What's up with the whole protein thing?

As your rapidly lose weight, without protein, your muscles begin to erode.  Your heart is a muscle - protein is very, very important to all WLS patients.

Thanks Mack - you posted some great replies!

I "worry' about my protein because i have a hard time getting enough - should be 60-80 gms/day.  If I eat anything else I end up skimping on the protein part of my meal - e.g. we had chicken cacciatore a few nights ago, and I indulged in 1 TBS polenta, and could only eat 3/8 cup of my pureed chicken, not the 1/2 cup that would have been the amount of protein I had budgeted that was supposed to come from dinner.  I'm 5 weeks out so I have limited capacity to eat.  But I find if I don't really WORK at getting my protein, when I do my food journal, at the end of the day, I come in at 40, or 50 gms.  I have a friend who went through bariatric surgery and didn't exercise and didn'****ch his protein, and he lost weight... but he looks wasted.  I don't want that, so I am walking 30 minutes most days and started a weight lifting program... and - trying- to get enough protein. 

Good luck in your weight loss and in claiming good health!

Luanne

how about trying protein shots about four sips or so and its down..gives you more bang for your buck..25 grams of protein in 2.9 fl oz..hope that helps.

Those protein bullets are terrible for you and a complete waste of money. The protein they contain is very, very low on the bioavailability scale, so although you may be consuming tons of protein, you're not absorbing it. At least, that's what my nut. told me.

My opinion is, try to get as much protein from food as possible. Obviously this is not possible 2 weeks out and you need to be supplementing with lots of protein drinks. But long term, you can't possibly replace all of the micronutrients you would/should get from a varied diet with powders and pills. For instance, eat some (preferably greek) yogurt and BOOM: you've got protein, calcium, and B12. Add a handful of berries, and you've got some antioxidants and much-needed fiber. Plus other nutrients and probiotics. Or you could have a protein shake and a handful of pills, and still miss out on the micronutrients and antioxidants entirely.

Just my two cents. Sorry I got slightly off-topic there 

BTW, GREAT idea about adding jello pudding mix to greek yogurt! I'm totally trying that!