Question:
I always read about protein this and that, but I'm still confused with what it does

and why we need it, does it help us to lose weight faster, how many grams are required daily? why is it so important, I am about 2 1/2 months post op and losing weight at a very slow rate, I wonder if this might be my problem.    — Terry A. (posted on January 27, 2004)

January 27, 2004
I am very surprised that your surgeon and/or staff didn't fill you in on this before surgery. Protein is vitally important right now. You need a minimum of 60 grams a day--absolutely a must. Yes, it helps you lose weight faster because your body resorts to using its own fat stores when it is deprived of carbohydrates. Protein in the form of animal products (meat, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs), legumes, and nuts should be your primary source of energy right now. If you are eating carbs instead of protein, your body is using the carbohydrates as fuel--not your body fat. Thus, the reason for avoiding refined carbs and concentrating on eating enough protein for your body's needs.
   — artistmama

January 27, 2004
Are you asking about protein supplements? Or about what protein, once absorbed, does in your body? Look at your finger. Magnify 10X. Again. Again. You get the picture. Protein has build every single cell. Don't wanna starve the lil buggers, do ya? No. Only the fat cells. Feed the muscle/tissue, let the fat wash away with all that good clear water you're drinking, ok?
   — vitalady

January 27, 2004
Protein helps you heal. Protein also helps in the weight loss--if you keep your protein up while you're losing, this helps your body burn fat rather than lose muscle.
   — Cathy S.

January 28, 2004
The others answered why it is important for post-ops to concentrate on protein. As for how many grams a day, the average recommended is 60 but many post-ops go up to 100.
   — Cindy R.

January 28, 2004
One other thing, if you don't get enough protein, your body resorts to breaking down your muscles in order to get the protein it needs for other things. Protein is required in order to make EVERY enzyme your body needs and uses. What a lot of people don't realize is that these enzymes do not last very long. They get broken down and remade all the time, and each amino acid gets used where it is most needed at the time. So, if your body doesn't have access to the amino acids it needs at the time, it will resort to breaking down muscle tissue in order to get the amino acids it needs. Things like hair and nails are constantly growing, and skin is always being sluffed off, so the need for a certain amount of protein every day is great. As well, your body would rather use muscle as energy than fat since the amount of energy stored as fat is greater. Our bodies prefer to keep the highest energy sources and use the lower. That is one of the reasons many of us become so large in the first place.
   — Linn D.

January 28, 2004
I suppose I should have qualified some of my statements. As most of us know, amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. By the way, I have an M.S. in biochemistry.
   — Linn D.