some stuff to know about protein

What if we don’t get enough protein?

 Here are some of the more common symptoms.

• Edema - A collection of fluid under the skin, which most commonly affects the legs, feet, and ankles, but can occur anywhere on the body.
• Thinning or brittle hair, hair loss
• Ridges or deep lines in finger and toe nails
• Skin becomes very light, burns easily in the sun
• Reduced pigmentation in the hair on scalp and body
• Skin rashes, dryness, flakiness
• General weakness and lethargy
• Muscle soreness and weakness, cramps
• Slowness in healing wounds, cuts, scrapes, and bruises
• Bedsores and other skin ulcers
• Difficulty sleeping
• Headache
• Nausea and stomach pain
• Fainting
• Depressed immune system, increase susceptibility to infection and illness
• Loss of  muscle tissue
• Heart damage (eventually)
• Crankiness, moodiness
• Severe depression
• Anxiety
• Lack of energy, no desire to do things

There are a couple of these to pay special attention to right after surgery.

When we have RNY, our stomach is sliced open.  Lots of tissue is damaged and needs to heal.  It will not heal well without protein.  Some docs recommend patients do not begin protein drinks for a couple of weeks after surgery and I personally think that is unwise.  We need EXTRA protein to heal from major surgery, not less protein.  If your doc recommends clear liquids right after surgery, we can use clear protein drinks.

Some of these symptoms are pretty common after RNY even if we do get enough protein, like some nausea, fatigue, weakness, hair loss and depression.  But not getting enough protein can make those things a whole lot worse.

It’s important to understand that we need protein for the amino acids.  If we don’t consume protein, we start to break down our muscles for the amino acids we need.  It’s kinda like we eat our own muscles.  And our heart is a muscle.  And, well, eating your own heart is not a good thing.

How much protein do we need?  The ASMBS suggests 1.1 gram protein per kilogram of ideal body weight, which works out to about half a gram per pound of your ideal weight.  Doesn’t matter what you weigh now, base your protein goal on your ideal weight.  If you work out a lot, you may need a bit more than that.

Thanks, Kelly as always for the valuable infomation!  I always look forward to your posts, as I have learned alot from them!

Have a great day!

Thanks for the reminder..... I just grabbed an extra protein bar....

Thank you for the great information!

I am 2.5 weeks post-op and as I struggle each day to get in a minimum of 60g of protein, this is a nice reminder of why it's so important.

Kelly thank you for all the information I always look forward to reading your post as I learn so much from you. I have a question I have read here on other posts that say you can only absorb about 30 gr of protein at a time. Is that true? the protein I drink is the one from walmart, for every 2 scoops is 52 gr of protein and that's how I make it so I only need to drink 2 a day, and I drink them kind of fast (I have no problem taking big drinks)

Thank you
Patty

According to the ASMBS - and I take their word for it - that is just a myth.  However, we do need protein throughout the day,

So it IS a myth that we only can absorb 30 grams @ a time?! Also is there an ASMBS website we can go to? I found one but couldn't find the info on the amt. of protein we need for our goal weight or about the 30 g myth.  Thanks so much for all your help =)
Sincerely,
Angi

so I weigh 170 right now, but ideally should weigh 135 or 140. I am 3 yrs out and have had a baby and taken some meds to make me gain a little back. I would like to weigh 150 and am on a diet right now to get back to that. I have been feeling really tired lately and wonder if I'm not getting enough protein in. I think I am only getting in like 40 gms a day right now.

How much protein do I need a day? My doc told me I need to have at least 60 gms a day, is that right?

Well, the ASMBS says if your goal weight is 150, you need 75 grams a day.

But I'd start increasing it a little at a time.  40 is definitely too low.  That certainly could be making you tired.

Is your baby still little?  Caring for an infant will certainly make you tired too!

Have you had labs done lately?  Low iron, low B12, low D or low B1 can also be making you tired, and if you had a baby recently, vitamin deficiencies would not be unusual.

What's making it hard to get the protein in, though?

yes, my baby is only 14 months old and is very busy, and keeps me busy all day!  I also have a 4 yr old that keeps me busy and an 8 yr old that is more independant and can do things on his own. 

I had some labs done back in Dec of last year to check on a few things because I was having issues with insomnia and hormones and everything came back fine.  I am due to get my labs this month or next and will see if I'm low in anything.  I am currently taking ferrous fumerate iron pills and don't think it's iron.  So we'll see what my labs say when they come back!

I just have a hard time with breakfast in finding different things to eat that have high protein.  I currently do scrambled eggs with chese on top and with bacon sometimes, or 4 strips bacon with some fruit, or some high protein oatmeal.  But those things get boring and I'm not a yogurt person.  Also, just having young children, I don't always have time to prepare things for myself and so I sometimes eat things that aren't as high in protein as I should.   I do have protein powder and I wonder if I should start doing that again once a day or a few times a week to up my protein?  It has 25 gms of protein in it and I could do that an  hour after my breakfast I guess.  I try to have protein at every meal but it's just not adding up to 60 gms a day, more like 40-50 a day.  And now I find out I'm supposed to be getting 75 a day, ahhh!!   Going to have to try and find ways to get more protein in I guess!