???? from a lurker

hi guys..ive been lurking here for a while..and love the posts. i just read one about calories and protien intake. my doc wants us to only eat 3 times a day..no snacking...and to get our protien from food not supplements...well there is no way i can get it all in. im only getting maybe 40g of protien a day. i also work out about 5 times a week. i do at least 30 min of cardio then weights. i do low weights with high rep's. i only do about 10-15 lbs with the arms and about 70 with the legs or less on some. and i do about 4 sets of 20(less on some).. i know i need more protien then what im getting, so ???? is..has the protien you are taking slowed your weight loss any? im thinking of just adding in one a day to make the 60-70g mark. or do u think i need even more because of the working out? any help would be great...thanks tanya

First of all, welcome, Tanya! I am a pre-op (less than 2 weeks to go!) and recently posted my prescribed diet here, which is very similar to yours, but not even as strict. I am going to say, with no hesitation, that the WISE and SUCCESSFUL and GOOD LOOKING () folks on this message board are going to tell you that in NO way is 40g of protein enough, even if you weren't working out. I read your profile....how are you doing? Did you have a stricture? There are a couple folks here who had em. I had never heard about such immediate B-12 defficiency symptoms....are the shots helping? As much as I read on here...there is sooooo much to learn. Well, glad you posted! I am sure the others will chime in shortly.... Hey, stick around! And congratulations of your weight loss and exercise so far! Ok, Val, you're on.... (feeling a little like this is our own little Mayberry, or maybe Springfield?)

hi annie, thanks for the post. yeah i know its not enough protien thats why i want to do the drinks, our doc just doesnt recommend them. as far as the stricture, i will see tuesday whan i get scoped..yipee!!! not looking forward to that. and yest he b-12 shots have helped. i know it can be a serious thing if u wait too long but we caught it very early. im doing good as far as wieght loss, down 58 lbs today. good luck on your journey. tanya

Tanya, The nurses in my hospital program want us to eat 3 times a day also. I work out very intensely and found that was not enough for me. I had to really be okay about doing what's best for my body, and not in the sense of "the rules don't apply to me and I am eating how I want." It's more like for the first time in my life I really know when some advice just doesn't fit. I currently get in at least 100 grams of protein a day, something I really couldn't do only eating three times a day. I try to eat at least 20 grams within an hour after lifting weights so my body can repair its muscles. Now, this was a gradual thing. Early post-op I had a hard time getting in 30. Over time I kept adding protein-rich foods, and I do still at 8 months out eat protein bars. I am currently a little under goal weight but feel fine. I eat about 1600-1800 calories a day, a number that was staggering to me, but my body is using it all. Again, that was a gradual thing. Hope my long-winded post helps in some way. Hugs, Chris L.