[skinnydip]

I often question the general statement that we all malabsorb and can't meet our nutritional requirements through a normal diet of food sources. I don't know if I'm abnormal, but I don't malabsorb. If only LOL! Maybe it wouldn't have taken 3 years to lose my weight, exercising for 1 - 1 1/2 hours 5 x per week and eating right at 1000-1500 calories, and except for the few months immediately post-op, every bit the same as pre-surgery. Wls got me started, but after that, it was my realization that this was the last stop on the block that took me through to goal and has let me maintain.

Sometimes, I covet peoples' fast weight loss, ability to dump or food qty restrictions. Many times I felt "cheated" in a way. But in the long run, I have to count my blessings on a daily basis. I really feel for some of you who have such hard rows to hoe.

All said and done, this turned out best for me. I was definitely a creature who expected and demanded instant gratification and used food as a stress coping/lover/sedation tool. Doing it the slow way, having to learn to stay on track, be patient, develop faith in my body and myself, and adapt to new habits, committing to them on a lifelong basis was what I needed. Don't know, given my personality, if I would have changed had it come at me fast and with not much effort re changing habits, but relying on my body's limitations. I think I might well have, if I reached goal, thought it was over and now I could return to "normal" life, thus perpetuating my daily struggle with food and self-esteem.

Guess the moral of the story is, be thankful for what I have and be careful what I pray for.

Vicki

[CraigT]

I didn't have much if any malabsorption in the beginning. Over the past year I have started having a drop in B12 and Iron. Causing a bit of anemia.

Also keep in mind that your body is constantly in flux and things may change. I think the biggest thing is to be aware that you are vulnerable to this and just get it checked periodically.

Most of all I am just really glad you are doing so well.

Craig

[skinnydip]

I take B12 and iron injections. I was thinking more along the lines of eating real, whole foods vs. supplements. Personally, I need a cup of coffee and a trip to the loo to start my day, and I can't do the latter unless I eat high fiber, whole foods. Can't imagine how in the heck people who do mostly shakes do it, but understand newbies may need them to get enough protein since they can't physically eat solids much.

Having said that, my entire normie family has to take B12 and iron, as we tend towards anemia.

[CraigT]

When I talked to my doc about this, he really advises that we don't get into the supplementation game unless we really need it. We should be able to get what we need with regular food. Now doing a canned protein drink or bar may be faster, but the only persons I know who say it is mandatory for all are the supplement sales people.

Craig

[DocSanae]

What Craig says is true. The best kind of nutrition, you get from food that you eat and are ingested thru your digestive system. Basically, your body tries to get all the nutrition it can from the digestive tract, and the digesting process in itself is important. When you take supplements, with nutrients that dissolve in water, the exess will be thrown out of your body, and the kind that accumilates in your fatty tissue will cause trouble when it becomes excessive. Unless you have data, like your blood lab results, that you are lacking certain nutrients, it would be better to ask your doc first about taking supplements.