Question:
Protein

Hi everyone, Is there anyone else out there that can't eat a lot of animal protein? I am 17 months out and I am having a really hard time eating chicken, fish, and other animal protein. My Nut keeps telling me to try to eat the above, and when I do, I get very sick and barf.    — FSUMom (posted on January 10, 2011)

January 10, 2011
Can you handle cheese, eggs, or tufu? How about protein bars?
   — Kathleen W.

January 10, 2011
I did have trouble eating animal protein for at least the first year. I had to get my protein using whey powder like body-builders. You can easily get 60/Gms a day this way, which is the suggested amount, but ask your Dr. before starting it. Too much protein is not good either so you need his input as to what amount he thinks you need. I found that keeping a food diary was helpful too, and I was able to gradually add meat, fish, eggs and cheese to my diet and no longer drink the shakes except when I am rushed and don't have the time to fix a meal. I mixed double chocolate whey powder (2 scoops) with a can of Boost High Protein just once a day, and it was amazing how well it affected me. Please check with your Dr. first tho. Good Luck.
   — BeenThere1

January 10, 2011
Non animal = tofu, quinoa, lentils, peanut butter when eaten whith whole wheat toast, soy (edamame, paste, milk), and red beans when served with rice. One of my favorites is Kashi Go Lean cereal (the berry is great and has 12 g) with silk light soy milk. If it is just a no meat thing then yea... eggs, cheese has some but is high calorie and high fat. If sea food is okay, I live for the frozen shrimp cocktail shrimp - no prep, just run under cold water and they are ready. Then there is other fish, scallops, tuna, etc. In general, my Dr. suggests 80 to 100 g protein a day. He also suggests 700 - 1000 cal depending on exercise. She also suggests constantly challenging what you can really eat. I have a VERY sensitive stomach so I have to do this a lot. Try something. If you have a bad reaction, stop eating it immediately. In one week, try a small bite. Esp with animal proteins, as you won't have the needed enzymes. I And OF COURSE supplement with shakes. My fave is Bariatric Advantage - the come in a million flavors - with ice, 1/2 banana for potassium and texture,a 1/2 cup coffe, vitamin water zero, silk light soy milk all in a magic blr Mldml
   — Jeanette Hagar

January 10, 2011
Actually, bean protein is better for you - no fat. I throw garbonzo beans or tuna in my salads. Also, all of the protein in eggs is in the white part - the colesteral is in the yolk so toss the yolk and you'll get all of the protein benefits without the fat. I also make a "soupy" oatmeal and throw in some protein powder to thicken it. Just make sure you get your protein.
   — Muggs

January 10, 2011
You might try Thinkthin bars they run 20 to 10 grams of protien. They are sugar and gluten free. I get them from Amozon.com by the box. I can't drink protein shakes. Also nuts, cheese, beans and eggs. Good luck.
   — dsquire

January 10, 2011
Hi Shelley....I have switched over to Tilapia - it's a nice, light, white, flaky fish with a good deal of protein. It's hard for me to eat beef anymore, but chicken I can do if I make a chicken salad - finely diced chicken breast, finely diced celery and onion to taste, some chopped walnuts or pecans (good fat), and a couple of tablespoons of light mayo and a couple of tablespoons of Greek yogurt or fat-free sour cream... seasoned with a "season" salt or a little garlic salt. I make Tuna Salad the same way, except I add a tablespoon or so of dill pickle relish. For breakfast, I eat one serving of Eggbeaters with 1/2 slice of fat free turkey breast lunchmeat from WalMart dice up fine, some finely diced mushrooms, and 15 grams of Weight Watchers cheese, and 1/2 of a precooked Jimmy Dean Turkey sausage, finely diced. I get lots of protein that way. Then, for either my mid-morning or mid-afternoon meal, I'll have a half-cup serving of Eggbeaters with a few dice mushrooms and the other half of the Jimmy Dean Turkey Sausage diced up and scrambled together, and topped with Pace Mild Chunky Salsa. I also eat fat free or low fat cottage cheese - if I want it savory, I add in a quarter teaspoon of the dry Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix. If I want it jazzy... I eat it with "no-sugar-added" diced peaches or other fruit. I also have a Greek Yogurt snack at night, using Oikos Plain Greek yogurt (VERY high in protein and fairly low in carbs), with a teaspoon of vanilla, 3 packets of Splenda, and 2 tablespoons of Polaner Sugar-Free Strawberry Preserves with Fiber. I also snack on Jack Links TURKEY Jerkey.... it's delicious and has 15 grams of protein for 1 ounce, and it doesn't upset my tummy. Hope this helps!
   — Erica Alikchihoo

January 11, 2011
And DO practice mindfull eating with each protein meal by chewing 30 times, putting utensil down on plate, following the sensation of the swallowing and " landing of the food" in your pouch. Take two slow breaths, registering how that bite felt, before resuming the next bite. This changed my whole relationship to food in general. -- Sharon
   — Sharon Magar

January 11, 2011
I also make smoothies with Protein Isolate and sometimes will add cottage cheese to it for more protein and to make it thicker. I would throw up when I did not chew my food to mush. I've heard that people with the Band continue to throw up, but that may have been several years ago.
   — Betty Todd

January 11, 2011
I'm a big fan of Morningstar Farms products (http://www.morningstarfarms.com/). Even though I can eat animal protein, I like a lot of the MF things plus they quick & easy to make in the microwave. My sister discovered that they're $1 cheaper at Target than at the local grocery stores. I also get them at Walmart. There's a wide variety so every store doesn't carry every product. My favorites are the Garden Veggie Burgers and the California Turk'y Burgers. I'm not a fan of spicy foods, but if you are, there are some good ones.
   — Gail T.

January 11, 2011
Have you followed up with your surgeon? Sometimes you can get a stricture and it will cause almost instant vomiting. Is it certain foods? I had a total gastrectomty so I have no stomach or pouch at all, I have had 6 strictures in 8 months and like I said the food will come right back up. Batiatric Fusion and LaBrada make very good tasting and reasonably priced protein shakes,they are low calorie, low carb and high protein. They are also are very filling. The have very good nutritional value, as I am 98% dependent on these supplements. I hope this works. Good luck!!!
   — dowens67

January 12, 2011
I just had some peanut butter/meat stew and it was good and high in protein. I plan to make it using chicken breast and no sugar peanut butter and brown rice instead of white.
   — tfqh99

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