Carbs--Poison By Any Other Name...

[Guest guest]

I'd like to hear from from other postops who are two or more years

out like I am. I am interested in: 1) whether or not you are

successfully maintaining your goal weight, 2) if you count carbs, 3)

what carb level is your daily target, 4) if you exercise; 5) if you

have had any complications like bowel obstructions.

After my surgery (open distal RNY 4/25/00)I got into the carb-

counting routine and regular exercise habits and reached my goal in

about seven months after dropping more than 150 pounds. I have

stayed there ever since. I did lose a third of my functioning

intestine from a necrotic bowel obstruction and that has let me up my

carb intake since I absorb even less food now. I stayed between 50-

60 grams a day before the BO, now I stay around 80 give or take.

That level lets me eat some potato chips and even an occasional donut

without blowing my goals. I am now as careful about keeping my

weight up as I am about keeping my weight down. Hopefully my

exercise progam (running, hill climbing on the treadmill, swimming

laps, rowing machine, pumping iron) is gradually replacing any weight

that is lard with muscle. I also take vitamins (4-8 chewable adult

multivitamins0 and a calcium citrate supplement daily and a

sublingual B-12 a coupel of times a week.

Rick S. --The Nortalian Stallion--from 329 pounds to 177

BPD with open distal RNY, 4/25/00

Bowel obstruction (necrotic), 11/08/01

TT and ventral hernia repairs, 2/21/02

Urgent umbilical hernia repair, 9/19/02

[Guest guest]

> I'd like to hear from other postops who are two or more years out like I

am.

>>> ~denise, Aug 18, 2000 - RnY proximal, no complications, reached goal at

10 months, real goal at 12ish months have maintained since with the

exception of this past summer when I had an insane phase and gained 16 lbs

from over eating -- got back on my tool, lost it and am now back at my goal

>>>I am interested in: 1) whether or not you are successfully maintaining

your goal weight,

Yes, with exception noted above...

>>>2) if you count carbs,

I count carbs/sugars per meal but not in a whole day -- maximum 9 combined

per meal -- no more than 4 sugars in anything... I just count the per meal

thing, no time to do a whole day of it

>>>3) what carb level is your daily target,

See above.... 9 max per meal

>>>4) if you exercise;

Yoga almost daily -- weight baring (for bone) about 3x a week, swimming in

the summer, running after 5 year old activity wise, running after 2 1 year

old grand babies as often as possible -- very active as much as possible

>>>5) if you have had any complications like bowel obstructions.

No complications physically. Good labs. Good DEXA. High Iron right now but

am retesting it next month.

Most of the time keeping weight up is as important as keeping it down --

when I drop below the 120 range I up my protein shakes and weight lifting in

hopes to gain back the muscle mass. If I add extra foods for weight it is

usually a fruit type that is in season and I like a lot or more veggies and

salad because I like them and they don't seem to set off a carb cycle for

me. If I go a solid above 125 I go back to my pure basic food plan -- heart

healthy portioned meals and of course..... protein shakes first. On

exercise... I think the Pilate's and the Yoga are far more beneficial for

" tone " for me -- I've had no plastics yet but if I had the money I'd

consider some... specially a breast reduction and the fat pocket things that

are on/near my arm pits that make tank tops and swim suits look yuck. But,

for 42 I can't complain to much... things just start going south with or

without surgery.

My starting weight was pretty near 300 (although I didn't get on the scales

at that time...) I was in a 30/32 size, lost my brother to massive heart

attack, lost weight during mourning period, lost will to live at continued

weight as well... looked into the RnY, was a bit over 250ish in a size 24/26

then and 5' 6 " -- size 4 now -- so about a 125 loss from the surgery itself.

I do 3 multiples a day, no iron, 2000 calcium with Mag and D, 2 E pills a

day (would have to check label on grams) I also do some herbals for heart

and folic acid as well as sticking real close to a heart healthy eating

plan. If I make it through this year (my 42 years) I'll be the first in my

family on both sides NOT to have a major heart attack by 42 years old... so,

I'm shooting for that goal... no major heart attack this year -- so far, my

heart is in great shape, well... better than " mine " has ever been so great

for me I should say.

hugz,

~denise