Smaller Stomachs

Good thoughts! Thanks for replying?

I am curious Jeff on how low carb you do.  I know we are different, but most people who do an Atkins like diet will lose without the aid of any WLS.  Even if it is higher caloried protein and fats.

Actually no one needs to be in the 4,000 calorie range and God forbid beyond.  That is total excess and our bodies should never have to work that hard and continuous. . .   well unless you are running and training for marathons.

All Best,

Layla

Layla,

I could not give you a carb number. I just try to stay away from white stuff as much as possible. I'm not always successful, but I am going down slowly rather than up slowly in my weight. I imagine I will continue this approach if possible. But am concerned about the fat in my diet.

Jeff

Yes Jeff be concerned.  You can't do fats & carbs!  I get on my brother all the time because he is mostly on and 35% off  low carb.   I think either you do low carb or you don't.  It can't be mixed unless you don't mind a heart attack down the line and of course, there won't be a weight loss.  You can do fats and very low carbs.  It is a tricky balance.  I know I personally lose like a lunatic if I do the induction phase of Atkins.  I perfected that but ALWAYS jumped ship and eat some "good carb bread" - if anyone has a carb sensitivity, it is me.  I pack on the pounds in an instant.  And me being a chicken I never did high fat. I don't like putting too much fat in my body.  It's my sickness but it may very well save my life.

We all seem to be a little different with the sleeve.  Me, with my sleeved stomach I feel ABSOLUTELY NO PHYSICAL HUNGER.  Now the thing is I have a great appetite and can eat normal satisfying portions.  Um and I love food!  Though I have a larger small stomach  I'd have to eat all day to pack in all those calories.  You wouldn't be able to do it Jeff - well unless your diets consisted of milkshakes from the Shake Shack and such (think theirs can run about 2000 calories each.) but you'd be sick.

Not everyone here is on a 600 calorie diet.  The better your food choices, the more you move, the more you can eat.  But you'd be a changed man Jeff.  You couldn't eat how you do now though you could graze throughout the day if you really wanted to keep your weight good and high .

I am so glad you are open to knowing about the DS.

All Best,

L

I really don't think I'll have that much trouble. I am not wanting to eat the amount I eat now. But, the types of food is what is really at the heart of this question. I like meat, salads, dairy, and vegetables. I am not crazy about bread, rice, or even potatoes anymore. I don't eat a lot of junk food and I am not a person for deserts. I don't drink sweet drinks or eat sugar. My problem is that I have been able to eat like a horse. I'd like to be able to eat some of the things I like, but keep the calorie intake low.

You will be able to eat those foods.  Once past the initial few weeks your main goal is eating protien and you get your best bang for your calorie buck with lean meats and fish.  Many also eat dairy products that are high in protien such as Greek yogurt and cottage cheese.  Also eggs and other cheese.  You just don't want to overdo the dairy because for the calories you don't get as much proteins as you do with meats.  Also over time as your stomach is healing you will find that some of the dairy products go down very easily and don't keep you as full for as long.  Once you have more capacity you can add in veggies.  Initially when your restriction is greatest you don't have much room for vegetables such as salad because they fill you up quickly but don't provide you with protien.  So you will hear again and again on here to eat a measured amount of protien first nd if you are still hungry and have room, then some veggies.  I have no****ched fat much and have not had an issue with it.  So if you are concerned that you won't be ble to enjoy eating please realize that you will be able to eat many of the foods you eat currently, just in much smaller quantity.  I must stress however this is a major lifestyle chane and for any WLS to work in the long run you will need to change your relationship with food.  You certainly do not want to be a volume eater and stretch out your sleeve.  It i best to eat measured amounts to the point of satisfaction but not full - underwear your sleeve.  I used to be somewhat of a volume eater but truly enjoy being satisfied with a little bit.  I love now picking at my food.  I feel so free.  I love being able to eat small amounts of really good quality real foods.  One last piece of advice - be as strict as you can early out because as time goes on it is much harder to be as compliant.  I am almost a year out and am struggling to do the last 20 pounds.  It is so much easier now for the extra calories to creep I .  So work your sleeve to the max in the initial months.  Good luck with your decision.

stephanie

Damn auto correct - I meant under eat your sleeve - not underwear!

I have realized that I have 12-18 months to really see some weight loss. So, I'm trying to mentally gear up before surgery.

Like you, I like meat---and most tender, tasty meat comes with a good bit of fat. That's one reason I was, and am, so sold on the DS. With my DS, I only absorb about 20% of the fat I eat. That means in order to absorb the 30 or so grams of fat a human NEEDS daily, I eat around 150 grams. And guess what? My total cholesterol has gone from around 220 to 112. (*grin*)

Jeff, have you researched the DS? Given the amount of weight you have to lose, it might be a better choice for you. It has the same stomach as the Sleeve, plus an intestinal bypass similar to, but more effective than, that of the RNY. And---it has the very best long-term, maintained weight-loss stats for patients of any size, but especially so for those of us with a BMI greater than 50. It also has a more liberal post-op eating plan. We DSer do eat high-protein, high-fat, moderate-carb 'diets', but in the maintenance phase most of us eat about 2500-3000 calories a day---but we only absorb about half that.

Dr. Stephen Boyce in East TN is a DS surgeon---why don't you at least consult with him about your options?