more calories or protein?

Hey everyone,

I am post-op week seven.  I am eating between 3-4 tbs and 1/4 cup each meal.  I try not to snack, but do occasionally.  When I do, I try to keep it high protein.  I am getting my 64oz of liquids in and taking my vitamins/supplements faithfully. I am getting around 60 or more grams of protein in.   I regularly walk nearly every day (got about 3 miles in yesterday). Anyway, the past three days or so, I am getting that "running out of steam, woozy, fainty if I stand up too fast" feeling in the afternoons.   I have also really slowed down in weight loss the past two weeks.   DX E said, and I wonder if I might need to boost my metabolism by eating more calories?  Perhaps I need to have another protein drink in?  I usually start my day with a protein shake.  It is about 270 calories when made with skim milk and about 36 grams of protein.  Then I have solids the rest of my meals.   I will check with the doc, but wondered if anyone out there has experienced this? Do you take more than one protein shake a day?  If so, what do you use and how many calories is it? Thanks!

Sounds like low protien to me - I'd do something to boost it up a bit. Another shake, some nonfat cottage cheese, something like that should help. I get feeling like that if I don't get enough protien in, and shortly after I have something that's high protien, it helps.

Dave, Who is the handsome fellow in your avatar!  Does he know you stole his photo??  Dude you look freakin great!  CF

Haha - not to hijack the thread, but I just did that a few minutes ago.  That picture is actually a couple months old - from back in July while my wife and I were up at Big Bear. I need to do a new one and upload it.  Just too crazy with both my wife and I (not to mention my two stepsons) all in college.  (Well, I'm not in college, but I'm going for my Ethical Hacker / Computer forensics creds.)

More protein and more calories would be my suggestion as well!  As the weight comes off, and you become more active - thus burning more calories - your requirements for calories increase in order to maintain your loss.  In addition to the weight loss, those additional calories and grams of protein also help boost your energy level as well. Personally I typically take in 120 grams of protein daily via shakes (5 scoops @ 24 gm/protein each @ 110 calories).  The rest of my protein is taken in through food.  The rule of thumb I follow is one gram of protein per pound of body weight.  Please understand though that I do this to maintain weight and/or build muscle mass - not to lose weight.  While I was losing I kept protein intake around 100-110 grams/day. B-12 is essential as well...want to make sure you're keeping up with that.  I found that B-12 injections provided better results for me than sublinqual.  Best wishes - and congratulations on your progress!  You're doing GREAT!  Cards Fan loseSMART!  loseSTRONG!

Hey Brad... add a meal or two....at that level Russ

I too hit a slow down not long after surgery. I added more calories and got it started again. I now eat five to six times a day. Snacks in between meals keep my sugar levels and metabolism at an even level through the day. I am at nine and a half months and I have one oz of cheese and an oz of almonds for one snack and a low fat low carb yogurt for another. Later at night if I feel the urge I have SF jello and SF popsicles. Love those popsicles and they count as liquid.  pan head

I had the same problems.  I couldn't find that energy.  I would try to grab for it, but it wasn't there.  After a few months it did come back.  Looking back a few things may have helped.  I'll pass  them along.  I don't know if I had a great mulivitamin or not.  I started taking one in the morning and one in the late afternoon.  Be sure it has all the minerals in it too.  Be sure you are adding a small amount of salt to your diet.  I would just taste alittle shake of salt on my hand and that would give me an instant pick me up.  Also add if you haven't B-1 and folic acid.  Those really can help for energy levels.  Good luck, Brian

Sounds like you're eating enough to starve a small bird!  Up them calories dude!

Thanks everyone, sounds like I will boost my protein and then maybe boost my calories.   I will check with the doc too.