4 weeks post op

Oh my god 4 weeks out and I lost 30lbs. I can't believe it. I am doing great. knock on wood. Yesterday I tried chicken for the first time and had no problem. Today I had a salad with tomatoes and mushrooms and feta cheese and lite ranch dressing. It was so good and no problem with that either. I even tried rice and no problems. my only problem is that I can not seem to get enough protein in. What will happen if I don't get enough protein? I do not eat red meat. And I have tried every proten shake known to mankind and hate them all. I am sick of eggs and sick of yougurt and cheese,and eggs salad. what should I do? Sheila

Shelia;      I found the following information on one of the on line support groups for WLS that I belong to.  I hope it helps a little.  There was a better article but it was very detailed and about 15 pages long.   Have you tried to fruit flavored proteins?   It is so important to get in that 60-80 gm of protein a day and impossible through food at this point.   Sally Why you need protein For active individuals who are trying to build a better body, consuming enough protein each day should be a priority.Protein plays a key role in building lean muscle mass, providing building blocks for recovery and recuperation, and preventing muscle protein breakdown. Whole-food sources containing high quality protein can be inconvenient to consume regularly and timely to prepare. Due to the inconveniences associated with whole-foods, protein powders have become the ideal option for meeting daily protein requirements. Protein is a vital component to building and maintaining a strong, healthy body, especially for athletes and for those engaging in intense exercise. Studies with both strength and endurance athletes have clearly indicated that exercise increases the need for protein and amino acids. The number of people participating in athletic activities is increasing, and high quality protein sources are in demand! People want these quality protein sources to be convenient, quick, and coincide with their modern-day busy lifestyles. The Highest Biological Value There is no doubt that whey protein has become one of the hottest selling supplements on the market, and for good reason. Whey protein has one of the highest biological values of any protein, due to its excellent amino acid profile, solubility and digestibility. A high biological value means it may “ yield” more usable grams of amino acids. It also contains the highest concentration of branched chain amino acids (BCAA) of any single protein source. The BCAA content is important to individuals who exercise because BCAA ’s are an integral part of muscle metabolism and are the first amino acids sacrificed during muscle protein breakdown. Boasting possibly the highest biological value of any naturally occurring protein, the reputation and popularity of whey protein is well deserved. However, recent scientific evidence suggests the benefits of whey protein for athletes may go well beyond its ability to supply quality amino acids to hungry muscles. Protein scientists have discovered that whey, in its natural state, contains a wide variety of bioactive compounds generally referred to as “protein microfractions.” These powerful compounds may provide a number of positive biological effects to hard-training athletes. Biologically-Active Microfractions in Whey In the past, most of the methods of whey processing and isolation used extreme temperatures and acidic conditions, destroying these valuable microfractions. Only recently have new extraction techniques been developed and employed. These techniques may make it possible to isolate and stabilize protein microfractions in a finished whey protein powder. The two most advanced techniques are known as cross-flow microfiltration and ion exchange. How much protein to take and when Research suggests that hard training athletes should consume approximately one gram of protein per pound of body weight every day, spread out over 5 to 6 meals daily for proper assimilation. The recommended amount for sedentary people is 0.8 grams of protein per pound of body weight per day. Research indicates that athletes may need a higher intake of protein, to compensate for the stress they place on their bodies through intensive training. A good time to take a protein supplement is right before you go to sleep at night, since during this time your body assimilates protein for the first few hours, then recycles and breaks it down for several hours. You can also consume protein first thing in the morning to help replenish some of the protein that was broken down during the sleep cycle. Another suggestion is to ingest a fast acting protein/carbohydrate drink, immediately following your workout. At this time your body’s metabolism is primed to feed muscle tissue. Source: Experimental and Applied Sciences

Hi Shiela Lack of protein can make you very weak. You have to get it in somehow Always eat protein first before you add vegetables and starch. At 4 weeks out, we aren't recommended to eat any rice, pasta etc or salads. At 4 weeks we are on soft pureed foods. There's got to be a protein shake out there that you can adjust to. Have you tried prtien samples from vitalady.com? Get some of her samples and try them out. She sells champion protein. its pretty good and to me the chocolate tastes like a milk shake. You also will tend to lose more hair if you don't keep up with the protein.  Its not a solid fact, but we have found in alot of our patients that the ones who did not keep up with their protein were ones who had a greater hair loss around the 3-4 month mark.

hi, Well today I got some protein in I had a vegtable burger and I had a egg with cheese. I tried an isopure protein fruit drink and I only got through 3 sips.yucky. My doctor has us eating full solids at 3 weeks out. Tommorow I plan on making turkey sausage with cheese in the crockpot. I take the skin off and each one is 11 grams of protein. So I guess I am getting probally 30 grams of protein in a day. thank god I have really thick hair to able to afford loosing some . To bad we couldn't loose hair on our legs. Ha ha lol Sheila

Hi Sheilia!!

30Lbs is awsome!!!! Yeah for you!!!
I go for my first follow up visit w/ Caruana today so we will see how accurate my scale is!! I know what you mean about getting all the protein in, it is hard.

Sorry I missed both your calls. I got home rather late and thought it would be to late to call you. I'll call ya later today after my Dr. appt.

Debi

Sheila, You are doing awesome!  Do you like cottage cheese?  I really like Friendship whipped lo-fat cottage cheese a great way to get protein. Rosemary

Congratulations Sheila!!  30 lbs. gone forever!!  You are doing great! As far as protein goes, I still like to have a Carnations Instant Breakfast-No sugar added if I need protein.  It is just like drinking choc. milk.

Shelia, Congrats on your 30 pounds!!!! whooooo hoooooo!  Have you tried Achievone ready to drink protein drinks- I am alomost 9 months posty op and I still have 1 for breakfast everyday - because I love THEM SO MUCH!  9.5 ONCES AND 20 GRAMS OF PROTEIN  - delish!!!! Your body needs the protein to heal & nutritionally - its so important!!! Make sure you get it in :o) hugs, Britt

hhhooorrraaayyy sweet shiela...................kudos and more for you  must feel terrific to get up each day and see more weight gone  hugs, christina