Need help please balancing water/food

I wondering if anyone else is having this problem. I read the other posts about "what you are eating, how much", etc., and it seems like you guys have a better handle on this eating/drinking thing than I do. Let me start by saying I have not had trouble losing weight or being stuck on plateaus (started at 226 on 6/21 and am now 139---about 15 pounds from goal). I haven't hit one plateau yet, but weight loss of course is crawling now, since I'm so close to goal. Into size 7 jeans (except for zipping over stomach). (Weird, 7 years ago I wore size 7 at 115 pounds---don't know how I'm fitting into them at 139!!) But I struggle with balancing water/food intake. Now this is what I do, tell me if I'm doing something wrong. I drink a Worldwide Protein drink for breakfast and take many of my supplements with that. I drink it at work at my desk. It takes me about an hour or more to completely finish a 12 oz can. By that time it's about 10:30. Then I'm dying to chew something, so I have a hi-protein snack (usually roasted soybeans-14 grams of protein). Then I have to wait for an hour before I can drink anything. I can drink about 16 oz in an hour if I really pay attention. Then I'm hungry and I want to have another small protein snack (nuts or cheese). Then I wait another hour becuase I want to get in more water. I drink about 12 oz of water then wait 30 minutes, then have my 4 oz container of salmon salad or turkey or chicken breast. Then I wait an hour, and around 6 pm I make my giant 40-gram protein drink (Nectar, strawberry puree, and SF juice) and it takes me about 1.5 hours to finish that. Then I go to bed at 9 pm. I don't know where I'd fit in a dinner meal. I'm not hungry, I don't miss eating that dinner meal. (Never ate dinner when I was thin because I worked out in the evening) I see that most of you eat veggies and I'm really bad with that. I really don't eat any. I do half an apple for a snack sometimes, but not nearly as often as I should. Does this sound like a normal routine to you guys? How long does it take you to down a protein drink of 12 oz size? Am I drinking too slow? Sorry this is so long, I just have no one else to ask. The nutritionist at my surgeon's office is not very helpful or knowledgeable. She seems to hate her job... P.S. My hip replacement is scheduled for April 14th!!!! YAY!!!!!!! Thanks for listening!! Sharon

Hi Sharon! It is my understanding that "we" can only absorb about 30 grams of protien at a time. Anything over that is wasted. Also protein shakes should be consumed withing 30 minutes of preparing/opening if RTD. Otherwise after the 30 minutes the protein begins to break down & bacteria begin their desent. Until 3 weeks ago, I too had never hit an actual plateau. For the next 2 wks I weighed the same on my weigh in day. Then the 3rd wk I actual GAINED 1/2 lb. Now I am glad to say the scale is moving again...SLOWLY!! My surgeon is real big on 3 meals a day no snacks until maintaining. But...he also doesn't think we need protein shakes, I DO!! So here is roughly my schedule: My beverage is usually crystal light. I make a big 32 oz travel cup up & take to work with me. Breakfast: 30 gram Protein shake w/ Rx medications usually around 7:30 am 1 1/2 hrs later: Calcium, magneisium, multi vit with crystal light continue driniking crystal light through out the day, except for 1/2-1 hr after eating. 1 hr later: Calcuim, Magneisium with continueous crystal light. Now before lunch I try to finish my 1st 32 oz of crystal light. noon: lunch..maybe a light yogurt or cheese stick or leftover dinner from night before. 1 hr later: Make more crystal light or ge****er from machine & continue drinking thruout the day. Multi Vit, Calcium, Mag ~2:30 pm: 30 gram protein shake Wait 1/2 - 1hr after shake to contunue drinking water, ect. Dinner: I usually make something reasonably healthy, I have to school age kids, so sometimes it may be not so healthy. But I usually eat whatever I make for them. 1 hr after dinner: Drink & iron & Vit C Evening: 30 gram protein shake 1 hr later: Drink & iron & Vit C So I *try* to get 64 oz of crystal light in me each day (my pouch doesn't like plain water ), 3 30 gr protein shakes in. I still don't have much of an appitite yet. If I do want to snack on something I usually will have nuts or something like that. Most of the time I rather have a protein shake than eat anything. Sometimes I worry I am not consuming enough calories, but I am working on it. I don't know if this was helpful or not. I hope so. Don't worry about the scale...it is so normal for it to slow down now. I know that you know that, but sometimes it helps to hear it from others. At least I know I have found it to be helpful to hear others confirm what you already know! Best of Luck! Laura 300/177/150?

OOOH, I have to comment. I see you take your calcium and multi at the same time. I was told to NEVER do that as the Iron in the multi and Calcium prevent each other from being absorbed. I see you take more Iron later in the day, but check your labels. Also, I've always been told to take supplements right after eating, as the food forces it to stay in your stomach longer, allowing it to be absorbed. If taken with liquids, they flush on through without much of a chance to absorb. No liquids for 1/2 hour after eating for the same reasons. Of course, I'm an RNY and have to be careful about absorbtion issues. But my bloodwork all came back great, so it looks like this is working for me. Good Luck, Kristie

Well, liquids go through my pouch very quickly - unless they are thicker, like a Starbucks SF Vanilla Latte or a Protein drink. I can down 8 oz of water or tea in less than 10 minutes. Also, on a normal day, I only eat three meals. If there are any snacks, it is usually just one. I have a 100 calorie rule for all snacks - I usually don't have anything with more than that for a snack - unless I know dinner wil be under 300 calories. Here's my typical day: 6:00 a.m. Venti SF decaf non-fat Vanilla latte (20 g protein) This has a little over 300 calories, so I count it as a meal 9:00 Calcium + Vit D 10:00 20 oz water 11:30 Lunch (1/2 wendy's chili OR salad w/chicken, OR a taco, OR TB pinto's n cheese, OR leftovers from dinner) Still keeping to the "not to exceed 350 calorie rule for a meal" - my own rule) 12:00Multi-vitamin B-12 Iron 12:30 - 20 oz water or tea or crystal light 2:00 Calcium + Vit D 3:00 20 oz water or tea or crystal light 5:00 Dinner (weight control oatmeal with protein powder OR a Boca Burger with grilled onions, OR Chicken & Veggies, OR Seafood with Veggies, OR salad with Chicken) 6:30 20 oz water, or tea or crystal light 8:00 20 oz water, or tea or crystal light I rarely Drink a protein shake....but i do mix my protein powder into my weight control oatmeal. That give me about 30 grams of protein and some good fiber in one meal. Even doing all this, I still find myself getting dehydrated. I went to the turbokick/cardio workout at the gym today and I got all red - but didn't sweat! and my mouth got all "cottony" - so I knew i was dehydrated. I really downed some water today! It is soooooo important! Best of luck to you! Pam 250/138

Sharon, Congrats! Your weight loss is great, so you are doing something right. The other post about wasted protein, absorbtion, etc, are accurate. You can still get lots of protein in with less liquid. I drink GNC, or Nectar protein w/ only 4-6 oz of water. So that way I can consume this within the 30 minutes. I think you have been so successful cuz you have made sure to have plenty of protein and don't stray much (like I do)... I have had 2 week stalls several times. I have lost each month, but sometimes it's 4 lbs, sometimes 14. I'd keep up what you are comfortable with, but a bit less liquid. Good luck.

Thanks everyone for sharing. Kelli's idea is great, don't know why I didn't think of it. Also, never thought about the supplements going right thru if taking them with liquid protein. Of course that makes sense. I just have a hard time drinking even sips of liquid after I've eaten. Seems to ball up in my pouch and give me indigestion. But maybe I could wait 20 minutes or so after eating and then try. Boy, I've beem doing it all wrong all this time. My labs come out okay, but this last one is still pending, so we'll see. I've been getting very very tired lately; wonder if my labs will reflect low in something. By the way, the 40 protein gram Nectar concoction I drink is consumed over 90 minutes, so the protein is going in slowly enough to be absorbed, at least I believe so. I always feel so energized after drinking it. Thanks again everyone!! Sharon