Question:
Is there a Carbohydrate eater with a BPD/DS out there?
I am pretty sure the BPD/DS is the surgery for me, but wondered if I was thinking straight about it or not. I've read the Gastric bypass Ry was good for sweet eaters. I am not a big sweet eater. ... my thing is carbohydtates and fats - pasta/potatoes (what can I say I'm Irish and Italian!). I know the BPD/DS is good for fats; as you cant absorb much by the way of fats post op because of the length of that area of the intestine has been altered. ... I know the consequence of a lot of fat in the diet is loose stool - but no weight gain from fats is a really big deal. But what about carbohydrates... how will a bowl of pasta and butter or home fried potatoes do for your long term weight maintenance with BPD/DS? Are pasta and potatoes cosidered complex sugars and therefore ok? I do realize protien first and foremost and vit supplements are the key focus... but I do wonder about the carbs if they are a big no no or not. Not talking immediate post op here but later once things are stablized. mary — X X. (posted on February 18, 2001)
February 18, 2001
There is always a raging discussion about the right level of carbs in the
DS eating regime! For me, I don't worry about carbs, or fat, or sugar
(well, a little bit about sugar). I make sure I get the protein grams in,
and then eat what I want. Last night I had ravioli and garlic bread for
dinner, because I had met my protein count earlier in the day. It is very
seldom that I will eat an all carb meal - but I don't stress over it when I
do. One of my favorite meals is a baked potatoe with cottage cheese,
bacon, and butter.
Don't think I qualify as long term at this point. But at 8 months out, I
have lost 85 lbs (70% of my excess), am down from a size 26 to a 14, and am
quite satisfied with both the loss and the quality of eating. I do not
feel deprived of anything - and I was / am a big carb lover. Fortunately,
as long as I focus on the protein first, I just have so little room for the
carbs, that a small amount leaves me satisfied.
Kate
— kateseidel
February 18, 2001
Mary:
You do NOT have to rethink all your foods with the BPD/DS for the rest of
your life as a previous poster stated. There are 22 year studies of
thousands of BPD patients and WE DO NOT REGAIN THE WEIGHT. That is the
beauty of this procedure -- that we do not have to continue with the DIET
MENTALITY that got us to be morbidly obese in the first place to achieve
and maintain continued weight loss.
I was a big carb eater preop (let's face it, at 360 lbs., I was a big carb,
fat, protein and sugar eater). At 16 months post (and down 170 lbs to a
BMI of 26), I eat eat everything and don't gain and am still slowly losing
(my doc says I will probably lose another 20 lbs over this last year before
I am stabilized). Since our stomach's are smaller and our body seems to
know this, we DSers all agree that we really crave protein. Most of us
seem to wake up ready for bacon and eggs, McMuffins, sausages, etc --
nectar to the DSer! By the way, I never have lose BMs from lots of fat,
and I'm the girl who eats a lb of bacon on the weekend. By the time you've
eaten your protein, you'll find that you don't have the room for an excess
of most carbs. For instance, I find I'll concentrate on the meatballs and
parmesian, rather than the bread or pasta -- through my own choice. It's
kinda like a reverse of the diets of old -- you find yourself piling on the
cheese and meats on your sandwiches, and leaving the bread on the plate and
always cheerfully requesting whipped cream on your desserts cause the fat
and dairy are great for us. I'm gettng hungry for eggs benedict as we
speak, and I'm going to go get some!
— Jill L.
February 18, 2001
Hi, Mary! I totally agree with kate and Jill. I'm three weeks post-op
(lap BPD/DS) and I focus on protein, but also get carbs in throughout the
day. There are plenty of meals that combine carbs, veggies and protein:
spaghetti (carbs) and meatballs (protein); fettucine alfredo (carbs and
protein with the cheese sauce) and ham/broccoli... The combinations are
endless.
The bottom line is: We have to focus on proteins to ensure we get our
daily dose (mine starts at 75 gms/day and increases to 75-110 depending on
sex/weight - I have to ask my nutritionist at my consult next week what my
personal goal with be). It is true that we often 'fill up' on proteins
first and there isn't a lot of room left over for lots of bread and butter,
etc. (at least this is definately true immediately post-op like I am).
But, just try to rethink the bread: I'm having no-sugar added ham and
swiss cheese melted on a half of bagel for lunch today! :) Got my bread
as well as my meat/protein! :) I had a McDonald's Crispy Chicken
yesterday (without the bread/bun) as well as a handful (about 8) of french
fries. I got my protein and carb fix and was totally satisfied/full! :)
I've had a slice of succulent Boston Market meatloaf over parmeasan
couscous and a few veggies on the side for dinner the other night... The
carb portions are definately smaller than pre-op, but there aren't any
'limits' or 'restrictions' on what can/cannot be consumed. Pasta? How
about three-cheese filled tortellini (cheese is protein, man) or
cheese/pepperoni filled pasta? I love penne with vodka sauce: I think a
better post-op meal would add some diced ham and perhaps mushrooms to the
sauce...
I had one of my favorite appetizers the other day: Indian aloo paratha
bread (clay oven baked bread stuffed with spices, potatoes, peas and
carrots). I ate one half of it as a meal (couldn't fit anything else in)
and it is purely carbs. But, it was ok because I had ensured that I got
protein in earlier that day and followed up with a protein-rich dinner. I
also rely on a protein shake or protein bar to get that extra boost when I
need it.
I definately think that carbs are not any forbidden fruit long-term. Of
course, like you mentioned, we are supposed to limit them to some degree in
the 'weight loss window' of about a year to eighteen months to maximize
weight loss, but beyond that --- we'll be able to eat a regular sized
entree meal and the world's our oyster, so to speak! :) All the best,
[email protected],
— Teresa N.
February 18, 2001
Geez, there are as many opposng opinions as answers here. Oh, dear, I'd
sure like some straight answers. I, too, amd a carb-craver, and had lap
BPD/DS 3.6 weeks ago. I realize from my research that food quantities
are bigger, weight regain is far less likely, fats are allowed,and dumping
does not appen--all pluses. There is obviuosly less room for carbs, and
protein satieates the appetitie for ALL foods when it hits the jejunem. In
fact,the reason I kept craving carbs pre-op--never mind that I like them
best--is that I seldom ate protein. When I did, end of cravings for THAT
day. Now post-op, I have had trouble tolerating even a bit of sugar (not
dumping, just--queasy/ick), and fats make me queasy, and anything
"scratchy" like toast--no matter how well salivated-on and
chewed, makes my stomach hurt. Yes, I can eat those fats, I know, with
relative freedom. But some DO get absorbed, and my particular MD says do
NOT purposely eat extra fat, as it won't help with fat-soluble vitamin
absorption, and can--in high amounts--slow weight loss. And, instead of
craving protein, it seems to make me queasy and repulsed--even the best
drinks I used to like. Finally I have hit a few brief plateaus
already--probably due to a shortage of protein and water--and have lost
"only" 25 lbs. I sure wish there was consensus on this topic,
and some reassurance that I might enjoy protein again. I used to love Egg
Mcmuffins--with cheese, of course-- as a rare treat, but right now--ewwwwh!
Finally, I don't seem able to eat anything like the quantity even Theresa
can--it's still 1/3-1/2 cup of soft (pureed)food, and 1/4 c. of chewy
stuff. My surgeon is known for making RNY pouches very small (15cc), and I
bet he gave me a fairly tiny tube of stomach with this surgery, too. P.S.
I would love to have a recent BPD/DS buddy like Theresa, and one farther
out,to stay in touch with. DS's are almost non-existent around here where
I live. ---Jesse
— Jesse M.
February 18, 2001
Jesse: All the "queasy" feelings you are having from food right
now are NOT indicative of the rest of your life, only that you are 3.6
weeks out of surgery. I was famous (in my own mind at least & to my
fellow DSers) for the first few months for claiming "everything tastes
like s**t and swill". It seemed like everything was too sweet, too
fatty, tasted funny, sat like a lump in my stomach. Some of my favorite
foods turned my stomach for a long time after surgery, for no clinical
reason that I know of -- but it happens to a lot of us. It took me 6
months before I could enjoy the taste of coffee. But here I sit chugging
coffee, the frig is stocked with soda & Hershy's Kisses at my side (I'm
sure to get the almond ones for protein LOL). You will surely be able to
enjoy & tolerate all kinds of food again. Give yourself some time.
You're still a baby here kiddo. Don't compare yourself to Teresa. She's
the DS superwoman! Seriously, we all get there -- just a slightly
different rates. Teresa & my doctor (same one) also is known for
making a very small DS stomach, but since it is dependent on your natural
shape of the stomach (the greater curvature) it is dependent on your
anatomy to a large degree and can vary -- usually causing the smaller ones
to lose more quickly in the first 6 months -- but the DS window is really
24 months, so we all have time to get where we're going. If you need more
DS pals, sub to the Post Op offshot lists you'll find at
www.duodenalswitch.com. We had to make additional lists because the
original DS list got so big that post-ops couldn't handle it -- what with
having a life and all. Hope to see you there.
— Jill L.
February 18, 2001
Jill: I'm not the DS superwoman, I'm the DS mutant! I would never say
that my experience is the 'norm' by any means (nor have I ever stated
that), but I can clearly say that, being almost 4 weeks post-op I can
totally see how wonderful life will keep getting after the surgery since I
haven't had any problems with tolerating food, etc. (YET)
It's really interesting how very few people (either in the local Mt. Sinai
group or the main DS postop lists) even bothered to say 'hey, great to hear
you're on the other side!' I got about 3 responses from people other than
my close Ds friends when I posted. I guess some people just don't like to
hear positive news. :) I want to let people know that the surgery CAN be
a positive change, even immediately post-op (as it has been for me). Just
because I haven't experienced problems doesn't mean that I should be
shunned or ignored, IMHO. All the best, [email protected],
— Teresa N.
February 20, 2001
Thanks everyone for your thoughtful and lengthy replys... gosh who would
have thought a WLS was possible with the prospect of Fetucine Alfredo and
Egg McMuffins as great food choices? Thanks so much... I'm really psyched
about this.The BPD/DS for sure the right choice for me, I am so glad I
found people like you to flesh out (excue the pun) the details and the
nitty gritty...
mary
corona, ca
— X X.
Click Here to Return