Hi, I'm new to the board ...

and new to the WLS area. I had a lapband inserted on April 5, 2007 and just finished that horrible clear liquids stage 1 diet. My biggest concern right now is ...how do you get enough protein in on 3 meals (1/4-1/2 c. each)? The nutritionist says I need 60 g's of protein/day to keep from losing hair and muscle. Any pointers would be most appreciated.

MOST OF US ARE GASTRIC BYPASS BUT MAYBE WE CAN HELP ONE ANOTHER ANYWAY!!! BTW, WELCOME TO OUR LITTLE FAMILY!!! GLAD YOU FOUND OUR BOARD. MANY HAVE FOUND THAT 6 SNACKS IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN 3 MEALS. YOU MAINTAIN YOUR NUTRITION, HUNGER & GLUCOSE LEVELS A LOT BETTER WITH 6 SNACKS. ESPECIALLY IN THE BEGINNING, BUT EVEN LATER, YOU MUST EAT PROTEIN FIRST UNTIL YOU KNOW YOU HAVE YOUR NEEDED AMOUNT IN, THEN GO FOR VEGES, FRUITS, DAIRY, ETC. REMEMBER ... THE 2 MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENTS FOR YOUR BODY ARE FLUIDS & PROTEIN ... EVERYTHING ELSE COMES SECOND (except your supplements = vitamins/minerals). ESPECIALLY IN THE BEGINNING, IT IS EASIEST TO GET YOUR PROTEIN FROM PAKAGED DRINKS, SHAKES, PUDDINGS & JELLOs THAT HAVE SOY OR WHEY PROTEIN IN THEM. THEY ARE EASIER ON YOUR TUMMY & EASIER TO DIGEST THAN FOOD PROTEIN. FOR INSTANCE, STALLONE PUDDINGS HAVE 20 GRAMS OF PROTEIN & THE TEXTURE IS EASY ON YOUR TUMMY. ISOPURE LIQUID DRINK HAS 40 GRAMS OF PROTEIN & YOU CAN SIP THAT ALL DAY. PROTICA PROFECT HAS 25 GRAMS OF PROTEIN IN ONLY 2.7 OUNCES OF LIQUID. MOST POWDERED PROTEIN SHAKES HAVE 20 - 25 GRAMS OF PROTEIN & IF YOU USE HOOD CARB COUNTDOWN MILK BEVERAGE, YOU GET A BIT FROM THAT WITH NO/LOW FAT & LESS CARBS THAN NORMAL MILK. THERE IS 2%, FAT FREE & CHOCOLATE FLAVORS & IT CAN BE FOUND AT WAL*MART & PUBLIC. 60 GRAMS IS THE BARE MINIMUM OF PROTEIN THAT WOMEN NEED ... 75 TO 100 GRAMS IS MORE LIKE IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU BEGIN EXERCISING. LOOK NEAR THE MIDDLE OF MY PROFILE ... I HAVE AN EQUATION FOR FIGURING OUT HOW MUCH A PERSON NEEDS, THEN IF YOU ARE EXERCISING, ADD 20 - 25 MORE GRAMS A DAY. YOU DON'T WANT TO EAT MORE THAN 20 - 30 GRAMS OF PROTEIN AT ANY ONE SITTING ... YOUR BODY CANNOT ABSORB MORE THAN THAT AT ANY ONE TIME SO SPREAD OUT YOUR PROTEIN CONSUMPTION. THERE'S ALMOST NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT LOSING HAIR AFTER MAJOR SURGERY, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT YOU ARE ON SUCH LIMITED FOOD INTAKE. ADD BIOTIN 2 TO 3 TIMES A DAY ... THERE IS A SHAMPOO (help me ladies, I forgot the name) THAT HELPS ... BE SURE TO TAKE YOUR SUPPLEMENTS EVERY DAY ... &&&, BE SURE TO GET ENOUGH FLUIDS IN DAILY ... THIS IS TOUGH ... NO LESS THAN 64 OUNCES & UPWARDS OF 100 OUNCES ... TO FLUSH THE TOXINS OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM FROM THE BREAKDOWN OF FAT THAT YOU ARE LOSING. IT WILL GET EASIER & EASIER MS TRUDY & BE SURE TO USE THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE HERE FOR SUPPORT & INFORMATION. WE'D ALSO LOVE HEARING ABOUT YOUR LAPBAND EXPERIENCES ... THERE'S ONLY A FEW BANDERS ON THE BOARD SO I'M SURE THEY WILL BE THRILLED TO HAVE ANOTHER SISTER TO CHAT WITH! GOD BLESS YOU ... DAWN & NICk

Wow. Thanks so much for the welcome and the info. Yeah, I have a bunch of those protein drinks that I bought from a group affiliated with my surgeon ...If I have to use them, I will, but I'm not a big fan of sweet stuff and they are all like fruit drinks or milkshakes ..yuck! I have some of the soups, too, but they have such a weird flavor to me. I went to the health food store and bought protein powder made from egg white and milk as I've never liked the soy flavor. I guess I'll just have to get over my preference for jus****er and savory stuff. I'll keep posting and reading ..I find this forum and others on this site to be helpful ...thanks again. BTW ..I'm in Florence

I DON'T KNOW IF BANDERS ARE LIKE BYPASSERS BUT OUR TASTES CHANGED ALMOST DAILY FOR THE FIRST 6 MONTHS. SO, WHAT WE LIKED ONE DAY WAS AWFUL THE NEXT & THEN A COUPLE WEEKS/MONTHS LATER, WE LIKED IT AGAIN. SO, DON'T THROW ANYTHING AWAY ... YOU MAY BE ABLE TO USE IT LATER ... IF NOT, SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE ELSE. I THINK DEBORAH (IN CA) WHO POSTS HERE HAS USED THE EGG PROTEIN. MY FAVORITE PACKAGED PROTEIN NOW IS STALLONE PUDDING, POWER CRUNCH & OH YEAH! PROTEIN BARS - BOTH TASTE LIKE CANDY BARS. BUT, YES ... EVERYTHING PACKAGED IS ON THE SWEET SIDE. ISOPURE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN THAT IT CAN TASTE LIKE A DRY, SWEET/TART WINE TYPE OF TASTE. OH WAIT ... I GET "ANY WHEY" FOR MY MOM ... IT DOESN'T HAVE A FLAVOR & SHE USES IT IN HER MILK ON HER CEREAL & IN THINGS LIKE CHILI OR SOUPS. IT MIXES WELL (don't ever put it in when you are cooking - add it at the table once your food has cooled a bit) ... &, IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE FEW THAT DOESN'T HAVE MUCH OF A TASTE. MAYBE YOU WOULD LIKE THAT. I GET MOM'S AT THE VITAMIN SHOPPE. OTHER BRANDS WE HAVE TRIED HAVE AN AWFUL AFTER TASTE & GLOP UP WHEN YOU TRY TO MIX THEM. HOPE YOU FIND A PROTEIN YOU CAN USE REGULARLY! GOD BLESS YOU ... DAWN & NICk

Just wanted to Welcome you to the board Julie