good luck with your surgery and just a side note--I really don't miss all those other foods and don't regret getting my life back on track and being in control instead of the insurance companies with my life decisions.

For information of what a sleeve operation does, see this link. They actually remove most of your stomach and create a vertical pouch for your new stomach for the sleeve. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007435.htm

Also, as time goes by you will be allowed to eat some veggies-just not the really stringy kind and when you hit your 70% weight loss weight set by your doctor and approved by you you can then start having small amounds of grain. Starchy veggies, in about the 3 month mark you can start having beans ect as well.

Also, as well, realize the no carbs at all could be the first three days after surgery, but even milk has carbs. The carbs though will be very limited especially at first but almost everything has carbs. I was taking maybe 20 or 30 grams of carbs a day while on my liquid diet and soft food diet but like I said you really don't miss it and you won't feel hungry and sipping 64 oz of water a day will seem like a chore....

Thursdays2014

Hi I'm not 100% sure but from what I've been informed by surgeon cutting things out and focussing just on vegetables (and also milk) is related to shrinking the liver prior to surgery bt this is for gastric bypass so think you really need to explore the advice you've beeen give carefully. Know it's daft questiob but have you googled it or looked on bariatric surgery websites?
x BoBo:frown:

Bluizflame

The dumping syndrome is for patients that had the actual surgery. Besides stapling your stomach so it's only very tiny, they also remove a certain amount of you small intestines that help with the process of sugar/carbs.

I believe the OP is just getting the sleeve. which is just a rubber band filled w/ saline that restricts the stomach size. It can be removed. It can also be adjusted to make less room, or more room if needed.

Since OP is just getting the sleeve, i don't see the reason to completely cut out everything but Protein. I can see if they recommend you eat the protein part of your meal first, and then have some veggies after if you 'have room'. Unless they just tell you NO you cant have so you wont' be tempted to eat something starchy or sugar before you eat the protein you need to heal. I would see another dietician, or get 100% clarification from the one you've already seen.

starrylioness

I was initially going to have gastric bypass and I've NEVER heard them say anything like this to me. I was just told I'd have to take vitamins after the surgery and my intake would be limited as far as how MUCH I could eat, but basically I was told to eat balanced and healthy. There was no mention of eliminating anything totally (for the exception of things like carbonated soda, etc because obviously after the surgery your stomach can't take things like that but otherwise...you get my point)

And eating ZERO carbs is next to impossible. Even things like green beans have a few carbs.

Filmlotus

Actually the topic of "Brain needs carb for fuel" has been addressed by many low carb/ketogenic diet scientists. The brain does NOT only run on glycogen from glucose. Your body also makes ketones which your brain actually prefers to burn. In fact, I've read that ketones are preferred and more efficient for brain function.

Here's a few excerpts I've found on Psychology today.

"Ketogenic diets, which are very high in fat and low in carbohydrate and protein, have been prescribed for seizures for a long time."

"Breast milk is very high in fat. Newborns spend time in ketosis, and are therefore to some extent ketoadapted."

"For the brain, it means a lower seizure risk and a better environment for neuronal recovery and repair."

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201104/your-brain-ketones

A longer but more in depth read in the book http://www.artandscienceoflowcarb.com/ The science is quite overwhelming if you would just look into it and put away all prejudice of preconcieved notions that be absolutely need sugar and carbs to thrive. In fact the only carbs that we need should come from micro nutrient dense food, other than that, empty starchy sugary food serves us no purpose other than short term fuel which we often don't burn away quick enough anyway.

beautifulwarrior18

I would get a second opinion; however, no one on here is an expert in weight loss surgery. They are very risky and it's incredibly important to follow the steps your doctors and dieticians give you. I would advise you to get a second opinon and that second opinion needs to come from a dietician who either specializes in weight loss surgeries or has plenty of experience with them.

lisawinning4losing

Actually the topic of "Brain needs carb for fuel" has been addressed by many low carb/ketogenic diet scientists. The brain does NOT only run on glycogen from glucose. Your body also makes ketones which your brain actually prefers to burn. In fact, I've read that ketones are preferred and more efficient for brain function.

Here's a few excerpts I've found on Psychology today.

"Ketogenic diets, which are very high in fat and low in carbohydrate and protein, have been prescribed for seizures for a long time."

"Breast milk is very high in fat. Newborns spend time in ketosis, and are therefore to some extent ketoadapted."

"For the brain, it means a lower seizure risk and a better environment for neuronal recovery and repair."

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201104/your-brain-ketones

A longer but more in depth read in the book http://www.artandscienceoflowcarb.com/ The science is quite overwhelming if you would just look into it and put away all prejudice of preconcieved notions that be absolutely need sugar and carbs to thrive. In fact the only carbs that we need should come from micro nutrient dense food, other than that, empty starchy sugary food serves us no purpose other than short term fuel which we often don't burn away quick enough anyway.

Wow, thank you for all that info. Very informative.

MyIrishSpirit

When my mom had weight loss surgery they told her no sugar at all, no soda or candy. I don't recall them telling her no carbs at all though. I remember making stir fry with rice for her while she was recovering. It's been many years now and she drinks soda and eats candy again.

I don't know, I'd get a second MEDICAL opinion if I were you.

lexismomgiraffe

I have a friend who had laproscopic banding. In the beginning, it was necessary for her to give up eating a lot of things - she simply couldn't tolerate much and protein was the most important food for her to eat to heal from the surgery. Today, she eats everything - in small amounts.

I found *I* was addicted to sugar. So I gave up table sugar, honey, fructose, etc. and I gave up all *white* carbohydrates (potatoes, white flour, white rice, white pasta). I eat whole grains in small to moderate amounts and a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, lean meats now. I also eat/drink full fat dairy in moderation (organic plain whole milk yogurt about 2-3 oz/day). I have never felt better in my life. I no longer have to struggle to drop weight. And giving up sugar has not been as hard as I thought it would be. After I made it through the first 10 days, I felt like a million bucks, blood sugar evened out, no more cravings, it has been great. But if you told me a month ago that I was going to give up sugar with the CONSTANT cravings I had??? I would have told you you were certifiable! lol

Good luck with your surgery - be good to yourself.

JoelleAnn78

basically 99% of patients end up having to take hundreds of dollars worth of vitamins each day to make up for all the nutrients missing and ones not being observed by your body

Wrong. 2 multivitamins, Vit D and Vit B12. Done. Is that outside the realm of a reasonable person's vitamin regime? 5 years post RNY.

JoelleAnn78

I believe the OP is just getting the sleeve. which is just a rubber band filled w/ saline that restricts the stomach size. It can be removed. It can also be adjusted to make less room, or more room if needed.

This is the LapBand you are referencing. The sleeve is completely different.

JoelleAnn78

First of all I wish you well what ever you decide to do. But I wanted to let you know something about a friend who had the surgery done. He is only allowed to eat protein (meat) he at one bite of kale from his wifes plate and ended up in the hospital. he cannot eat bread or sweets at all and no beans either. He explained it to me that your stomach is so small that it causes your body to digest anything except meat in a way that your body cannot deal with. He has lost alot of weight. But he feels bad and is not very healthy looking. He has become depressed after losing so much weight and now feeling so bad and not being able to enjoy being thinner and having energy to do things with his kids. His medical crew tell him this is normal for those who have had the surgery. He wishes he had known this part before.

I'm sorry for your friend, but this is not the norm. His Dr. is misinformed if he/she thinks it is normal for a Gastric Bypass patient to have so little energy they can't enjoy life. I eat a very balanced and healthy diet that includes all the food groups -- minus processed sugars. I still cannot tolerate cookies, cake, muffins, etc made with white processed sugar. This is a blessing for me and not a curse. I have endless eneergy and run 3-4 miles 2-3x a week and chase a 2 year old without issue.

My stomach is very small - that much is true from above - but my body can still process foods just like anyone else's.

Thursdays2014

Hi - hope you're not getting too hung up about the surgery. After surgery as you know you won't be able to eat as you di - the reason Protein is so important intake is due to it satisfying hunger and also because early on after surgery you may or may not suffer with problems such as having the runs and vomitting. Also - when you go for the surgery they will go through every little detail with you regarding post surgery diet do's and donts and honestly everybody is different in what they can tolerate/what not and the speed at which weight drops off although they do tend to set targets. You will also have to do the pre op diet which if you are having a baypass the sole aim of this is to reduce the size of your liver so there is room for them to work in there!
I wish you the best of luck and success. Not an easy option as some people think but indeed a last resort.
Jay