Question:
Why do we eat protein first.
I have read some questions about you should eat your protein first. Why is that. Some people say stay away from the protein drinks and some say to drink them. I'm confused ast to what to do. Thanks for your help — DonnaRo (posted on September 11, 2009)
September 11, 2009
Hi, Usually your DR & NUT give you your required diet plan to follow
before & after your surg. Per mine I need to get 70 grams of protein
aday. He would preferr it in food. But I'm not able to eat well yet. So I
have to use the protein drinks twice aday and foods. But I see all
different kinds of DR requests on here. So, I would do as your DR & NUT
have told you to do. Wish you well & good health!
— tootsie52
September 11, 2009
My nutritionist says that a meal should consist of a protein, perhaps a
little bit of carbs and then a fruit or veggie. She says to eat the
protein first in case you get full before you finish the entire meal. That
way you are getting in your protein. My doctor says that you should get
most of your protein from foods, if you are finding that you can't get it
all in, then add in protein drinks. I do remember him saying though to be
careful not to DRINK all your calories vs. eating food.
— Libby R.
September 11, 2009
Protein is needed for to maintain muscle and for all bodily functions. I
still have trouble with most meats (6 months post surgery). I usually
supplement my protein intake with two 15g protein bars each day one as a
mid morning snack and one as an afternoon snack. I do eat dairy to get more
protein in. I find I am getting my 60 grams per day by doing this. I also
do the protein fruit drinks from time to time but I prefer the bars.
Hope this is of some help.
Bob
— rkurquhart
September 11, 2009
Protein is essential in healing. As we heal from this particular surgery,
with an intake of food of just 2 ounces or so, a week after, it is
important to get proteins thru outside sources so our bodies won't take the
protein from our muscles.(remeber the heart and brain are muscles) Protein
helps our bodies on the cellular levels and aids in growth (and healing).
The reason many say not to drink the protein shakes is that muscle builders
drink them, but there are differnet kinds of shakes and powders and you
need to read which one is best for our particular needs.I can't think of
the body builders one. I use whey or soy protein powders and I sometimes
eat a protein bar to get my proteins in. I am 15 months out, hit goal
weight in 10 months and have been maintaining since..I actually lost more
weight than i wanted to, but after a few weeks found the right level of
consumption for me to maintain with my workout schedules. I hope you find
what you are looking for, but my best advice is to sit down with your
nutritionist and ask these questions. Best of luck to you! hugs, kim
— gpcmist
September 11, 2009
I thought the purpose of protein was to give you the feeling of fullness. I
thought this is achieved thru protein vs any other food.
— Linda R.
September 12, 2009
Basically, reading through the other posts, you have your answer if you put
them all together! First, protein is necessary for healing. Secondly, you
are consuming a lot less calories and food now (and for the rest of your
life) - so the most important thing for your body is the protein - if you
don't get in enough protein, you start losing muscle (as another person
stated, our brain and heart are made up of muscle as well!). That is why a
lot of doctors do body composition checks periodically after surgery to be
sure you aren't losing muscle. Not to say that veggies and fruits aren't
important also! But, you need to get in your protein first! Then, after
you eat or drink that, have a little bit of veggies and/or fruits - limit
white things (potatotes, breads, pasta, rice) as these bulk up in your
stomach and fill it up - plus as carbs such as these enter your body, they
immediately turn to sugar - sugar stimulates the "hunger"
mechanism causing you to want to eat more (even if you are not hungry). As
for protein shakes - this is something each surgeon has a different take
on. My surgeon says that there is no way we can get in enough nutrition
without having a protein shake once a day for the rest of our lives. Other
doctors prefer you try to get all your nutrition in through food.
Although, personally, with what I am able to take in at 1 year out, I don't
see how I can get in all the foods needed to meet those requirements. Talk
to your doctor and NUT! See what they say. And congrats on the surgery!
Best of luck on your journey.
— Wendy M.
September 12, 2009
Protein Drinks are made for Body Builders so they can bulk up. Not for
weight loss. I have always said this. Everyone I know that has done protein
drinks have gained all or most of there weight back within a few years. I
have never done them and I am 5 1/2 years post op. I haven't gained an oz
since I lost all my weight and I never touched a protein shake after trying
them once.
— Kimberly Ten Kate
September 12, 2009
I find eating 70g of protein a day is a little had and im 5 weeks post-op.
I buy Protein bulltes from GNC they are 43G of protein each. What I do I
divide the drink in half.I drink half in the am and the other half in the
pm.Your Doctor wants you to get the pretein through eating ,but if you cant
yet they help.
— Andy Lafferty
September 12, 2009
You've already been given good answers as to why we eat protein first but
I'll just add in that you can't take it in pill form so it's a nutrient
that comes only from food sources, shakes and other prepared foods that
protein has been added in to. If you are having a restrictive type WLS like
a gastric bypass you have such a small pouch capacity it is difficult to
eat enough food to get the amount of necessary protein from that food(s),
especially early out. Post op you will be on a progressive diet; liquids to
purees, mushies to solids, etc. So in order to maintain health and help in
the healing process you most likely will need to drink protein shakes to
meet your nutritional needs. A lot of WLS patients continue with protein
shakes, protein bars, etc. forever simply as part of their eating plan to
insure they get the required protein and to help maintain their weight.
Used as a meal replacement once a day, not as their entire diet. But after
healing, if you can eat enough food & get in adequate grams of protein
each day then you certainly don't have to drink shakes. Just know that for
some of us it takes quite a few tries to find a protein shake we like the
taste of and that your tastebuds change for a lot of folks as they progress
farther out.
— Arkin10
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