Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Healthy Fats...I'm suspicious of "nonfat"



Recommended Posts

I live on a farm and have a pretty strong aversion to eating natural foods that have had fat removed from them. This is not due to flavor, although whole foods do taste better. I just want to be eating food as close to its natural state as possible and I truly believe that is healthier. I understand that will mean that I need to eat smaller servings of those items (whole milk, "regular" cheese and cottage cheese, whole eggs, homemade Bone Broth instead of nonfat canned broth). I'm wondering if all of the advice to eat nonfat dairy and broth is just about setting healthier habits and losing weight faster or if there is actually some physical reason we are advised to eat nonfat things. Is there anything related to healing post-surgery or dumping that would be impacted by having whole cottage cheese or homemade broth with a bit of fat in it?

Again, I really understand the caloric implications so I don't need advice about that. Having this conversation with my nutritionist was incredibly frustrating due to her deep belief that animal fats are bad (I don't agree) and the fact that I have no credibility with her in regard to food choices or my health since I'm fat. Ugh! Thanks for your help.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Personally, I don't avoid fats for fats sake but post-op have found that some high fat cheeses and meats are a bit too strong for me.

Foods that are naturally low in fat, or that have fat removed (like low fat dairy) are pretty standard for me.

Foods that are "low fat" because they have added sugar, or even worse, high fructose corn Syrup, I avoid like the plague.

Post-op has been the first time in my life where I actually wanted to blot extra fat off of bacon!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I eat full fat foods as well (other than milk in my Protein shakes). My plan recommends low fat but not fat free. Those are often loaded with sugars, etc to make them somewhat tolerable. I'd rather not eat sour cream again if I had to have fat free.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So here's the thing. High amounts of fat can cause dumping much like high amounts of sugar can; after surgery, we don't make the enzymes to break fats down, so they can get dumped, much the same way sugar would. However, also like sugar, different people are able to tolerate different amounts of fats. And unlike sugar, there are a ton of benefits to eating healthy amounts of animal fats, and definite drawbacks to not eating them. I spent months eating low fat and nonfat everything after surgery, and after a while I realized my extreme brainfog wasn't due to not getting enough calories or Water (as I was getting enough of both, especially for my low activity level while I healed from knee surgery), but due to lack of fat! Your brain NEEDS fat to function, and your body needs good fats for a whole host of other important digestive and regenerative reasons. Once I started drinking whole fat milk, eating whole eggs, whole fat cottage cheese, etc, I felt a million times better. It took me a while to find the kinds and amounts that worked for me without making my stomach feel uncomfortable, but after figuring out what worked best for me, everything was great. I've lost almost 200 pounds since surgery, so I'm thinking eating whole fat foods doesn't impede weight loss. :P I'm betting the whole "nonfat craze" thing is because there are many bariatric patients who simply can't tolerate the fat, especially in the beginning, and because unfortunately many people lack the knowledge to distinguish between HEALTHY fats in HEALTHY amounts vs. oil fats and the like, so it makes sense to just advise low or nonfat across the board for bariatric patients. I hope this helped! I put a lot of effort into talking to professionals to understand this matter because I had similar issues with my close-minded nut, and I disagreed with her from the beginning. Maybe low and non fat works for some people and is more safe in terms of preventing bingeing/cravings for some people but no two people are exactly the same, and you have to do what works for you and makes you the most healthy and functional. I'm off to eat my whole eggs and avocado with cheddar. :P

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

After RNY gastric bypass surgery, the part of your stomach that normally process fats and sugars is cut away. If you consume too much fat or sugar, it will most likely lead to dumping. And that is something you will learn from experience to avoid. About a year after surgery, you intestines will realize something is wrong and will step up to the plate and start to process fats and sugars. So after that time you can return to eating these. But I strongly advise you to not eat sugars because the lost weight might pile back on.

My nutritionist said after you reach the maintenance phase, one should eat around a equal portion of Protein, carbohydrates and fats, but always put Protein first. After RNY surgery, I completely lost my hunger. It was not difficult to lose weight when hunger was not constantly continually gnawing at my bones. But hunger returned around 1 year post-op, only not as strong as before. I am over 3 years post-op and I consume fats. I drink whole milk, eat good cuts of steak and I love butter. Fats can keep the hunger at bay.

So after surgery, give up fats. But realize this is temporary for about a year.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×