Question:
How much do we really absorb?

Ok, before I get flamed, let me first say I follow the program well, get all my liquids in daily, get all my protein in daily, walk daily and have lost 111 pounds since surgery in December. Here is my question...if we don't absorb most of what we eat, why can't we just eat what we want in moderation? Let me state again that I drink a ton of fluids, do two protein shakes a day, eat every 2-3 hours and exercise. I just wonder if as long as a person is getting in their requirements daily, exercising and following the program, why can't they eat not so good things, especially if they won't absorb most of it anyway?    — Stephanie W. (posted on April 28, 2005)

April 27, 2005
You can and you will lose weight. You may not lose as much, but you will continue to lose. The problem is that you are given an opportunity to correct bad eating habits. Your body eventually catches on to what has happened and you begin to absorb more. It never gets to where it was, but will begin to absorb more of the fat you eat. <br><br>I discovered that I could eat ANYTHING and still lose. Once I quit losing, I discovered I could eat ANYTHING without gaining. Woo Hoo! Magic Pill. Unfortunately, your body catches up to the poor eating and you end up gaining without changing your eating. Then you are stuck with some extra pounds, poor eating habits and are faced with addressing a problem that would have been much easier to address your first year out. Just my opinion. REbecca
   — RebeccaP

April 28, 2005
Stephanie, you are EARLY EARLY post op and yes, at this point, you will be able to eat whatever you want and not gain. You will also continue to lose for awhile. Just to give you a little information, your body compensates for the surgery once you get to be around 1 1/2 years to 2 years out. The intestines produce more silia to compensate for the surgery therefore you absorb more. This surgery isn't a cure all end all. It gets the intital weight off if you follow your program but then it is work to maintain. Also, we DON'T malabsorb carbs and sugar. If you eat alot of carbs and sugar your weight will stall and could quite possibly have a gain and further post op, you will continue to gain. I will be 3 years out in August and continue to do the protein drinks, walk/jog 14 to 17 miles a week and still wrestle to maintain. I just want you to be diligent and not fall back into old habits. Check out headbattles.com. This girl is awesome and has alot of informative information you will want to research. Congratulations on your loss to date! Keep on keepin on! Erika
   — Egyptianeyesdiva

April 28, 2005
Unless you're an extreme distal, we don't malabsorb MOST of what we eat, just a small percentage. Plus, over time our intestines adapt to absorb more than we do as an early post-op. Maybe this is why so many of us have that bounce back thing at the end. BTW, we don't malabsorb sugar... bummer, huh? You may be different, but if I eat anything I want that contains white sugar or white flour, even in moderation, it kicks off my carb addiction and before I know it I've left moderation far behind. You may not have this issue though. As long as you do protein first, you may be able to do that without a problem when you've reached goal.
   — mom2jtx3

April 28, 2005
Just wanted to tell you that I thought your question was great. I have wondered about that myself. The answers all seem very informative. Guess I'll have to forget the bananna split!
   — lindarodham6

April 28, 2005
For some reason, I could eat anything I wanted and maintain below my goal weight. I loved it! I finally felt like one of those "skinny people who could eat whatever they wanted and still be skinny!" It was like a dream come true...for about a year or so! Now, I am almost 3 years out and struggling not to gain back! Please be careful, I wish I had been more careful and had not gotten back into old eating habits that got me obese in the first place. Good Luck.
   — Jane S.

April 28, 2005
I was told that over time the body adjusts to the changes and begins absorbing more and more. This way we trained ourselves to eat correctly when this time comes.
   — septembergirl73

April 28, 2005
I agree with the posts here, your body malabsorbs, but it is the stuff you need like protein that is malabsorbsed, not the bad stuff like sugar. Also it still adds up to calories in and calories out meaning eat less, exercise more to lose weight. I think as the people we are our bodies need less fuel to maintain a body weight than regular thin people. I know if I go over 1500 calories in a day I gain, and I am still 200 lbs and should be able to eat well over 2000 calories a day and maintain this weight. We need less calories because our bodies have become efficient calories conserving machines I guess. It sucks, but remember nothing tastes as good as being thin feels. Good luck.
   — catleth

April 30, 2005
It has to do with where it is absorbed (or WAS, in the case of protein, iron, calcium, iron, A, D, E, zinc, B12, fats/oils), how much of it and whether the body can use it for anything. Protein? Taken without milk or sugar or fruit (any adders), the body can use it. I take in about1300 cal/day in protein supplement alone. 180g. Sugar is another matter. It doesn't need any of the parts that are bypassed. It will absorb instantly. About 300/cal a day in sugar wwill and has fattened me up before! FAT, is at least partially malabsorbed, so a few chips taken with lunch is not deadly. A bag of chips taken IN ADDITION to lunch is. See the diff?
   — vitalady