XPost Absorption Percentage

Anyone ever hear or read anything about the precentage of actual calories we absorb?  I was thinking about this relation to someone yesterday who posted they were about a year out and eating 600+ calories...

Under 1000 is pretty drastic (IF YOU"RE FURTHER OUT-DON"T GO NUTS, NEWBIES) if we were absorbing 100%  But you can see where the math would lead at a lower absorption rate...

I think this is pretty important to understand also with so much chatter about BMR and calories amounts.....

Any metabolic specialists around?

I like this post, I hope someone has an answer.  I would like to know exactly how much calories does your body actually absorb.

I was told during my pre-WLS counseling that around the 2-year mark, our bodies have adjusted and most people are absorbing all of their calories, and that is why we can expect to gain a few pounds even if we're sticking to the same program. (I am 2 years and 1 day post-op.) That relates to proximal RNY, not distal. However, we never absorb vitamins and other nutrients like we should, and will always have to supplement.

Isn't that rotten.  We can absorb ALL calories but not vitamins. 
It figures.  Some things never change.  LOL

You know, I'm not sure that's entirely accurate.  If you're not absorbing the micronutrients, it stands to reason that you're not absorbing the macronutrients, either (and, therefore,the calories from them).  I think that a more likely explanation would be that after two years of profound calorie deprivation, one's basal metabolic rate would drastically slow down to compensate.

I've heard that the intestinal villi will grow longer to help better absorb nutrients, but I don't think they're going to compensate that much.

You make an excellent point about supplementation, though.  All of us are always going to have to take our vitamins - and I don't mean Flintstones, either!!

Nothing official here, just what I observe:

You are asking about proximal rny, yes?

I don't divide things into calories, as such, but type of nutrient:
- sugar and alcohol, 100% absorption from day 1 til the day we die

- protein, absorb at least 60%, maybe as much as 75%, depending on the food source. So, a steak will give you more than beans or cheese, for example. Whey protein, more like 90%

- fats, which then include the fat solube vites (A, D, E, K), i'm thinking you only absorb about 60-70%. By lipids, looks like that much, but my those vites, far more.

- carbs, simple (white things) more like 90%, complex grainy things, low glycemic fruits, more like 60%, just because of the way the body processes them. but too much is bad, very bad.

Michelle:  what is the absorption for a distal, 100cm like you?

thank you,
JoyceNy

About 5-10% of fats/oils
10-20% protein foods
complex carbs, slightly less than 100%

sugar, alcohol, I think more than 100%, since it manages to jump onto every space on my body

My point with this post was to get some info and open the eyes of those folks over a year out from surgery who are basically starving themselves and reducing their metabolism to the point that they are barely functioning.  With the malaborption of macro and micro nutrients at any level, anyone who plans on sustaining themselves long-term at a 600-1000 calorie level is heading for real malnutrition problems.  (Just to put this in realistic terms, 600 calories would be equal to 4-5 protein shakes daily ONLY)

Once again climbing up on my soapbox, I wish surgery practices would provide nutritional pre and post op info for their patients and follow patients long term.  I have seen some really scary practices discussed on the boards lately that at the best could sabotage weight loss and at the worst cause long-term malnutrion and its related complications.  Before WLS we could all play around with ultra low calorie diets/drugs that cause malabsorption/OTC diet pills, and not suffer too badly from long-term effects.  However, our bodies now do not work the same way or have the capacity to overcome our stupidity and without proper nutrients and vitamins, we can get into real difficulty real quick.