GASTRIC BAND QUANDARY

Hi Highbury_Emirates and welcome to the forum

One of our members has written a diary of her experiences with a gastric band especially before it was fitted. Here is the link as I think you will find it interesting:

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=33003

Highbury_Emirates said:

Has anyone had the band done and what were your experiences and expectations? In relation to diet can anyone suggest a web site to get some low-carb recipes? I saw on this forum that I can have as many eggs n sausages for breakfast (no bread) in the mornings - is this true?? How can I supress my appetite, as this is also one of my problems?

Any advice anyone can give would be much appreciated - thanks in advance

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If you eat low carb - let's say below 50g of carbohydrates per day - you'll be eating more fats and proteins which in general are more filling and satisfying than carbs, so there tends to be an appetite suppressing effect. Ad-lib low carb eaters tend to take in less calories than "standard" diet eaters, because there's a limit to how much steak or cream you can eat.

If you eat like a pig you won't lose weight, so several eggs and sausages for breakfast is a vain hope. One low carb sausage and an egg perhaps, or a couple of rashers of bacon and an egg.

Aim for about 1400 calories a day to start with, at least 60% of them from fats and oils with a large amount of green low carb vegetables and 50-100g of protein per day. If the idea of the fats and oils frightens you then low carb isn't for you.

http://www.dietdoctor.com/LCHF

Don't let the name of this particular eating regime put you off - you won't be eating LOADS of fat or protein, you'll simply be eating the amounts your body needs. You'll feel SATISFIED as opposed to feeling FULL, and a lot sooner and for far longer between meals than when eating carbs.

It says you can eat as much of the stated foods as you so desire but believe me you won't be able to overeat on protein or fat, you just can't do it. Whereas carbs are really easy to overeat on because they're not really nourishing so we tend to still be hungry even if we've just pigged out on pasta and that hunger is telling us we need to eat more protein in my opinion. But what we tend to do is go for more carbs, hence the vicious circle.

When I first started the LCHF, I donated all the carby foods in my cupboards to food banks. I then stocked up on plenty of meat, fish, cheese, eggs, cream and veggies and a little fruit. I thought I'd starve to death but the opposite happened. I've never felt hungry, I've lost weight and am still losing, I feel much better physically and mentally but when I tell people what I eat they're astounded because it doesn't sound like a 'healthy diet'. But it's far healthier for ME than the 'normal healthy diet' most people eat.

I've thrown away my steroid inhalers and I only use my bronchodilator sparingly now because I don't wake up wheezing and I don't get as breathless as before. I have bags more energy and it's all down to LCHF and this forum for bringing it to my attention.

It's saved my life and I don't mind standing on my soapbox to promote it because if it's worth nothing else it's worth a 2 week trial for anyone who's still struggling with BS and weight issues.

:thumbup: Good luck.

I truly believe any surgery should be the last resort once all other approaches have been exhausted. The safety record for bariatric surgery is not the greatest either:

http://diabetesupdate.blogspot.com.au/2 ... dy-by.html