Finding Balance!

Hello everyone! I have done some research and have found some information that I tought everyone might find usefull, whether you have had WLS surgery already, or are planning on having it. With the new way we have to eat, in order to get the amount of protien we need every day (at least 60 grams), it is hard to find balance in our diet. All meat, hardly any fruits or veggies, and little if any carbs. How do we get fiber? Come to think of it, exactly how much fiber should a person be getting? What about cholesterol? How much is too much? How about potassium? How much potassium do we need and where do we get it, and what exactly does potassium do for us? Here is what I found out, and EVERY person with a body should know this I think!! Fiber: RDA 25 grams....SCARY considering WLS patients can't eat alot of food let alone carbs. I figure it this way...one table spoon of benefiber has 3 grams of fiber. We are supposed to drink 64 oz of water a day. So I mixed 1 tablespoon of benefiber for every 8 oz of water (about 8 tablespoons a day) I drink and the results have been amazing!! Cholesterol: RDA 300 mg a day. Eggs can really rack up the points here!! One large egg contains 212 mg of cholesterol. So if you eat an egg for breakfast be sure the rest of your meat choices for the day are very lean! Potassium: RDA 3500 mg a day. You can find potassium in meats, potatoes with skins, vegatables and fruits, but not in high enough amounts for us to be able to get the RDA everyday with our limited eating ability. So why should we worry? What does potassium do anyway?Potassium plays a key role in cellular functioning, regulating fluid, electrolyte and acid base balance in the body. It is important for nerve transmission and muscle contractions, and may also be involved in bone calcification and muscle building. Potassium may help to prevent high blood pressure and stroke, and reduce blood sugar levels in diabetics. OK! I want my potassium, that's for sure! So I have started taking 2 potassium suppliments every day. Well there it is, the info I dug up...sorry the post is so long, but I thought I should share it! Tera

You should really talk to your doctor before taking any potassium supplement. Fiber isn't that hard. I get it in the sugar free, low-carb bread, the nuts, etc. If you're not eating fruits and veggies yet, you soon will be - or should be. This isn't all meat and shouldn't be all meat. Your plan seems to lack balance. Fruits and veggies are very important as is protein but protein can be found in many sources besides meat. Take vitamins and calcium supplements, don't recommend potassium supplements as high potassium levels can cause heart damage.

Great post! I am esp interested in the fiber. You are able to tolerate it well? I have tried some chewables but without success. I am constipated so much. So I assume that you are regular. By the way, avocados have alot of potassium. How are you taking the supplements? are they small enough to swallow?

Hi Julia! I have had no trouble with benefiber. It desolves completely and has no flavor or texture. I am finally regular after about 5 weeks of painfull constipation. As far as suppliments I am able to take pills now and have had no trouble with them either, but I had to use liquid supliments for the 1st month after surgery. I did however chew up potassium sups. at that time. YUCK! Not sure if that was really helpful since that is not the way they are intended to be taken but I felt any little bit would help. I just wanted to make sure that everyone knew what their body requires and is aware of how much they are getting. I have seen the lack of potassium when my grandmother was in the hospital for 3 weeks because of it. Wasn't a pretty picture!! Ultimatley it is each of our responsiblity to take GOOD care of ourselves! Good luck to you! Tera

I have been using Benefiber too, although not so much. I put 1 tablespoon in my tea in the morning. After surgery, I found I was going almost 2 weeks without a BM, and boy did I have problems when I finally had to go. However, with the Benefiber, I have been going about twice a week.

Please everyone be careful...high fiber foods are not recommended for people with gastric bypass, the new tummy cannot process them right, if you feel you need more fiber talk to your doc for the proper amount. WLS nutritional needs are different than other people, because of our new sensitive tummies. My nutitionist recommends eating eggs no more than three times a week. If you take the proper supplements your doctor recommends you should be getting enough potassium in your diet. I have been told to take two flintstone complete vitamins everyday, recently I discovered the Centrum adult chewables and if you cant stand the taste of the Flintstones I recommend them...they are great!