Protein!

I am sick of protein. My blood work showed my prealbumin level low, meaning I have some malabsorption problems. This of course led to being malnourished. My surgeon told me I had to eat 80+ grams of dense protein a day. I realize this can be done by eating 4 oz of dense protein three times a day, but my problem is when I eat the 4 oz of dense protein I have no room for anything else. He does not allow protein shakes after 6 weeks so that isn't an option for me. Anybody else feeling sick of protein? Just a piece of lettuce sounds like heaven at this point. I increased my protein for a few months and my prealbumin level was in the low normal range recently. WLS was about health issues for me, but I'm surprised to find that I feel like eating meat is punishment at this point. Funny thing is I use to say I was a meat & potato person. Now I find it must have been the potato I enjoyed. On the other hand too much of anything can grow boring. All of this is probably more about being frustrated with the slowness of the weight loss at this point. I want this last 30 lbs gone but it is dropping very slowly at this point. Otherwise I love my life as it is today. I feel so good about myself, my physical health is great, etc. I might be tired of protein but I wouldn't trade having this surgery for anything. Pat 410/352/224/195 Once I reach the 195 plastic surgery will take me to 155-165.

What do you mean he "doesn't allow protein shakes"? If your albumen is low, then you may very well have to suppliment with protein shakes. The fact of the matter is, most of us do. I think that most docs and nutritionist try to steer WLS patients away from shakes, but some of us need them no matter how much we eat (and we can't eat that much anyway). Your body can only absorb 30 grams of protein at a time anyway.It is your body and HE doesn't have to suffer when you become nutritionally imbalanced. Try going to vitalady.com and getting a couple of the sample protein shakes and start supplimenting your diet with those. Get your albumen levels up to where they should be and make sure that the rest of your levels are good too -- especially the B12. Frankly, I get sick of protein shakes as well ... but after numerous trys, both my doctor and my nutritionist agreed that I was one of those folks that will always have to suppliment my diet with protein shakes to keep my levels up. I also know what you mean about the slow weight loss. I am at that point too ... however, I have found that as I increased my protein shakes, my weight started to drop off again. I don't know whether it was coincidence or the protein butit is something to think about. Good Luck. Lida Open RNY(1/14/04) 331/224/170 (hopefully)

I can totally understand your sickness of meat. Now that the fresh veggies are starting to be good I love salad. I just add fish and cheese to spike it up. I have also found that nuts are a wonderful protein snack. I always have a jar handy. And I also always have protein bars handy for that meal on the go. I think we are all down to loosing that last 20-30 pounds. Hopefully the summer will be good to all of us. Best wishes. Dawn -119

They carry a Whey protein at GNC that is tasteless that you can add in your drinks......... If you do not like it you can bring it back that is the nice thing about GNC. If you are lacking protein I would get it in anyway that you can. It is your body and no one else's. Do what you feel you need to do!

Thanks for your thoughts and comments about my problem. I have decided to start drinking a protein shake or Isopure drink for breakfast each morning which will start my day off with sufficient protein. The rest of the day I am cuttiung my meat back to 3 oz per meal and adding a few bites of low carb. veggies. If I need extra protein I will add 2 oz. cheese or 10 almonds as a snack. As long as my blood work is fine I don't see why it should matter to my surgeon how I get there. I do understand his thinking about eating rather than drinking protein. His thoughts are food fills us up more than drinks but my pouch is so tiny I just can't eat enough food to fill my protein needs. I am going to make this change for my mental health. You guys are great to give me your input.

Please note that you absorb whey protein far better than any other kind of protein. I would recommend that any supplimental protein you take consist of whey protein. I highly recommend www.vitalady.com which has samples of various protein shakes. Lida Open RNY 1/14/04 331/223/170 (hopefully)

I agree! Protein shakes are a fact of life for the majority of us. I bu all of my protein from bariatriceating.com. Susan and her company are fabulous. She and many of her people are patients just like us and know what we are feeling. All of her products are taste tested and the protein products are unbelieveable. You order tham and they come to your door. As for the protein taking up your meals, use the protein as a between meal snack instead of food. I also am on the low side of the alnumin norms and have to do 3 shakes a day. Adequate protein also means the difference of your hair and skin being healthy, it also helps move the weight off, you aren't dreaming. Good Luck to you and drink the protein, Robin RNYlap 1-12-04 308/137