Question:
Protein and Amount of Food Intake is very different from all I have read.

I have been visiting here alot lately and reading about different product suggestions on protein and what you consume daily and most of everything I had read indicates that lots and lots are getting a whole lot more protein than Dr. Terry's patients. My friend is 5'11" he is not allowed to have any more than 47 grams of protein a day and 3 meals only with no in between at all. I am 5'1" and I am only allowed 32 grams of protein a day. 3 meals and nothing in between. I go to bed every night with that empty feeling and wake up after not eating for 12 hours or more shaking. We are supposed to spread our meals out to at least 5 hours apart and supplement the empty feeling with water. How come our diet is so different as a lot of the time I feel I am not getting enough of anything. Please can someone help me with this. Debbie    — Debbie S. (posted on August 26, 2001)

August 26, 2001
I am the one who posted this question and read your answer Barb. I agree. I had surgery on March 26,2001 Have lost about 100lbs, but am slowing down and have so much more to go. I am not a newbie and that is why I question how much we are supposed to intake. This is my requirement due to my size is what he says. This is a forever thing not just a while. I feel really close to starvation and really like I am on a strict diet. This is not good for the mental games your mind already has in store for you during this period. I am not a young person either and have been down the weight loss rode hundreds of times. I know my RNY will work for me forever as I also lost the top half of my stomach in the procedure as it was damaged. I did not plan for feeling like I was on a diet forever just eating normally but a lot less. Debbie
   — Debbie S.

August 26, 2001
Dear Debbie, I just wanted to let you know that recommended protein intake for women is a MINIMUM of 50 grams, but preferrably 75-100 grms of protien. For men, it is a minimum of 63 grms of protien but preferrably 100-150. If I were you, I'd up my protien intake. It's very dangerous do have a diet low in protien (especially when you're not eating anything else). Definately increase it...Good Luck and congratulations on your weight loss.
   — [Anonymous]

August 26, 2001
Surgeons are physicians; they are not dieticians, they are not specifically trained or educated in nutrition. Some doctors do believe that they can handle "it all." For myself, I don't want to put something this important in the hands of someone who doesn't KNOW what is needed. I do my own research or consult with a trained expert in the area. I wouldn't trust my dermatologist to know what my nutritional requirements are; I don't trust my surgeon either. Just my opinion.
   — BethVBG

August 26, 2001
Sometimes the programs are not written by people who must live with the results. I am also 5'1", and I take 120-180g of protein supplement a day (plus whatever I get in food). I use it to maintain my weight (about 110#), to control cravings and to keep my levels up. While our doc has us on 1 oz meals about 6X a day until goal wt is reached, I've stayed with the 4 small meals (I'm 7 yrs out), as it keeps me from being ravenous and WAY too empty at meal time. When I get silly and wait too long, I eat too fast or too much and am miserable. If I can make the hunger match up with the timing, mind & body work together a LOT better for me. I was a volume eater, so putting me back in that position is NO help to me. The basic guildeline for protein is .8g per kg of body wt. So, if you weigh 150, the base is about 56g. For a normie, who is not losing muscle daily and who can absorb 100% of what they eat. For someone in muscle wasting, 1.2g is the recommendation, so for the 150, 83g, NET (after no digestion occurs and malabsorption). Many people just use the 1g per 1#, as it's much easier math. I've been at this for awhile, so I'm not taking 110g, when I know I like me better on 180g. As for your freind, the man, I cannot imagine a MAN doing less than 90-120g of supplement a day. They lose the weight SO fast that you gotta know it's not all fatty tissue, but muscle & bones flying out the window, too. My husband was DONE in 4 months, start to finish. Couldn't lift a sack of dog food. That's one of the ways we learned!
   — vitalady