In defense of vets/ carb police...etc

My name is Christina, not Chris... And I have certainly seen you reach out to help many people, often with quite excellent advice.

Christina

I agree with what you write with one exception.  Cirangle does indeed sponsor this board.  Look above, it says so right in the header bar.  Not that this is a bad thing, he merely does.  He does have his own people posting here,  it is so obvious you can't help but to notice.  It is basically his board in many ways but as long as they are giving good advice who cares?

As for carbs.... I am not necessarily a fan of low carb but I am a fan of no WHITE carb.  Has anyone here ever decided to sneak in the garage and eat an entire head of lettuce with high fat dressing?  No, when we hide and eat, binge, what have you... we don't binge on raw veggies we binge, over eat, or graze on chips, cookies, Cheetos, a cake, pie, some sort of WHITE carb.

With that said I did go low carb losing but that was because I had a band and couldn't eat anything but protein shakes and tuna.  But, it also happened to work along with running 10 miles daily.  I worked hard for every pound.  Today, in sleeve maintenance, I eat a balanced diet, low white carb, lots of beans and veggie carbs and I maintain well and have for over 5 years.

There are a couple here who are looney crazy and spew crazy jibber jabber but that is what and who they are.  Take what works, leave the rest.  If someone is losing well and healthy then they are doing the right thing.  If they are not losing well and screaming "Carb Police!!!" then maybe it isn't everyone around them that is wrong.  A stall does not last 10 months.  A stall is 1 month.  One month and that can happen.  Ten months and the person needs to make some changes in their own eating and exercise behavior.  Ten months is not a stall, it is a matter of behaviors waiting to be changed.

Agreed  ... Though not sure we agree on who the couple of looney crazies are :) but we can agree to disagree there !

Alright,

So I am the tall chick mentioned in this post.  Let me be very, very clear.  I have no issue with the low carb approach.  I do agree that for many, many folks that path is what will get them to goal.  Period.  HOWEVER, my problem is that this message is delivered with a "do it this way or be doomed to fail" message.  It ignores the needs of the individual   It is  NOT SAFE for all readers.  Newbies are frankly insecure and have little to no confidence in the very early stages, because lets face it- we all failed a gajillion times with dieting before we ever got to this point.  By making them feel that the ONLY path to goal is low carb causes some to really struggle with low blood sugar, constipation, etc.  and all in the name of fear of being doomed.  That is so entirely NOT NEEDED.  

Low carb:

Risk of low blood sugar- not safe

Risk of severe constipation and subsequent impaction- not safe

Not eating veggies and fruit- nutritionally unbalanced

Low calorie sustained diet- messes with the metabolism.  

Now, the above are a few examples of some of the drawbacks.  But they certainly would not apply to every person who elects to go low carb.  But I get PMs all the time of people who struggle with this and explicitly say that they are afraid to post on these boards due to the low carb plain and disdain and intolerance for anything else that deviates.  

So, in all...

I don't have a problem with a low carb plan, just billing it as do this or your are doomed to fail.  Why is it such a HUIGE problem for folks to read a post about eating a little carb (veggies and fruit, not ice cream and donuts)????

To the OP:  I am sincerely sorry that you are having to battle to make it to goal.  Keep at it.  Remember, if the plan isn't working- adjust!

Thank you oh tall one ( lol) . Geez I wish I could have some tall! I think you have stated your perspective very clearly and well . It is obvious it comes from a place of wanting to help. I have an issue with people who jump on a thread and help turn it into a bashing... On either side. I find sarcasm on here to not be respectful or helpful.

I am obsessed, worried, stressed and feel screwed in getting off the last 20 but it's because I lost my mojo! I got complacent, liking my size 10s when really on my short 5.4 stature I need to be in 6's.. Because that's where I will be at 100 percent EWL.y plan didn't fail me... I started failing my plan! I will trudge along and regroup and keep trying. Head hunger and being couped up with my children.... Whom I adore,  are my undoing!

i am not over eating veggies ... It's the stupid chip here or handful of fish crackers there that have kept me stuck. Oh yes, and the coffee creamer! 

For me, I wish I'd pushed it harder, earlier ...i think little things can really add up. Cause I didn't realize how soon I'd loose the drive or how hard my body would fight to hold on. BUT my height ( or lack if), my moderate activity level and my age are all factors.. Along with extreme insulin resistance.

Everyone dOes have to find what works for them... And it is a process.

Sorry for typos, have s hard time on my phone.

Christina

Ok, I am saying this with the kindest, gentlest voice possible which is so so difficult to accurately convey.  You are listing several excuses of why you are not at goal... being short, insulin resistant, kids at home.  I have a house full of kids.  I get that.  I was diabetic and insulin resistant.  I get that too.  Ok, you lost me at short.  :)   My point is that it is only 20 pounds.  You have lost far more than that.  You identified that your issue is the slipping of food choices.  You know what you need to fix, so fix it!  You can do it!  The great thing about the sleeve is that it doesn't go away and it will be right their for you when you are ready.  

Oh no, you misunderstood.. I KNOW EXACTLY why I'm not at goal.. its because my calories have been too high as well as my carbs!  period. I have been off my plan more than one for a month... every day starts with good intentions, and my coping mechanism for stress was food (duh) so, I am learning to be different.  I am eating a lot of pickles (fresh cucmber pickles)... when I find myself wandering into the kitchen.  I m not blaming my height-  but my insulin resistence and senstivity does mean that I need to stay low carb to lose... that is my unforntunate truth (or exercise more).  I make no excuses, I know what to do... just having a hard time doing ti daily lately... I make it sooo close, then I manage to gobble up 300 calories late in the day.  Maintinence for me is going to be about 1000-1200 calories.  Thats my reality. I have to be at 800 to lose, and at 8 months out I am struggling to do that.

I do want it-  but as always, sometimes the immediate gratification of a mouthful of food wins over my self determination to stick to my plan. I hate being weak... but there are days where my resolve wavers and I hear the old song in my head (tomorrow I'll do it right)...gah....nope- today, right now, put down the fish crackers and walk away.  I thought it would be easier, and right now it feels like most other diets....I have hunger, and I have head hunger, and I'm struggling to cope with my stressors without the crutch of food... but I'm not gaining, and I will get there... maybe take me longer than some, but I'll get my head on straight.

Christina

I understand both sides , but I think for me I will start with what my nut says , which is 100 gms of protein (was on 80 and had low blood protein)  and then low carb veggies when they can fit in my sleeve and if there is any room(like there ever is ) some low carb fruit, like blueberries

 pre op I was eating 165 carbs 1200 cal 100 protein I have type 2 diabetes so carb control is part of my life

post op my carbs have to drop because I will be eat

Christina, although I appreciate the sentiment, there really is no use even going there.  They are convinced that I am a leader of some depraved cult that is trying to make people anorexic.  In other words, Satan in a polka dot bikini.  :)  You know me in RL so it's a bit hard for you to swallow, but really, maybe from their perspective it works.  They think that I am paid or asked to post here when the apposite is actually true.  Dr. C has asked me a number of times why  I keep posting here and wondering at my sanity for still doing it four years out.  Once he even told me that he thinks I need a new hobby.  :)  As usual, the man is probably right.  :)

When I was new and still in my weight loss phase and early maintenance, this type of crazy would upset me.  Even a few years out, I remember being hurt and upset about it.  The truth is that it just doesn't do anything for me at all anymore.  I genuinely don't care.  This means you guys can stop protecting me from the meanies.  :)  It is certainly becoming less fun to post here, but there are many venues to post on. 

On another note, what did you think of the soup with beef in it?  I am not sure it is worth the additional calories, what is your thought?   I am glad you took some because as usually, Alan made way too much and we didn't freeze it, so some of it went bad.  You would think that by now he would have adjusted the amounts that he makes.  It's only been four years, but as long as he is willing to cook, I am not complaining to him about anything.  :)

I loved the soup!  The original green chicken is still my favorite, but the beef was a great new flavor.  I rarely eat beef so it was a real treat!!  We will discuss in person...I am rarely on here, and maybe I should stick to that plan. Its so much simpler. Plus, my kids are pulling at me anytime I sit at the computer...... they want my time and just not enough hours in the day. I dont know how you do it!  Knowing people in real life gives us perspectives that people don' t get on an internet forum. I think people get misunderstood.

See you soon.

Christina