Weird carb question?

Okay, I will admit some days I overdo the carbs...nothing like pre-op but overdoing it for newly post op. Anyway, a little too much will give me gas(depending on the carb) and too much will give me the runs....ALOT of them!!!! I know we absorb our calories from carbs, but theoretically if they are making me go potty sooooo much, wouldn't I still lose weight? Not that this is a good strategy or anything like that, because let me tell you...all that potty time is horrible and when it happens I spend the entire next morning trying to replenish my body of what I lost liquid and nutrient wise. But seriously, if we absorb the calories from the carbs, but then go potty a ton from them, are we defeating the purpose or just suffering? LOL! Now, mind you...this is all of course after you've gotten in your vitamins, liquids, and protein for the day!!!! Any thoughts? Curious what you all think about this one. Kelly

If your carbs are the sugar kind, you start to absorb those in your mouth, so your theory loses me if you're eating sugar. I don't know if they're just the starch kind, though. How many hours between eating carbs and the runs? If it's even two hours, it's probably long enough to suck a lot of calories out even if your common channel is on the shorter side. If things are leaving even more quickly, they're taking vitamins and protein with them, which you don't want. The other thing I'd worry about is not having enough room for the protein in the stomach. I still have a hard time getting over 80 gm using food if I eat anything other than protein and veggies. You have the first year to get the bulk of the weight loss out of the way, then maybe another 6 months of little losses after that. Do you want to gamble any of that time on the 'carbs-are-pooped' theory? Nancy

Well it's not really a carbs are pooped out theory. The point I am making is hard to get across. I am not making an excuse or using the "well I will just go potty if I eat it" excuse or anything. I just know that I am absorbing almost all the calories from the carbs I eat, but then I am on the potty, so does it even itself out? But you still absorb the calories so probably not! It was just a random thought running through my mind. Not a weight loss strategy of any kind. Not something I plan on using or anything. Just something I noticed and it made me think a little bit about it...I guess I can explain the science behind any diet you rattle off, but this one baffles me. I know weird thinking...I just don't want anyone to think I am using Well I will crap it out anyway as an excuse to carb load....NO WAY!!! I hate the effects of eating too many carbs, but it does happen on occasion. Kelly

I must admit carbs are a problem for me also. (Espically potato chips, which was like my least favorite snack pre-op. ) But I just did some math on how much weight I need to lose in the 12 - 18 month window of weight loss and decided OK GIRL IT IS TIME TO GET SERIOUS! I'm almost 6 weeks and I don't need those soft diet crutches (like noodles) any more. So I'm cutting carbs. I worry about not getting enough phytochemicals/fiber and cancer, but I'm telling myself that my knees would never make it long enough to worry about cancer if I don't lose weight. My liver biopsy from surger showed fatty liver disease so I would have died from that long before cancer anyway.

Me too Jenny, I realized I didn't have enough protein snacks readily available to me at home if I got hungry...so I am hitting the supermarket today after work. I am getting in plenty of protein but also too many carbs on some days...not every day, but I am right there with ya!!! Kelly

A while back someone posted that we absorb about 50% of starch-type carbs and 100% of sugar/alcohol carbs. Carbs shouldn't be your focus - protein should be. If too much carbs is giving you issues, then reduce them until they don't. I really don't see how it could be helping you, since it may be flushing protein out too quickly - literally throwing the baby out with the bathwater. And both starch & sugar carbs begin digestion in the mouth.....so it doesn't matter whether it's a Krispy Kreme or a potato chip. It all starts here

Thanks BT, This is all just a curiousity question....simply that. I guess people are taking my post the wrong way...sorry guys...didn't mean to confuse anyone. I am just curious. Kelly

I don't think it's worth it to be sick just to eat carbs. Yeah I thought about the diarrhea absorbtion thing and it may be true to a degree but here's the kicker, it also means you are reducing your body's ability to absorb protein, supplements, all the stuff we need. Now if you can figure out how to limit the diarrhea to carbs only....... Right after surgery, just eat and drink. Whatever you tolerate well. After you heal, it's time for weight loss. The best tried and true method is low carb. Most of the carbs you do eat should be from vegetables. Yes, it's hard. Some people seem to live in a carb frenzy and still lose the weight. There is no guarantee you will be one of them. There is no guarantee you will continue to lose weight for 18 to 24 months either. Why not wait till you reach your goal before you start experimenting with carbs? Some folks have to add them back in to stop weight loss! I hope that happens for you! But you can't assume that will be the case.

Thanks Patty, I am truly having my protein, I just noticed this about the carbs and it made me think...that is all. And like I said I hate all that potty time...it is painful and inconvenient and not something I enjoy and not something I would do on purpose. I was simply curious about what happens really because we eat the carbs, but then get potty issues from them(well most of us do). Some carbs are okay for me...in a very small quantity, but I have gone to family gatherings and parties and had some too many....or too many crackers on a queasy stomach, or pretzels for the nausea, and on these occasions I noticed how much it made me go and it just got me thinking...that is all...I want to know what happens really? Scientifically speaking I guess. Just curios is all! Thanks for the advice. Kelly

According to my surgeon we don't absorb ALL carbs, just approx 60%. I have though wondered about the answer to your question. If they aren't in your body long enough to absorb even that, what happens? Hmmmm.... Tonya