Carbs (carbohydrates) are somewhat confusing, no? High protein diets seem to be the big trend regardless if you are doing weight watchers, Atkins, or Ideal Protein. To be successful with weight loss surgery long term, whether you’ve had lap band, gastric bypass, or gastric sleeve surgery, you must adopt a high protein, low carbohydrate diet for lifetime. But why are carbohydrates bad?
Carbohydrates perform numerous roles in living organisms. Carbs store energy and stimulate the secretion of the hormone insulin. Insulin, among other things, works to store fat in our cells. High levels of insulin cause us to be at a higher risk for Type II diabetes and makes losing weight harder.
Carbs are ok in moderation. When you are in weight loss mode, our provider recommends no more than 50 to 70 net carbs per day. Net carbs is figured by taking the grams of carbs in the food MINUS the grams of fiber in the food, thus your net carbs. Fiber is a form of complex-carbohydrate that your body cannot digest. Fiber helps get rid of excess fat in the intestine which helps prevent heart disease and constipation. Good carbs would be those found in nuts, vegetables, beans, peas, seeds, whole grains such as oatmeal and brown rice, and fruits (like ½ apple or ½ cup berries).
Remember that simple carbs crave carbs-those found in highly processed foods, white flour, sugar, etc. They do not help us to maintain satiety (or our feeling of fullness). Everyone can remember eating a plate of pancakes and feeling stuffed until about an hour after your meal. Then you were starving and needed something else to fill you up.
On a quest for a low carbohydrate bread alternative, my good friend in Dallas stumbled across a recipe for OOPSIE bread. It is eggs, cream cheese (which now has a high protein offering), and baking soda or cream of tartar. There are many different recipes online and you have to play around with the combinations until you find just the right mix for your tasting. Here is a link to just one of many recipe options, Oopsie Bread. Let this bread be your low carb alternative next time you are craving a sandwich or bread with dinner. Protein first, veggies 2nd, and no room for bad carbs left in your meals!
