Question:
Should I worry about the amount of fat in my diet?

I was told by my nutritionist to keep fats to 20% of total calories, carbs at 50% and protein at 30%. I am having a hard time doing this. I am not always where I can get a high protein/low fat snack or meal. Usually it is not too difficult to find the protein but many times it is a higher fat option. What are your opinions? Especially would like to hear from Mechelle Curran and some of the other long time post-ops. I had RNY on 8/28/01 and have lost 130 pounds.    — Nelda D. (posted on November 21, 2002)

November 20, 2002
I was under the impression that we "crap out" MOST of the fat we eat. (Probally why I have gressy yellow stools). So personally I don't worry about fat. Don't get me wrong, I don't delibertly think "I can eat all the fat I want" as I don't. But if I'm hungry for high fat at times, I eat it. Does'nt mean my way is right for you, but it has'nt hurt me, yet anyway.
   — Danmark

November 21, 2002
hi there. my surgeon told us to watch the carbs,sugars and fats, he did also say though that he wasnt nearly as worried about the fat as he was the carbs or sugars. he said that we dont 100 percent absorb the fat like before but that we do the sugars. he also went on to say that although he didnt recommend just eating whatever you want that even if you do eat what you want just not as much that you still will lose just not as fast as the low carb no sugar way. i still watch carbs and eat no sugars. its interesting ,youll notice if you havent already that all the fatfree products out there are like triple in carbs and sugars which has never made any sense to me as carbs and sugars store as fat anyhow. so i save my money by not buying these i just remember to eat the regular stuff in moderation. im 9 months out and have lost 160lbs so i feel im doing good. best of luck to you :)
   — carrie M.

November 22, 2002
I'm not sure where you should be at over a year out. I am going on 7 months post-op and my surgeon's office recommends that I eat 50% protein; 25% fruits & veggies; 25% carbs. She said I should limit my carbs to 100 grams per day (I eat maybe 50 +/- per day); and up to 15 grams of sugar per meal.
   — Jennifer A.

November 22, 2002
At 8 yrs, I "import" fat to get enough. I don't go berserk and am leaning toward more healthy fats. I guess it'd be more accurate to say I have to make sure I get some. BUT I AM WAY DISTAL! I malabsorb just about ALL my fats. However, there was a short report presented at the ASBS conf in 2001 that people who stuck with a NORMAL fat diet lost 22% more wt than the low or high fat people. TWENTY TWO PERCENT! Wow. I never did get on the fat bandwagon. I know that when the "little green boxes" hit America, AMerica gained wt. Fat free means high sugar. Also, you can look at your own labs to see the "fat induced" levels gradually come down. I certainly don't promote high fat, but I do avoid Fat Free. As to numbers, I do 180g of protein in supps (or more) per day, and try to stick to the 6g of sugar (only sugar, not carbs) per meal rule. Doesn't always work as I sometimes splurge and have the NSA applesauce (11g). What I see (with proximals, too) is that fats won't make me fat again, but sugar will, 100% guaranteed.
   — vitalady