PROTEIN STORIES

I am really confused....I do not even have protein in my lists of things to consume. I am 10 days out and drinking soup, water, juice, crystal Lite, SF popsickles, SF jello and thats it. I have meeting with dietician Wed 12/4 but I did not see protein on my list I was given for the 2nd 2 weeks either. The doctor said protein slows weight loss so I am thinking....Whats the story here? Did you all start with protein right away? If so, how did you add it? To juice, water? Sorry so many questions but I am so confused. Thanks KAthy

Honey.............get yourself a new doctor. Seriously. PROTEIN DOES NOT SLOW THE WEIGHT LOSS DOWN YOU NEED IT TO SURVIVE. WHAT IS YOUR DOCTOR A WHACK?????????? You should be consuming 60 grams of protein minimum a day. Do not listen to that doctor. He's a whacko. If you don't eat at least the minimum of 60 grams a day, your body will eat your muscle. You will eventually over time get violently sick. I'm sorry, but this doc is a whacko. Any doc that tells you protein slows weight lloss down is a whacko. I get at least 80 grams a day and I have lost 150 pounds and during the 5 weeks that I wasn't getting enough protein orliquids, I became very weak and dehydration set in. Get in that protein. FOrget about what he says. I will email you a protein list. It has all kinds of food in it and what the protein is. Let me know how you make out. Marie

Dr. Cole does not say that protein slows weight loss. He would prefer you get your protein from your foods you eat instead of the protein shakes. The nutritionist (Colleen) will tell you all about it on your visit on 12/4. Dr. Cole is NOT a whacko....you apparently misunderstood what he said to you. Kel

Kel, No Dr. Cole is a very good surgeon. I think you are right, he was saying to eat right and you won't need a lot of extra protein products and not to overdo it. I meet Colleen on Wed and I am sure she will set me straight. Kathy

I had surgury 4 days ago. A great source of protein if you don't want to "drink" it is yogurt. Also, whip up some skim plus milk and a piece of bannana, it's really good too. You definatly need protein to keep your bones and body healthy. Also, don't forget about calcium. My doc suggested to take 2 or 3 tums a day, they are a great source of calcium. The protein drinks are good too and being that you need to be on liquids for a while, it is a great choice.

Wow so many stories and so different. I cant have yogurt till the 2 week check up and bananas not mentioned either. Guess I will have a lot to ask the dietician...Tums? I take Prilosec every day as prescibed. I did quit my blood pressure meds per doctor but my 1 week checkup my BP was high so I am back on them for now. I thought that was a bit risky to do this without consulting my cardiologist but took his advice. Those Flinstone Complete vitamins are supposed to be the best supplement that I was told would be for the rest of my life. Anybody else take these? I am going to check out the protein supplements this week. Thanks all fo the info.

Hi Kathy, I can tell you that surgeons are good at cutting into bellies and that is about it. Taking nutritional advice from them isn't from the best source and maybe you misunderstood him. (and yes you should always eat your protein first but I am sure the dietician will go over this with you.) It's a great idea that you are seeing the dietician soon. I am sure she will give you some great tips/advice. Take care and good luck with everything!

Kathy: Hello! Understand that when you put a ? out like this you will get many different answers which may confuse you even more. Hopefully the dietician can clear up any confusion, BUT each bariatric program has different postop recommendations! Here is a good link!!! http://www.sabariatric.com/assets/forms/Diet_rules_recovery.pdf Please look at this site for LOTS of good info on postop stuff diets, protein etc!!! http://www.livingafterwls.com/Library.html SUCH AS THIS ARTICLE... http://www.livingafterwls.com/Library/Rule%201%20Protein.html Protein First WLS Success Rule #1 The first rule for living after Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) is Protein First - that means eating protein for three daily meals, and protein must be 50 percent of food intake. Animal products are the most nutrient rich source of protein and include fish, poultry and meat. Dairy protein, including eggs, is another excellent source of protein. Nuts and legumes are also good sources of protein, but sometimes difficult for the bariatric patient to consume. Science is proving that a protein rich diet will prompt weight loss and increase energy. The body contains over fifty-thousand different active proteins all made out of the same building blocks: amino acids. Amino acids are made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen as well as sulfur, phosphorus and iron. Many diseases - including obesity - indicate an amino acid deficiency. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://www.beyondchange-obesity.com/nutritionNews/proteins.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The goal is usually to spare lean muscle by eating protein! Wt loss is effected by sugar, so things like milk (13G sugar a cup for only 8g protein, a portein shake has 23g protein 0-3g sugar for same ~100cal! ), fruit juices, applesauce etc can all cause slowed wt loss, dumping and perhaps cravings even early on! I wouldnt and still do not touch juice, sure way to defeat the surgery and regain! Protein on the other hand is needed for vital organs and healing/recovery! low sugar (like danaon or blue bunny carb freedom) yogurt , cottage cheese and string cheese, peanut butter are some options early on, eggs can be a touch protein to digest for some but others do well w/it. In my program we were on clear liquids 2 wk, then started softs. They were not concerned for this short time on protein, many are lactose intolerant early on and longterm as well. Some cut milk w/ 1/2 water, or try hoods calorie countdown beverage much less sugar in it like 3g in a cup for 45 cal vs 90-100 in mik.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Many programs do not recommend protein shakes, mine didn't but I made a choice to start them at 6 mo when my hair was still falling out, and my wt loss slowed and my protein levels were low! (with the 2 c milk a day I was drinking and other carbs I was eating! bread, cackers, bananas etc) I still do 2 most days for 100 call and 23 g protein they do wonders my labs are now good and my hair/nails are as well, they curb cravings for me. www.bethsproteinboutique.com has samples on sale 99cents thru end December! I love the PVL whey gourmet line and champion pure whey stck banana and chocolate! Seperate or mixed together with water/ice in my magic bullet. Syntrax nectars are fruity koolaid like ones and I like those also for a change (fuzzy navel, apple, lemonade, straw-kiwi)... I NEVER heard @ protein slowing wt loss (think atkins/south beach) they can speed it up! Maybe you misunderstood???, maybe he was saying protein shakes not protein foods slow wt loss, that is a common misbelief among surgeons IMHO!? Remember surgeons are expert 'cutters' they are not experts in nutrition usually.... Proteins form the body's main structural elements and are found in every cell and tissue. Take away the water, and about 75 percent of your weight is protein. Your body uses proteins: ● for growth ● to build and repair: bone, muscles, hair, connective tissue, skin, internal organs, blood, virtually every other body part or tissue Besides building cells and repairing tissue, proteins form antibodies to combat invading bacteria & viruses; they build nucleoproteins (RNA & DNA). They make up the enzymes that power many chemical reactions. They also carry oxygen throughout the body and participate in muscle activity. At least 10,000 different proteins make you what you are and keep you that way Hormones, antibodies and enzymes that regulate the body's chemical reactions are all made of protein. Without the right proteins, blood won't clot properly and cuts won't heal. Each protein is a large complex molecule made up of a string of building blocks called amino acids. The 20 amino acids the body needs can be linked in thousands of different ways to form thousands of different proteins, each with a unique function in the body. Your body can't use food protein directly. So after protein is ingested, digestive enzymes break the protein into shorter amino acid chains, and then into individual amino acids. In the gastric bypass patient , this normal digestive process is bypassed. These digestive enzymes are not available until they meet with the food protein in the common channel of the small intestine, and then have only about 5 - 7 ½ ft (compared to 20 ft in a "normal" digestive tract) to do their job. The amino acids then enter the blood stream and travel to the cells where they are incorporated into proteins the body needs. Nine of the 20 amino acids required by human beings are considered "essential" because they come only from the diet; the other 11 are considered "nonessential" because the body can make them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Why do we use protein supplements? FROM: http://www.vitalady.com/why_protein.htm Some more articles/good link! http://www.sabariatric.com/assets/forms/GBP_diet.pdf http://www.sabariatric.com/assets/forms/Diet_rules_lifetime.pdf http://www.sabariatric.com/assets/forms/Diet_rules_lifetime.pdf http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=WT00007 Gastric bypass diet: Nutritional needs after weight-loss surgery http://www.cornellweightlosssurgery.org/pdf/diet_guid_gas_bypas.pdf Take Care, Jamie 100cm proximal Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh Albany, NY 320(preop)/163 (lowest)/174 (current) 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King www.albanyplasticsurgeons.com http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/jamiecatlady5/ "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"

Hi Kathy, Just make a phone call to Colleen, she will set you on the right path. I was not to have the shakes until the second or third phase of the food choices. They want your new pouch to heal well. So that is why the process of going from clear liquids to full liquids, to soft mushy foods then on to a regular diet, but remember only add a little new things at a time as to not upset your new pouch. Colleen is awesome, she will help you with whatever nutritional questions you may have. Keep up the good work!!!! Shannon Arnold 257/154/130???

Thanks Shannon, I see Colleen on Wed and I do have a lot of questions for her. The amazing thing is I am not hungry at all and have to force myself to eat. SF Jello is not half bad and I dont miss food YET. So the pouch healing process is about a month? I really feel good for not eating solid foods and looking forward to mushy foods. How do I put on one of those charts at the bottom of some of the profiles? I have to get a pic up too, but wont be mine yet! Thanks for info. KAthy