Time for Fat?

[DSwitcher]

4 weeks out and I am experiencing low BM/ flatulence activity. Eating soft foods, less puddings, more pureed meats to reduce carbs. BMs tend to be hard, despite water, exercise and adding 2t Pnut butter and avocado. My loss is slow but consistent. What next?

[bboop]

Be glad. Most new people have horrible runs. Sounds like you are still in the phase where your body is going, "Hey what just happened to me?" Give it some more time.

If you really can't go eat some carbs...I bet that will get you going. I really wouldn't unless you are uncomfortable.

Are you taking any pain killers at this point? If so, stop it if you are physically able to. Pain meds can really stop you up.

The avocado is a great way to get things moving. Add some olive oil or the oil of your choice to see if that will get things moving.

If it becomes a real problem, take some Miralax. Hope you feel better soon.

[goodkel]

Definitely pain meds can constipate you.

There is no reason to not eat fat.

Early out many people struggle with urgent loose stools and since we malabsorb so much of it, fat can make matters worse.

But, this doesn't seem to be a problem for you so have at it.

Early out when I was constipated, a small bag of sugar free Reese's Cups did the trick most spectacularly. Don't try it too late in the evening or unless you are home.

Are you taking all your calcium and iron, yet? If so, add a couple of doses of Magnesium Oxide. It can be taken with iron. Iron and calcium are known to constipate you.

[OnMyWay2Thin]

Hi DSwitcher,

Glad to hear you're putting more time between surgery and the present day, it can only get better. If it makes you feel any better, I was the exact same way until a few weeks ago. Just a hint, heed the advice of bboop and Kelly. They gave me advice, I followed (not happy about giving up the pain meds as I had a tough recovery)and guess what, for a couple weeks now, I'm very regular, every morning, once in the while during the day but not often, and all is good. It's also much easier, no longer painful, and I didn't know something like this could make me so happy! I know it was the pain meds and not eating enough fat.

Good luck and hang in there,
Kelly

[Joanne]

How is your hydration? That could cause a problem, too.

Are you taking a lot of calcium? Another possible culprit.

Stay hydrated, and add in as much fat as you want.

[Deleted]

I second the addition of more fats and the Magnesium Oxide. The Mag Ox (affectionately known as here) will soften your stools. Also, start cooking all your foods (especially meats) in some sorta fat. (butter?) Also, eat BACON. The bacon fat will help make everything in there slippery.. Save the bacon drippings and cook eggs in it for your breakfasts. I've got about 4 cups saved of rendered bacon fat that i use a few tablespoons to make fried eggs every Saturday morning. I stay pretty consistent, never hard, but not anywhere close to runny.

[DSwitcher]

Looking at notes from last follow up (9/18) visit, recommending:

100g protein/ 30-60g carbs/ 30g fat.

I went higher on fat and I have not lost since then. Could they be right? I would keep the Carbs around thirty.

They also listed a calorie count of 900, which was the same as the weight loss for the Sleeve...

[Deleted]

Just over a month out, huh? I wouldn't worry about your weightloss yet, and you're a revision. so will be slower more likely. Hold your ground, or increase your protein with animal meats, your fat will come up automatically.

30-60 carbs is good. I wouldn't go any lower than 30 though. Seems as though 50 is a good number for most. Don't count calories, it is an arbitrary number now. without knowing how much malabsorption you have. Even I don't know what mine is. I don't think anyone with a DS does..

[PeteA]

Early out I wouldn't be a big fan of extra fat. The mag oxide really helped me but it's OK to take some
Miralax or Dulcolax too. As long as you are staying hydrated you might also try something like Benefibre.
After one bout of constipation early on I definitely work to not have a second bout.

[goodkel]

Oct 2, 2014 12:38:06 GMT -5 DSwitcher said:

Looking at notes from last follow up (9/18) visit, recommending:

100g protein/ 30-60g carbs/ 30g fat.

I went higher on fat and I have not lost since then. Could they be right? I would keep the Carbs around thirty.

They also listed a calorie count of 900, which was the same as the weight loss for the Sleeve...

You have a DS. You don't absorb 80% of the fat you eat. Fat is not causing you to not lose weight.

As a male you require more protein than women. Increase your protein to 180 grams a day, if your concern is weight loss.

DO NOT count calories. They do not factor into your weight loss.

[DSwitcher]

Surgery w/o resleeve on aug 26. I was above 150g protein and over 110g fat, around 40 carbs, non simple, when I stopped losing... only down 19 lbs. I tried coming down on totals, but still at the same since Sept 19... That's a long stall. I know all the rules, but confess to being overcome with doubt and anger. Like I don't have enough to deal with.... I try to remember how I will look at this period as an eye blink. Right now it seems interminable! Thanks for feedback. Should I stay at low levels and see what happens or move up again, and start the process over.I am depending on the wisdom of you veterans!! Help!

[goodkel]

Take a deep breath and relax about it.

We don't technically consider them stalls until it has been 4 weeks without any loss. The shorter lengths of time are just normal fluctuations.

Keep following the DS rules: get in all your protein, vitamins,liquids,keep your carbs low (< 75 grams),eat as much fat as you'd like. Pay NO attention to calories. They don't matter anymore for you.

You are barely into your second month. A "stall" is perfectly normal now as your body replaces its glycogen stores. See below.


Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet.

As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a saber tooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored.

Read more: weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/search/results?what_at_least_one=glycogen&who_only_made_by=0&display_as=0#ixzz37q9khVE0

[goodkel]

Just an FYI for anyone reading this thread.

The DS rules never change. Never. For the rest of your life.

Whenever you run into problems, the first thing you do is check your levels on the simple basics:

1.Liquids. Are you getting in enough fluids? 64 ounces is just the bare minimum.
2.Vitamins. Do you have any deficiencies? If so, fix them.
3.Protein. Are you taking in enough protein? If you are active or exercising, you'll need more.
4.Carbs. Are your carbs in check?
5.Fat. Are you eating enough fat and avoiding anything termed "low fat, light, lite, etc.?

Getting these dialed in to where you need them to be is the very first step to solving any difficulty losing or maintaining your weight loss.