In defense of vets/ carb police...etc

Hi Happyteacher

Nicely said, not all carbs are our enemies, and we do need carbs to function, and I like you found that to function mentally at top function and have decent bowel movements without pain I needed to increase my carbs and fiber, granted I have increase the good carbs of all bran and increased low carb veggies, still avoiding the breads and flours and rice and anything white except cauliflower.

Nice to hear other views on the topic.

Iris. 

Nice to meet you Irisb!  Good luck on your journey!

Okay.. I understand how this can look like I am singling you out.. but that seriously NOT my intent...I wrote a similar post 3 months ago that I never posted.  I have seen time and time again people bash the vets who they call "carb police" and many times in those threads, you have come up as possibly having different requirements based upon your height and health status. I personally think bringing your health status up, is NOBODYS business but yours to do if you so choose.  I dont think the intent was malicious however, I think the reference was in your needing to support your body through a health crisis may have made your needs diffeent than the average wt loss patint.  Now- back to my post here-

I mention your height because I think all of these things are relevant when we discuss plans to lose weight, height, gender, strting weight, age, insulin reistance issues/diabetes etc.

I think we DO all need to find our own path, I think we DO all need to hear different voices and ideas.  I stand by my position that the research of all successful weight loss medically supervised diets are low calorie and low carb because it gets the BEST results (read quickest) for the majority of folks.

I am one of those, even the slightest uppage in calories/carbs puts me into maintinence, or such slow weight loss that I get off track because i lose motivation because i see no results for a month at a time (so wt loss that is unmeasurable ... ounces in a month versus pounds).

I think the one camp thinks that promoting a higher carb approach is dooming many people to fail/ miss that window of fast weight loss up front.  My body from a wt loss persoective does not care if I eat 40 grams of watermelon or blueberry carbs or crap-  carbs slow me down.  To get the last 20 off I really think I need to go under 20 carbs... and have to buckle down.

I do not know about low carbs causeing low blood sugar- I have had low blood sugar episodes since being sleeved- ALWAYS after eating a quest bar (25 carbs though only 7 net) and getting excercise.  If I dont eat the carbs first, I dont go too low. My lows always come after eating something too high carb (for my system).

Lastly, many on here, and some very vocally... state time and time again that Elina and Frisco tell people to ignore their drs advice. I find that fasle. Many people on here have no plan... or a plan that says refried beans and mashed potatoes and applesauce in mushy phase will help you get to goal.  Not good advice from a meical standpoint. WHEN these people stall out and ASK for advice, they are given advice with disclaimers- this is what MY PLAN was and what worked for me. They do NOT SOLICIT out people and tell them to go against their drs orders.  I have a friend sleeved at Stanford-  he lost 30 pounds to my 70, though he started out 150 pounds heavier than me... due to his PLAN... that was weak. he was defeated, depressed and looking for help.

I know you are tryingto help too- you get pm ed from a different group... and they seem to have different needs. Is low carb not working for them because of low blood sugar etc, or LIKE ME do they just struggle to comply because its HARD ?  Because you can be as nice as you want to tell me its okay, there is a diffeent path- and NO, theres not for me to get to goal. I wish there were.

I was posting about people jumping on a band wagon of rudeness and bashing... on either side of the coin.

Its not necessary, not kind and doesnt help anyones position- it discredits all posts then because people just sound like jerks!

This post was not all about YOU.... but often, those wolves come out AFTER you post... lining p to take a shot at the "carb nazis"...and I dont get it.

Christina

For some folks the low carb path does trigger low blood sugar, even if that is not the case for you.  I am just throwing this out there, but do you think it is possible that you are struggling to sustain your plan because it is so unbalanced?  You don't need to answer that or anything, just something to think about.  

I am not sure I agree that a taller person needs more calories.  I think the heavier person needs (or burns would be a better wording) more calories.  I would bet a week's salary that my 6'1'' daughter who weighs 130 pounds eats less  in a maintaining type  day than a 250 pound woman who is 5' tall.  

If I post that my specific health needs or size makes for unique requirements, it is always in the CONTEXT of how we need to as individuals determine what is specific to each of us and develop a plan that works with that.  I will indicate that I am hypoglycemic, for example, and for that reason the low carb approach is not a safe path for me.  I will always conceded, however, that there are folks who can indeed sustain a low carb approach without blood sugar being an issue.   I have never said that I made it to goal because I was tall or because I have cancer.  

Each person needs to be able to figure out what there needs are.  And if they elect to not go with the under 800 calories and under 40 carbs it does not mean that they are doomed to fail.  It might mean that it is a better path for them, but then again, perhaps not.  It is up to the individual to figure that out.  I think the pressure that this board kicks out hampers the process for some  figuring that out because they are very vulnerable and scared to fail in the beginning.  

I disagree with the other threads bringing up my health issues as not being malicious.  It has happened a number of times in the context where they explain that my success is likely because I am a tall cancer patient.  What a crock of crap.  They do that in a feeble attempt to discredit that a balanced approach is viable.  It goes along with the same as when they say only "1 or 2" people in all the years they have been here have found success with this approach and having a larger sleeve. BS.  I have been around here for a few years myself and there are many examples of successful sleevers who did not keep carbs under 40 or calories under 800 for the duration.  It completely befuddles me why they would even make that kind of crap up.  

Hi Christina,

That was well said.  Thanks for posting this. 

I am a person who is very sensitive to carb intake.  For decades, I was defeated by my cravings, rarely able to get a diet past the first day.  Then in the mid 90's I discovered Atkins and came to realize that my cravings were caused by the carbs I was addicted to.  I did not know anyone else who suffered the same problem, and it was such a blessings when I discovered this forum and others who had the same issue.  What relief to no longer be alone in the struggle with carbs! 

I know that most people can eat more carbs without problem. And more power to them!  But that is not my reality.  I also think that many people struggling with cravings have not yet realized the relationship between carbs and cravings.  Thank goodness for the vets who bring this information to people who so desperately need it.

So I second your appreciation for the vets and all they do to help others in their weight loss journeys.  It is a great kindness to support those who are still struggling with obesity, and all the pain and suffering that it encompasses.

thank you,

Carol

Applauds!!!  I completely agree with all the above...I am fascinated with the low carb discussions that go on and on here.

I am 6' tall, have lost 110 pounds so far in 8 mths...I was a self pay patient.  While I chose my surgeon wisely, I could not follow up with him and his clinic due to distance.  I have had this forum to help me and that's has been a blessing.

I started out reading about total calories...set it at 800 as was recommended on here...read up about MFP...joined it (hugely useful and motivating to see the numbers add up...helps with the end of day selections for sure!!)

Then read up about carbs!!! Well....since carbs got me to the operating room in the first place I had to pay attention.  I had initially set my stats on mfp to be at 60% proteins...broke the remaining 40% amid carb, fat. etc...it worked out to give me 60g of carbs a day.  I followed that for a while...lost weight rapidly.  Reduced carbs further (tried to do the 20gr a day), very difficult to do, lost rapidly.  I worried a bit about being so low carb but I felt good, blood work always was good so I stayed with it and I think it proved successful for me.  I am back closer to 60gr of carbs a days now but ONLY because I've added fruits and certain veggies to my diet...my weight loss is a bit slower now, is it because i upped the carbs a bit? Probably...could be because I'm 8 months out. Who knows right?  I have 20 lbs to go..I think I will make it!!  If I need to drop back to 20 gr of carbs a day I will.  Its all about balance isn't it

The point is...I  NEVER would have done so well without the advice I took from this forum.  I was SO LOST on my own when I came home from the hospital and I don't know what I would have done without all the vets on here.  

You need to do what works for you...everyone is different.  The advice dispensed on here was invaluable to me, many many times a particular vet's (5' nothing and high believer in low carbs) advice has gotten me going or kept me on track...I am not sure why anyone would feel the need to argue with success!!!

whats mfp?

myfitnesspal.com  A free website that you can use to track what you eat and exercise.  It also has the ability to friend up, post, etc.  The value though is in logging the food.  Very important habit to develop during weight loss in my humble opinion.  I am idateacher2 over there if anyone wants to friend up. If you can handle my snarky butt that is!

Chris.. your so sweet...

as a vet here  ... you don't need to defend me silly!

I have indeed spent a real real long time here helping strangers. and yeah... I get nothin for it, no paid endorsements, no ego strokin, no one to promote, solicit hits to a website, my surgeon, no oneupmanship

to share what Ive learned....with y'all NEW people...I do it gladly...cuz. it does help ME keep my head in the game!

Ya missed quite a few balls there....but your still in the game

Your gonna do great!

VSG !!  Semper Fi!