I was wondering something...

I was wondering something, why do we need all the extra protein anyways? I can understand right after surgery with all the healing but why so much now? I have been busting my butt trying to do low carb and high protein but I recently read that a high protein - low carb diet really isnt good for you. It puts alot of stress on your kidneys and liver. I also read that while on this paticular diet that usually the calories coming from fat is tremendous. The weight that comes off so fast is mostly water and when you do eat carbs above "your limit" the weight quickly returns. So this week I started eating more carbs, not like in huge amounts though. I remember a while back when beckys nut said to eat no less than a 100 carbs a day well I probably got 60 or a little more. I dont think I could eat 100 or more anyway. I havent seen my nut since surgery because I cant afford it but I think that eating this way is a lot better. I will say that I havent lost any weight this week but I think and hope that once my body gets use to the carbs again itll start back up. When I did diets pre op I never worried about lots of protein, and I probably didnt get all that much so why now. I know we dont absorb all the protein now but how much is enough? Im just confused about this. I know I have lost some inches recently, (I also joined curves 2 weeks ago) I bought some exercise pants in size 16 yesterday and had to go back and exchange them for 14s. I was so happy! I havent been in a size 14 since 9th grade. Sorry for the long post, any thoughts, feelings, criticisms? Candy

Protein is very important for many reasons. Not only does it help with continued healing but I helps with mucle development. When we loose weight rapidly we not only loose fat but we loose muscle (protein) so in order to save our muscles and prevent them from wasting away (once you loose muclse tissue you never get it back) Remember your heart is a muscle. Also hair needs protein too, I am too vain to loose my hair. You can eat carbs just be careful about the types of carbs. Complex carbs (fruits and vegetabels, whole grains) are good. stay away from white processed carbs,(pasta, rice,sugar, etc) Hope this helps Joanne

THANKS JOANNE, The carbs I have ate are ww tortillas, bananas, beans in chili, ww spaghetti, and toast(ww bread), Do you think one shake would help with the days protein, I mean how much is sufficient? Candy

you still need about 60-80 in protien regardless if you are doing a high or low cab diet. the thing is, before you had surgery you most likely had well above that amount of protien. The 60-80 range is a daily recomended dosage for all people, regardless of diets. Me i dont perscribe to atkins or south beach, but i do keep my carbs low, and like previous msg i try to make them from vegies and fruits. I also try to keep my fat cal count low. i dont look at fat grams but fat cals, by doing so i know that the bulk of my cals a day are from protien and good carbs (if there is really such a thing)

Remember, Candy, that with the RNY there is a malabsorption factor. We don't absorb protein like we used to so we need to ingest more, just like with B 12 and iron. Sorta have to "overkill" to make sure we're getting enough- Becky Jean

Caroline, Becky Jean is so right! Even though we eat high protein, our bodies do not absorb it all. We have to make sure we get it in for the muscles. Knowing that your heart is the most important muscle, should make it easier to try and get 60-90 grams of protein daily.