i think this might be the right procedure for me because, from what i have read, it seems like this fits my eating habits the most and that i'd have to change the least. so i want to know from people who have lived it, am i mistaken?

i'm a meat and potatos and pasta kind of person. those are probably the top 3 staples of my diet. i'm also someone who does not always need to eat 3 meals a day. some days i only eat once, other days i eat more often. 

what kind of foods will i have to avoid if i were to have this surgery? please be specific. i read in one post something vague about not being able to eat white bread and not being able to have sugar. is that true?

DS eating is very Atkins (sp?) like.  High protein, moderately high fat, low carb especially during weightloss.  Some people have problems with wheat causing looser stools and gas.  Some people have lactose intolerance even if they didnt have it before.  And your tolerance can change over time.  If you have not already, please read every page of      DSFacts.com and pick a vetted surgeon.

 Keep on reading and learning.

We eat meat, and meat, and meat.  High protein, high fat, and low carb.  In other words lower sugar.  Pasta and potatoes are carbohydrates.

You will need in the neighborhood of 100 gr protein per day for life and quite a few supplements as well.  You have to be very serious about doing this or you could become quite ill as a result of malnutrition.

You always eat protein first.  Then if you can fit it in, a little bit of veggies.  At first this is work, it just takes over your life.  You will have to eat more than 3 times a day in the beginning or rely on protein shakes(without sugar).

In your weight-loss phase you should be eating like Atkins induction except with more protein.  If you want to see what it's like, read up on it.  Try it for a couple weeks and see if it's a lifestyle you can live with.

We are all different.  Some people eat as they please and sail right on down to goal.  Others, like me, still have to work at it.  I am still always on a diet and watching my carbs because I can gain weight easily.  Some people have problems tolerating certain foods post-op.  I CAN eat anything but I still have to concentrate on protein to stay healthy.

 For me personally it wasn't only about the eating style, it was also about the way the procedure is done and how my body would function after wards. 

White bread, sweets, soda, pasta and all are a no go after surgery, if you want this to work out for you stay away from carbs for as long as possible. After my surgery I could no longer handle anything made with white flour, I still cannot. It gives me gas, bloats me, and gives me intestinal pains. Also I get very liquid stools. Sometimes if I am constipated I will eat something made with white flour, it usually helps loosen things up. 

I eat meat all the time. Meat makes my body feel amazing, when I eat a pure chicken breast or anything that has NO breading I feel the best. 

Even if bread doesn't bother you, you need to stay away from it. Remember we will absorb 100% simple carbs (sugar, white flour) but only about 40% protein which means we must eat double amounts of protein to get a good amount in. 

I also eat a lot of complex carbs, such as veggies which I usually add lots of butter to. It helps even things out. I hope this doesn't sound like a big dash to your diet because honestly being able to eat meat, fat and complex carbs is enough to make you really happy in life. You don't need simple carbs, it may be what got you here in the first place. 

Pasta is a hard thing to deal with since it is pretty common in dishes. I personally switched out everything that contained white flour with things that are WHOLE wheat. I use WHOLE wheat noodles, and dream fields noodles when I want to have some pasta. Its a great substitute. 

I also eat WHOLE wheat bread, WHOLE wheat buns and so on. I do not eat anything that contains white flour any longer. And I have to say my life has been great. 

So as long as you can cut out everything with lots of sugar and white flour then the D'S is the way to go. But honestly no matter what surgery you have, even if you didn't have surgery white flour/sugar are not needed and do more harm then good. 

-Jessy

Yeah, I would say a big misconception about the ds is that you can eat what you want and still lose weight. You really cannot. Like the others said, it is about protein, fat and complex carbs. Now, once you have lost your weight people begin to add in other things like sugar and stuff. But everytime I have ever read about regain it is when people are eating simple carbs. Weight loss surgery isn't a magic thing. I was hoping it was but it isn't. You still have to follow a "diet" and you can't eat what you want if you are really into sweets and carbs like I am. Just the way it goes. You do lose weight pretty quickly and have a better quality of life.

i have read that dsfacts.com thing but i havent found it to be very informative at all. it's pretty vague and just regurgitates the same info that majority of websites and articles say about ds, hence why i'm asking here.

and this.... seems a little counter-intuitive to leave in the parts that absorb the gain-weight carbs and sugars and take out the parts that absorb the keep you healthy meats..... wtf? the way the articles and stuff makes it sound is as if it is the sugars that you dont absorb anymore. why/how does it "cure" people of diabetes then if it has virtually no effect on the way we process carbs that turn into sugars that turn into fat?

if potatos and pasta are no-nos for this surgery forever then this isnt the procedure for me, and i guess none of the procedures are for me either, and this is really discouraging. 

thanks for the input thus far though everyone. it's appreciated.

You need to be willing to change the way you eat with all the WLSs. 

The DS has the most weight loss and the best long term results.  It has the highest rate of resolving comorbidities.

 

the reason why it has a cure rate 98% diabetes is for several different reason but the most prominant one is the way the intestines are configured. The duodenum is HUGE part in how we process our sugars aka carbs. There are some doctors that are doing just the 'switch' part of the surgery just to help with diabetes. Not so much the US as of yet.

There is no surgery that will let you eat horrible and stay waffer thin. The DS is proven to have the best long term success in keeping off the weight compared to any other surgery. This does not mean you can abuse your 'tool'. DS is the most forgiving but you still have to follow guidelines.

example
h20 64+
protein 30-60-90
vits
then have your carbs 50

this is more strict when in weight loss phase (first 2 years)
once you hit maitenance then some people sit around 100 carbs, some at 150.

when you have this surgery you 'have' to change to give your body what it needs, otherwise can get very ill.

honestly though eating high protein is divine... just one word.... bacon!
i would do some more reading/educating:) good luck

Potatoes and pasta aren't no-nos forever, but you have to be sparing and careful with them.  You CANNOT eat like you did as a pre-op, no matter what surgery you look to have.  For me, I'll occasionally have a small baked potato with all the fixins (luckily for the DS, butter cheese and sour cream are all great things).  Or sometimes I'll have a small amount of pasta if I'm really craving it.  I don't deny myself any foods (except for beans... beans and I do NOT get along well).

I can tell you though, that after almost a year since my DS, I don't really crave the simple carbs like I used to.  Sure, once in awhile I'll have some.  But it's not a daily or weekly thing and honestly?  I really couldn't care less.  I thought I'd die if I couldn't have pasta and rice and potatoes, pre-surgery.  Now, although I'd miss the occasional indulgence, you could take those things out of my life and I really wouldnt' miss them.

If you're not willing to change your eating habits, no WLS will work.  Sorry, but that's the truth.  Your statement that the DS will change your eating habits the least makes me wonder if you are truly serious about making the life change that WLS requires.  You need to reassess what you think WLS will do and why you want it.  Additionally, you can't be willy nilly about your food/vitamin intake.  I NEVER eat 3 meals a day.  I also never eat 1 meal a day.  I am consistently consuming some form of protein every 3 to 4 hours.  I rarely get hungry, and sometimes I have to remind myself to eat.  You HAVE to eat after WLS, especially after the DS.  You can't go into it with the mindset that you will only eat once or twice a day adn that is what will help you lose weight.

If you want the so-called easy way out with as little change to your eating habits as possible, then you are DEFINITELY in the wrong place.  Anyone who has undergone surgery will tell you it isn't easy, but it's extraordinarily rewarding.

 The theory is that type 2 diabetes is caused by intestinal hormones.  Production of these hormones is stimulated/ increased by food passing through the small bowel.  Since most of your small bowel is bypassed, food no longer travels that path.  Therefore, diabetes gone.  Usually instantly post-op and for good.

There's no way to bypass the part of your bowel that processes sugars(carbs) and leave intact the part that processes proteins.  Wow, that would be great!

and this.... seems a little counter-intuitive to leave in the parts that absorb the gain-weight carbs and sugars and take out the parts that absorb the keep you healthy meats..... wtf?

Our bodies are complex machines, and there isn't just one part that absorbs A and another part that absorbs B. Simple carbs begin being absorbed in the MOUTH, and are absorbed throughout the entire digestive tract. Certain things are absorbed more completely in certain regions of the small intestine, but there's just no way to tailor our guts to absorb protein but not sugar.

Pre-op, I lived on pasta! Post-op, I still eat it, but I find it less attractive than I used to, and when I eat it, I eat it with a LOT of meat and cheese. Potatoes don't bother me at all, and I eat them frrequently---but again, I eat them with lots of meat and/or cheese.

The really wonderful thing about the DS is how little FAT we absorb. This makes it much, much easier to eat large quantities of protein, since we don't worry about fat intake.

so much will depend on your individual experiences. All surgeries require restrictions to consumption during the weight loss period - often a year plus/minus. WIth the restriction component of all surgeries, you will eat much less than prior to surgery. The prime real estate you have left must be devoted to getting the protein and nutrients you need to stay healthy. The malabsorption portion of the DS will help you keep the weight off once you are at goal

As I approach 5 years post op, I eat pretty normal. Breads, pastas, potatoes are all part of my diet, although at lower volumes than pre-op. Unless you develop individual intolerances (some have lactose issues), you may be able to enjoy your favourites to some extent. But you will have to introduce them carefully to test how your system and your tastes respond. Many find their tastes are altered and develop new favourites in place of the old. And the carbs may cause some stomach and bathroom issues which you would want to discover on your own. I personally find that smothering the carbs in lots of fat helps it speed through the system with less impact, so I slather butter on breads, and heavy cream sauces on pasta, sour cream and butter on eggs, for example

 DS eating is more like Meat and veggies, then maybe a bite or two of pasta or potatoes.

Regular pasta gives me horrible gas, so I eat very little of it..  Dreamfields brand pasta yields a tiny actual serving, which is more than a bite or two I might enjoy of the other.

I went through the last 7 yrs not depriivng myself anything.  I would eat my meat first > then veggies > then whatever I wanted with the last couple of bites left

" If you're not willing to change your eating habits, no WLS will work. Sorry, but that's the truth. Your statement that the DS will change your eating habits the least makes me wonder if you are truly serious about making the life change that WLS requires. You need to reassess what you think WLS will do and why you want it. "

the above is full of a lot of assumptions.

i dont stuff my face silly with pounds of potatos and pasta. i do eat mostly meat but my preference is usually to have a single, small, red potato as my side dish, with a tiny bit of butter, and on days that i dont eat meat, i'll usually have some kind of pasta dish.

in the past year+ i HAVE changed my LIFESTYLE drasticly. i cut soda and juices out completely and i only drink water. i do not eat any junk foods. i do not eat any pasteries or cakes. i do not eat enormous portions. instead of having a 1 pound steak with another pound of potatos and 2 sticks of butter 3 times a day, i have a quarter pound of meat with a potato that's maybe 1/4 the size of my fist as my breakfast meal and then i may or may not eat something later on. when i'm paying attention i eat a banana or an orange if it's been too many hours since i last ate (but i'm still not hungry enough for a meal).

i walk between one and a half and 4 miles every day. i count calories. i see a nutritionist. yet i still have not lost any weight. i lose and gain back a 4 pound range. and this has been going on for years now. that's the only reason i'm even considering getting surgery, because everything else has already failed me.

i dont know what i think WLS will do for me. that's why i am here asking questions. i'm trying to do research so i can make an informed decision and be prepared and know what to expect if i decide to take this route.

thank you all for the info you have provided thus far. i had come back here today with intention to ask some more questions, but that paragraph i quoted above just soured the entire process for me completely.

 If you're not willing to change your eating habits, no WLS will work.  Sorry, but that's the truth.  Your statement that the DS will change your eating habits the least makes me wonder if you are truly serious about making the life change that WLS requires.  You need to reassess what you think WLS will do and why you want it.  "

Oncetwice:  This is precisely why I chose the DS; it would alter my eating habits the least.  I did not want to take bites the size of a pencil eraser and chew them to mush.  I have no idea when my schedule will let me eat so avoiding liquids for a half hour before eating was a negative.  So while I have altered my eating, the DS seemed to be the most attractive for me.  Four years later with no re-gain and excellent labs, it's working.

This is my experience and my opinion, just the author of the highlighted paragraph has her opinion.  Everyone has the right to post their opinion even if it's something we'd rather not hear or is not based in reality for everybody.

If something you read sours you, ignore it.  Ask all the questions you want.  This is a great place for anecdotal "evidence".  When I first posted after my DS, no one had ever heard of my surgeon.  Some were even appalled that I would let him do his first DS on me.  Some told me I was stupid and others called me crazy.  I am neither.  Many of those people now recommend my surgeon.  If I had let them chase me away, I'd have lost out on a lot of good information.

This is just my unsolicited advice on how to use this forum...

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.

Henry David Thoreau

Hey, one big reason *I* chose the DS was because it would change *my* eating habits the least. There's nothing wrong with wanting that.

At 8.5 years post-DS, an average restaurant meal for me is an 8-ounce steak, a small salad (with lots of ham and cheese!), a few bites of a baked potato (with LOTS of butter and sour cream!), a yeast roll, a couple of glasses of iced tea, and a few bites of dessert. Or if we're at a family-style buffet, I'll have that same small salad, a fried chicken wing, some meatloaf, maybe some Salisbury steak or whatever yummy meat they have, a few bites of mac and cheese or mashed potatoes, tea, and dessert.

What you say about walking, counting calories, and seeing a nutritionist yet still being unable to lose weight tells me that you need the sort of metabolic help only the DS can give you, long-term.

Please, feel free to ask any questions you want! Just don't get your feelings hurt if someone smarts off at you---we tend to be a smart-mouthed group. (*grin*)

Oncetwice: It sounds like you already have made some awesome changes!!! For me, cutting out soda and junk is the hardest part! I have had a little bit of pasta and potatoes and I tolerate them fine. I guess the thing is that like others have said, you can indulge but as kind of a special treat. I know sometimes people on here can sound presumptuous and judgmental but I think most people are really trying to help. Weight loss surgery isn't for everyone and there is NOTHING wrong with that at all! You are doing the right thing at trying to ask questions and get the information on it. Whatever you decide...I wish you luck!!

"what kind of foods will i have to avoid if i were to have this surgery? please be specific. i read in one post something vague about not being able to eat white bread and not being able to have sugar. is that true?"

That is NOT true.

The DS is the surgery that allows you to eat most closely to normal post op.  There are no foods that are off limits for the surgery itself.

Each individual person experiences the surgery differently.  Some have trouble with white flour; some with sugar; some with some sugar substitutes.  No one knows what types of food issues they will have post-op, or for how long, but most people can adjust very easily to them.

I am two years out, and I eat everything.  I had some food problems earlier out (like with tomatoes and salsa), but these have completely resolved.  I do focus on protein, and take in about 120-150g per day.  I eat way too much junk food, and I love potatoes!  I am under goal at 5' 7.5" and 135ish lbs and a size 2-4.

(I'm not saying this to encourage anyone to follow my lead:  I'm just sharing my own  experience.)

Hope this helps.