The definition of "empty calories"
Per Google, but I find it to be a good, easy to understand explanation:
" Calories derived from food containing no nutrients."
So...when your surgeon says protein shakes are empty calories...they are mistaken. While a protein shake may or may not be the best choice for YOUR plan, they are NOT empty calories. Quite the contrary if you pick the right shake.
Why?
Well firstly, a gram of protein has 4 calories. That means for every 10 calories, there is the potential to have 2 grams of protein. Well...my morning protein shake has 230 calories and 41g of protein. That ALMOST meets that 2g protein:10 calories threshold. Insofar as we NEED protein to thrive after WLS, I would NOT call the 230 calories from my protein shake empty.
I also would not personally call that protein shake a snack. I have it as a meal. And even if I DID have the desire to eat again within 3-4 hours, I wouldn't.
Also, many protein powders and ready to drink (RTD) shakes are fortified with nutrients. While our procedure is malabsorptive, making it more difficult for our bodies to pick up those nutrients, they are still present, further supporting the fact that protein shakes are NOT empty calories.
They are NOT devoid of nutrients (as I said above many are packed with them), they are usually devoid of the nutrients we don't want (where there is fat, most try to keep that fat heart beneficial and most protein supplements geared to weight loss are low in carbs and either absent of or ridiculously low in added sugars - natural or otherwise).
So the next time your surgeon or NUT says a protein shake is "empty calories" I dare you to challenge them.
In the end, it does not necessarily mean you should drink the shake you want to drink (I've seen folks take homemade shakes from hero to zero in just a few ingredients) but it does mean that your surgeon is giving you inaccurate information and needs to find a better way to express why he or she does not support the use of them.
K?
" Calories derived from food containing no nutrients."
So...when your surgeon says protein shakes are empty calories...they are mistaken. While a protein shake may or may not be the best choice for YOUR plan, they are NOT empty calories. Quite the contrary if you pick the right shake.
Why?
Well firstly, a gram of protein has 4 calories. That means for every 10 calories, there is the potential to have 2 grams of protein. Well...my morning protein shake has 230 calories and 41g of protein. That ALMOST meets that 2g protein:10 calories threshold. Insofar as we NEED protein to thrive after WLS, I would NOT call the 230 calories from my protein shake empty.
I also would not personally call that protein shake a snack. I have it as a meal. And even if I DID have the desire to eat again within 3-4 hours, I wouldn't.
Also, many protein powders and ready to drink (RTD) shakes are fortified with nutrients. While our procedure is malabsorptive, making it more difficult for our bodies to pick up those nutrients, they are still present, further supporting the fact that protein shakes are NOT empty calories.
They are NOT devoid of nutrients (as I said above many are packed with them), they are usually devoid of the nutrients we don't want (where there is fat, most try to keep that fat heart beneficial and most protein supplements geared to weight loss are low in carbs and either absent of or ridiculously low in added sugars - natural or otherwise).
So the next time your surgeon or NUT says a protein shake is "empty calories" I dare you to challenge them.
In the end, it does not necessarily mean you should drink the shake you want to drink (I've seen folks take homemade shakes from hero to zero in just a few ingredients) but it does mean that your surgeon is giving you inaccurate information and needs to find a better way to express why he or she does not support the use of them.
K?
RNY Gastric Bypass 1-8-08 350/327/200 (HW/SW/CW). I spend most of my time playing with my food over at Bariatric Foodie - check me out!
My PCP's PA thinks that I should only have one shake per day, and is a bit flabbergasted that I get nearly all my liquid from protein shakes. For the most part, even if I include the calories when I count them up, I don't count the calories much when I'm consuming them, I don't worry that they will "make me fat". I doubt the calories from my crystal light, nor the 1.5 of sugar or the 1.5 g of fat in the protein shake will add gobs of fat to my hips.
~Lady Lithia~ 200 lbs lost!
March 9, 2011 - Coccygectomy!
I chased my dreams, and my dreams, they caught me!
Yep. And I think when surgeon's say that they are robbing their patients of a "teachable moment." Because I agree there are shakes that are less beneficial to weight loss (for example, any shake wherein you use one serving of protein, a whole banana and nearly any measure of actual peanut butter...that's no longer a PROTEIN shake folks...it's something...but it ain't protein heavy anymore at that point...).
But rather than deem all shakes empty calories because there is the potential to mess them up, I think surgeon's ought to teach their patients (or NUTs rather) about what makes a protein shake work and what can mess it up. I think protein shakes are a good example of how to analyze food overall.
PLUS...and this irks me to no end...I see far too many surgical staff relaying traditional dieting advice that simply doesn't apply to many of us (anyone been given advice on how not to overeat and thought "I can barely eat!") Shakes work for folks who need calories but lack capacity. It's just getting the right shake in there, in my opinion.
But rather than deem all shakes empty calories because there is the potential to mess them up, I think surgeon's ought to teach their patients (or NUTs rather) about what makes a protein shake work and what can mess it up. I think protein shakes are a good example of how to analyze food overall.
PLUS...and this irks me to no end...I see far too many surgical staff relaying traditional dieting advice that simply doesn't apply to many of us (anyone been given advice on how not to overeat and thought "I can barely eat!") Shakes work for folks who need calories but lack capacity. It's just getting the right shake in there, in my opinion.
RNY Gastric Bypass 1-8-08 350/327/200 (HW/SW/CW). I spend most of my time playing with my food over at Bariatric Foodie - check me out!
Lol...I know this is for me :). I will be better prepared to argue next time I go in there, even though I'm tempted not to go back. I will because I want my labs done.
I didn't argue that day 1. Because I was TICKED that the gang of young sailors (military treatment facility) needed to take my weight and blood pressure had the nerve to ask me for my EKG, implying that I was pre-op. I know I'm no Halle Berry or Jennifer Aniston, but i hardly think I could qualify for WLS now (no offense to any pre-ops) and when he said the "empty calories" thing, I was sort of dumbfounded.
I had lots of comebacks for him in the car on the way home!
Anyway thanks for this. I have my come back ready for my next appointment in 6 months!
I didn't argue that day 1. Because I was TICKED that the gang of young sailors (military treatment facility) needed to take my weight and blood pressure had the nerve to ask me for my EKG, implying that I was pre-op. I know I'm no Halle Berry or Jennifer Aniston, but i hardly think I could qualify for WLS now (no offense to any pre-ops) and when he said the "empty calories" thing, I was sort of dumbfounded.
I had lots of comebacks for him in the car on the way home!
Anyway thanks for this. I have my come back ready for my next appointment in 6 months!
I drink 2 protein shakes a day - they are about 145 cals each (unless I add some FF whip) - if I didn't I know I wouldn't reach my protein goal. My NUT was happy I was drinking them and keeping them in such a good caloric range......how can these surgeons and NUTs all be so different in their theories?!?!?!?
i drink a protein shake every morning for breakfast, and toss in blueberries or strawberries and like 5 cups of spinach. it's not empty calories at all!
Follow my vegan transition at www.bariatricvegan.com
HW:288 CW:146.4 GW: 140 RNY: 12/22/11
How can a calorie be "empty?"
A calorie is a measure of something, specifically energy. In the case of food, it is the amount of energy needed raise one kilogram of water 1 degree Celsius, in standard atmospheric conditions.
Foods with equal calories have an equal amount of energy in them, which is the purpose of calculating caloric content in the first place.
A given amount of tomatoes with 100 calories has exactly the same amount of energy in them as a given amount of Twinkies with 100 calories. From a energy-availability standpoint, both are equivalent.
There may be other differences, but both will provide the same amount of energy.
A calorie is a measure of something, specifically energy. In the case of food, it is the amount of energy needed raise one kilogram of water 1 degree Celsius, in standard atmospheric conditions.
Foods with equal calories have an equal amount of energy in them, which is the purpose of calculating caloric content in the first place.
A given amount of tomatoes with 100 calories has exactly the same amount of energy in them as a given amount of Twinkies with 100 calories. From a energy-availability standpoint, both are equivalent.
There may be other differences, but both will provide the same amount of energy.
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