Re: what to drink/SODAS + FATS

[Guest guest]

>

> > I'm not sure why there is so much focus on continuing to use diet

> > products. While I dont overload myself with carbs, I too have an

> > occaisional regular soda. In the early pre-op days, it was the only

> > thing that settled my stomach. I didnt have this surgery so I could

> > keep dieting. And, BTW, I'm down 44lbs in 8 weeks. Protein first,

> > then whatever sounds good...

> > Meli

OK, I'll confess to having a real (sugared) Coke a day. Prior to surgery, I

was NEVER a soda fan! I mean, I drank maybe one every other month maximum;

instead, my mainstay drinks were water, and iced tea and coffee without

sugar. I've never had a sweet tooth, and drinking sweet things (with any

kind of sweetener) was a major turn-off. However, about 4 weeks out from

surgery, I was still so miserably nauseated I could barely get *anything*

down, much less enuf protein, my vitamins, etc. Absolutely nothing sounded

or smelled or tasted good, but I was CRAVING a cola. I mentioned this to my

surgeon's nurse and she said I should go for it. I did, and over the course

of a few days had much improvement of my nausea, and I was able to drink and

eat other things, gradually increase my protein and, by now, have gotten

over the nausea pretty much for good. I think the soda's main benefit was

the carbonation - it allowed me to burp, which I cannot easily make myself

do - and I now believe a large source of my nausea was caused by excess

gastric air. Of course, the small amount of caffeine probably made me feel a

little better, since I'd been a long-time caffeine addict and had gone off

it cold turkey with the surgery. And the sugar helped a bit getting me out,

at least for a while, of my ketogenic state.

I'm not sure I understand the evils/dangers of a single soda per day. It's

140 calories. It's a source of 12 ounces of fluid. My stomach does not seem

to have increased its size from drinking it (one rumored risk), but maybe if

I'd had it during the first post-op month this would have been a problem - I

dunno. Other things I drink include juices with sucralose, water and the

Perfect Zero Carb Isopure drinks. I eat mostly proteins (eggs, fish,

seafood, fat-free yogurt & cottage cheese, occasional Lean Cuisine meat

dishes), and definitely can get in, all told, less than 1000 kcal/day

(including the soda). I could see the problem of reduced or slowed weight

loss if someone drank a lot of sodas, or other sources of sugars, given the

high absorption of carbs after DS, - BUT - can anyone give a persuasive

argument for me to need to cut out my current one soda a day? I'm enjoying

it, and, darn it, if there's no real reason to cut it out, I won't. By the

way, I've probably lost close to 75 pounds (it was -53 at 4 weeks, but

haven't been weighed since) and Monday will be 8 weeks out for me.

What I've found hardest for me to deal with are *fats.* My malabsorption of

them has lead to flatus with a disgusting oily discharge that is NOT going

away, darn it, and is REALLY cramping my lifestyle! Anyone have suggestions

for diaper-like pads for a fat woman with this problem? Maxipads just don't

cut it, altho I'm going to try to tape two together and see if that works.

Currently, I am making certain I have less than 4-5 grams of fat per day

total, and yet this is still making me incredibly uncomfortable. I have a

professional job, will return to work *tomorrow* and am really anxious about

possibly staining my clothes, the furniture, etc. Yikes!

Any suggestions/comments will be much appreciated.

- SC

[Guest guest]

Hi SC:

> What I've found hardest for me to deal with are

> *fats.* My malabsorption of them has lead to flatus

> with a disgusting oily discharge that is NOT going

> away, darn it, and is REALLY cramping my lifestyle!

My understanding is that fats do NOT cause flatulence -- the culprit

is sugar and various forms of carbohydrate. Specifically, all of the

following are reported as gas-causing agents on Dr. Hess's website:

Lactose -- a sugar that occurs naturally in milk products.

Approximately half of all post-ops become lactose intolerant.

Soluble fiber -- pectin in fruits & beta-glucans in oat bran.

Excess Starch

Many of the bacteria in our small intestines consume starch, convert

part of it into energy for their own use, and then release the

remainder as a variety of gases. The only starchy food which has NOT

been found to contribute to gas production is rice.

Raffinose Sugars -- large quantities of these sugars are found in

beans, but smaller amounts are also found in many grains and

vegetables.

> Currently, I am making certain I have less than

> 4-5 grams of fat per day total, and yet this is

> still making me incredibly uncomfortable.

I don't thinks it's healthy to consume that little fat --

particularly when your digestive system only absorbs a small

percentage of the fat you take in.

I found this info on the web:

" While diets high in fat are associated with an

increased incidence of obesity, heart disease,

high blood pressure, diabetes and certain cancers,

dietary fat also plays many critical roles in the

body. Fat:

....

-- Helps the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins

A, D, E and K;

-- Is necessary for building hormones and for

keeping cells healthy;

-- Helps regulate body temperature ...

.... The World Health Organization recommends

a minimum of 15% ... of your daily caloric

intake should come from fat. "

http://www.agegrouper.com/template.cfm?page=feature.cfm & FeaturesID=50

I'm sorry I can't offer any help with the discharge problem, but I do

think you need to re-think the cause of your flatus and increase your

fat intake a bit for the sake of your health.

Tom