Protein

good morning everyone!  How much protein should I be aiming for?  I am three weeks post RNY. I do not feel I am eating enough protein with the restrictions I have. My diet practically consists of breakfast 1 egg, lunch 1/4 cup tuna, and dinner 1/4 c potatoes. I'm very limited at this phase. I don't think I'm getting enough protein. Next week I can increase to 1/2 cup. I am afraid I'm not getting in enough nutrition?

You could have an egg or tuna for dinner instead of the potatoes.  Many people aim for 80 grams of protein per day but it takes time after surgery to be able to eat that much.  That is why so many get their protein early out by supplementing with protein shakes.

60 grams per day is the general guideline, but it is likely that you won't be able to get there quite yet. However, you should be drinking protein shakes to supplement until you can eat more food, and ditch the potatoes. They are doing nothing for you. I know some people go without protein shakes, and I'll let them advise you on that.  It is not a path I would recommend. If your protein is too low, you body will take it from your muscles and you will lose a lot more hair. That is not something I would risk. At your point, I think was happy to get 45 to 50 grams of protein a day. It too****il about week six before I was consistently getting 60 grams a day. 

What does your dietitian recommend? Mine said your daily protein need in grams is your weight times 0.3.

My dietician told me not to worry about protein at this time, just to worry about getting in fluids. However this concerns me because my thick hair is already starting to thin. 

Are you not drinking any protein shakes to help add protein to your diet?  My Nut wanted us to aim for 70 grams of protein from the start but early out that is VERY hard.  If I at least got down 1 shake though that was 30 grams towards my 70!  Also, I know the potatoes are probably on your plan at this stage in the game but if you could pick things that have protein instead that would help you out some and would keep those lovely carbs out! Good Luck!!

Melissa

Ah, gotcha. I hate to tell you, but I never had any problem getting my protein in, usually over 100g a day, but I still lost a LOT of hair. I lost 80 lbs pre-op, and my hair started falling out even before surgery.

My doc told me that hair falls out.  It will come back.  I kept saying, but I'm getting in all of the protein and he kept saying it will come back.  Really it's a small price to pay for how great I feel

Agreed! I'm actually pretty happy about it -- it doesn't tangle like it used to, and it's much more manageable now, haha.

I was told the same thing and Im 17 day post op