Low Carber Vets Please look

During the losing phase, I was at about 40-60 carbs/day and lost weight. I was considered a light weight. I didn't start strength training until month 4, due to some early complications. I think everyone is different and if you are not very insulin resistant, then your body will most likely metabolize the complex carbs. People who are very insulin resistant and who have dieted for years have a damaged metabolism and for them, very low carb seems to work.

I think you have to listen to your body. With the amount of working out that you are doing, your nutritional need for protein is greater and eventually, you will want to be above 70 grams/day. With all the running that you are doing, you need some carbs and will burn them off through all the exercise that you are doing.

Have you thought of carb cycling? Body builders and other athletes do this. Perhaps, on the days that you run, your carbs for the day could be greater. Weight training days could be a bit less carbs, since you are not using as much glycogen, although, plyometrics and kettle bells burn a lot. I think 40-60 carbs/day is considered low carb in the sports world and IMHO, you need it. As long as the weight is coming off, you are doing well.


Gail

By no means a vet, but here are my my two cents...I think you have to decide which works best for you.  Since the beginning of my journey I have been doing low carb (less that 20g a day) and keeping my calories at around 700.  From two months out, I was exercising pretty hard.  Running, Power 90, etc was my routine.  I had a cold about 4 months out, so I had to back off my workouts to long, brisk walks, and other less intense exercise.  When I did that, my weight loss increased dramatically.  So...all that is to say that working out that hard, while I'm sure was great for my fitness, slowed down my weight loss.  The plan right now is to do moderate exercise every day until I stop losing.  That is when I'm going to really crank my exercise back up.  I can't knock anyone who goes the higher carb, harder workout route because that works for them.  Right now, though, this is what is working for me.

As someone who is quickly becoming a runner, I'm learning a lot from my runner friends. You probably should NOT workout at all the day after your long run. Your muscles need time to recover. If you don't allow the proper rest, you will actually lose endurance.

I still stay pretty low carb even though I'm in maintenance. I run 10-12 miles per week now and cross train in between. Today was my long run (5.2 miles) and I have to force myself to take tomorrow off, even though I don't want to. (Weird, I LIKE exercising now... am almost drawn to it... the pre-op me would have laughed at the thought of this.)

Anyhow, it's possible to stay fairly low carb and be a serious exerciser, but you've got to time your carbs right. Some people say having a little carbs & protein before exercising is good... some say after. I tend to eat after because I hate running with food in my stomach. I tend to either do a 1/2 protein bar (good combo of carbs and protein) or a scrambled egg with cheese plus a slice of sprouted bread (also a good combo of carbs and protein).

Up your protein if you can. Your muscles need it! Good for you for being so committed to working out! It's awesome!

 You are abo****ely right and I wrote my schedule down wrong!  Monday I do Yoga to try and ward of injury and help with flexibility.  I HATE it but I think with my still high weight it's important to keep me injury free.  

Right now I'm having 1 cup of fat free milk after a tough workout (not after yoga!).  And it's made a world of difference in how I feel for the rest of the day.  I no longer feel like I need to take a nap, BUT it squeeks my carbs to about 45g a day rather than the 30g a day I was getting.  I'm trying to offset that so that my carbs are around 20g a day on no or light exercise days.  

This week I lost over 4 lbs following this plan so it may work for me but one week isn't enough data.  I'm also a worrier (it's my MO) so I could also be getting all worried for nothing.

I'm no expert for sure...but it seems to me the amount of what sounds like pretty intense workouts (especially only 8 weeks out from surgery) your body needs more calories and more carbs. I know you're trying to stay with the this board's "rule" of less than 800 calories and under 40 g of carbs, but ultimately, you need to do what's in the best interest of you and your journey. To say that you feel like a failure scares me. You are barely eating anything and you're working out at a high level. Are you working with a nutritionist? I wish you much luck on your journey!

Well, I'm not a Vet, but I'll chime in.

I started heavy workouts at 2 months post-op. I'm up to 3 days of Krav/Taekwondo/Karate, 2 days of weight training and 1-2 days walking or bicycling (I hate running. Hate.)

My doctors all seem to agree that this is considered athlete status. I've spent months trying to stay within the 800 cal, 80 grams/protein, 30 grams/carbs. My weight loss has been VERY slow, but the inches have gone very fast.

So far, I've lost 49 lbs since surgery and 22 inches. Last month I lost 3 lbs and 4 inches.

Last week I read Krazydoglady's post about upping protein and I did it. It also put my calories between 1100-1200. It totally messed with my head.

Here's what I did:

Protein 125-140 grams (2 shakes got me there - sometimes 3)
Carbs 30-40 (Only went over 35 one time)
This approach took my calories to 1100-1200 calories.

I don't "officially" weigh until tomorrow, but I've been watching this closely and I can tell you that I'm 1 lb down from last week. This probably doesn't seem like a big deal to most of you, but  1-2 lbs (lately 1 lb a week) has been my average weightloss since about 3 months post op.

My body LOVES the added protein/calories and I love getting more calories and still losing weight. My energy level went crazy. I actually thought about going for a run yesterday ... WHAT? It only made it to the thinking stage, but what a weird thing. I find myself searching for more "active" activities.

It was really hard to stay so regimented with my diet while working out. This added protein feels great.

The experiment is ongoing for me. We'll see what next week brings.

Listen to your body. I don't think it will affect your overall losses, you need lots of protein to build and repair muscle (100+) and IMHO, I'd rather take an extra month to get to goal but be stronger and have an easier time in maintenance when I get there because of lbm. Plus, when I workout hard, I get hungry, but even just half a piece of pb toast before makes all the difference in my hunger for the day.

Another one saying listen to your body.  And you might try this out.  I'm cosidering it.

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45587821/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/t /cutting-carbs-just-days-week-can-spur-weight-loss/#.T7keCMU zxm4 

I'm not a vet and not a low carber either.  Unless life gets in the way I work out 6 days a week, usually 4 days water aerobics/hydro training, and 2 days spinning class.

This past week I have been working on rehabbing a rental house that we are moving back into.  I haven't tracked, have had a fair amount of junk (pizza, hamburger) and haven't been getting in my regular workouts.  I lost 5 pounds, when I've been losing between 0 and 3.  Who the heck knows?

 I work out a lot as well and here is what I have found. My exercise routine is as follows: 20 minutes with weights (bell weight and free weights), 20 minutes on a stair master and 20 on a treadmill with weights as I walk. I do this every morning. Then 3-5 days per week I do 1.5 hrs of Yoga level 1-2 consisting of Yoga Blend, or other types of cross Yoga for strength, posture and peace of mind. Anyhow, I talked to my Dr about it and he said that exercise will only help you keep your weight down and don't count on it to lose weight or allow you exra calories. Good carbs such as green vegetables etc won't give you extra energy. Carbs such as beans, honey etc.  may give you some more energy but it is short lived and they will also make you want more carbs. I would really discuss it with your nutritionist. My doctor was correct in that I thought i could eat more because I was exercising so much. He didn't want me exercising for the purpose of being able to eat. I exercise for the mental and physical (strength) benefits and try to keep on the diet plan he gave me. I have extra protein before or after a work out--not extra carbs. That seems to work better for me. 

I absolutely agree with this. Even though my current diet is structured a little bit different (I'm taking in more calories), my carb intake stayed the same. The extra calories are only for increased protein.