Question:
Am I getting all the nutrients needed with only 400-500 calories a day?

I'm six weeks postop open RNY and doing good. People keep asking me that same question "how do you get all the nutrients you need each day eating such a small amount". Can you help me with an answer for these concerned friends and associates of mine?    — Beth W. (posted on December 9, 2000)

December 8, 2000
Hi Beth, You are getting most of your nutrients from the vitamins you take everyday. Also from the protein that you are drinking everyday. The vitamins are supplementing you from the food you are not eating. So is the protein. As each month goes by you will be able to increase your food intake. The vitamins help keep you in balance at least it does for me. Any can correct me if I am wrong.
   — Sharon T.

December 9, 2000
It's my understanding that with the small quantity of calories and our malabsorbtion, we cannot get all the nutrients we need, even when we're eating 1,000 calories a day. This is why vitamins are so important. You can tell your friends that you are working closely with your doctor to make sure you're supplementing your diet with all the nutrients you need to be healthy..and leave it at that. I've found out that if I begin to elaborate, ie: protein, B12, zinc, different vitamins, etc., then everyone has an opinion on how to improve my regime. So just say you're doing all you can to be healthy!! Good Luck!!
   — Kristy J.

December 9, 2000
This is a good topic. I will follow up on the answers to this post. My surgeon told me to eat 1000-1500 cal. per day. The closer to 1500 the better. I find it hard to do because I can not eat before noon because of nausea. I'm trying to fit everything in between noon and 9 pm. Pyschologically I feel like I'm eating too much because of this short time period. However, I am more and likely eating close to the 1000 cal. mark. I am taking my vitamins and found a supplement similar to Slim Fast on sale. So hopefully I can get a few extra cal and nutrients.
   — Jan M.

December 9, 2000
As long as you are supplementing your 8 basics, then you should be fine. Calories are n/a as long as you are covering the nutritional bases. We are short in: protein, iron, calcium, A, D, E, zinc & B12. So, as long as these are supplemented in a fairly large amount, the calories just don't matter. Obviously, if you got a couple thousand a day they would. But not too few. But boy, don't come up short in those items!
   — vitalady