Question:
ONLY protein until 75% of excess weight is lost????
I met with my surgeon the other day and all went well except afterwards when I looked over the post-op diet info he had given me. He wants us to eat absolutely nothing but protein until 75% of the excess weight is lost. This means no vegetables, no fruit, no crackers, nothing. We are not even allowed to drink juice in the recovery period. Nothing but meat, fish, tofu, eggs, and cheese for what will probably be over a year!!! Has anyone else heard of a plan that is this strict? I know we should all eat protein first and lost of it, but I kind of was looking forward to a vegetable or two at some point. The surgery is to be lap RNY, transected, proximal. I'll ask him about this at my next appointment, but just thought I'd check with you folks first. Thanks! — Susan B. (posted on June 13, 2002)
June 13, 2002
Wow, that is strict! My diet is strict as well. No veggies or fruit for
the first month - protein only. For months 2 - 4, I added certain peeled
fruits and certain steamed veggies. I can only eat chicken, sliced turkey
from a deli, fish, cheeses (cottage, string, low-fat cheddar), eggs,
yogurt, peanut butter, tofu, refried beans and some bean soups (and the
limited fruits & veggies I added). NO RED MEAT until the 5th month.
At the 5th month, I am allowed to eat whatever I want as long as it is
within reason. Nothing to drink except plain water for the first YEAR! I
don't know what percentage of weight I am supposed to have lost by the 5th
month but it does sound similar to your surgeon's diet plan. Tomorrow I
will be 6 weeks post op and I have lost 44 pounds.
— Jennifer A.
June 13, 2002
I think he is nuts and that is EXACTLY the kind of thing I mean about a
"diet mentality". Given the mechanics of this surgery, such
severe dietary restrictions are completely uncecessary. I would be willing
to bet, if you went to his support group and talked confidentially to his
other patients that NO ONE follows his dietary recommendations. It
certainly isn't based on any nutritional or dietician recommended program.
But, because he is a doctor, he can get away with 'prescribing' that kind
of BS. Just remember, just because they can cut on humans with a scalpel,
doesn't mean they know everything.
— merri B.
June 13, 2002
This just proves that doctors DO NOT KNOW EVERYTHING! It really surprises
me how people think that what their doc says is the only way. There are
many WLS surgeons that are not 'with it' on the topic of Nutrition. Please
see your nutritionist on this topic. She will tell you that your body will
need a *variety* in your diet to maintain health. Its really good that you
have recognized this 'false info' and are questioning it.
— Cheri M.
June 13, 2002
We had the same diet (see our profile) but couldn't follow for longer than
2 months. But we still eat protein first. I will tell you that the
patients. who really followed all protein had a much better weight loss
than me. In fact, my DH started eating too many carbs (toast) and stopped
losing until he went back on more protein. Just do the best you can and if
you need other than protein, make sure it is veggies and fruit, and beans.
My surgeon who has also had this surgery, knows his stuff. Fay Bayuk
— faybay
June 13, 2002
Your doctor is a quack. Obviously, he wants to put you on a super-strict
diet so HE will have good stats to give to potential patients!!! If you
were capable of sticking to a diet that strict, you wouldn't need WLS in
the first place!
— Terissa R.
June 13, 2002
I do eat mostly protein, with one to two servings of fruit or veggies/day.
No breads, pasta, potatoes, rice, juice, sweets. It seems to work well for
me. HOWEVER, I think your doctor is out of his mind. That is way too
strict. I say do what's best for you. Protein first, protein foremost.
But, other healthy stuff in moderation - your first year is the time to
develop a healthy relationship with food. If you have to diet, you won't
achieve that end. Best Wishes to you!
— PaulaM
June 14, 2002
If you don't want to listen to your DR or feel that there is a better way I
feel that you should look for a new Dr. We all have a choice as to which Dr
we use up to the day we have WLS. Good Luck
— Robert L.
June 14, 2002
You know, that's not healthy for anyone. A doctor should know better than
that. I'd say find another doc. Consequently, if you actually followed
that diet before surgery, you'd probably lose a good deal of weight.
Atkins does work, but most doctors agree it's not nutritionally sound and
not sustainable in the long-term.
— [Deactivated Member]
June 14, 2002
My doctor's plan is exactly the same is your doctor. ONLY PROTEIN until
75% weight loss is acheived. As for all of the posters who answered before
me, and who feel that your doctor is "crazy" or a
"quack" or who feel that the surgery makes such a restrictive
diet unnecessary, that is completely untrue. My research prior to my
surgery led me to Dr. Robert Marema, primarily for the fact that he was the
only doctor I visited who said it in plain English - 'After surgery, your
body cannot take in and absorb enough protein to maintain your musculature.
If you do not eat ONLY PROTEIN, then your body will break down the muscle
in your body - including your heart muscle - and damage can be
irreversible.'
As a result, I have followed my doctor's plan well beyond the 75% weight
loss level - on his advice. I have eaten only protein for 15 months, I
have lost 410 lbs. and I am at 96.5% of goal. I intend to return to a
normalized diet by the end of June. I believe your doctor is strict like
mine, but strict for a reason. I have seen firsthand what following a
different post-operative diet can lead to - I have had three siblings
undergo RNY since my surgery, each of them with a different doctor and a
different diet plan that did not emphasize 100% protein. Although each has
been successful to a point, each has seen their weight loss stop at between
45% - 65% of excess weight because carbs were introduced from the outset.
Good luck.
— Juan C.
June 14, 2002
Hi there, First I wanted to tell you I have the same type of surgeon for
the most part. He is kinda a no carb doctor but he does allow us 15 grams
of carbs a day. It is VERY VERY hard to stick to that since almost
everything you eat has carbs. If you add liquard protien or protien bars to
your diet it helps get the protien in but You do need some carbs in your
diet. I follow his plan for the most part becuase your body does not crave
the carbs it did before the surgery but there are some days I want, need
and will have my carbs. I am 4.5 months post op and I have lost 75lbs so
far. And I guess it all depends on your body and how you do. Carbs for me
can not be eaten during the day It makes me very tired and cranky so I eat
them for my dinner or snack Trust your own body after surgery you will
know. I honestly do not miss the breads and pasta as much as I thought I
would. GOD BLESS.
— swtnsxy0219
June 15, 2002
Susan, I went to a nutritionist that works exclusively for a WLS surgeon.
She advocated a more balanced diet, but one heavy in protein, with some
carbs and fruits/veggies. One of our goals is learning how to eat
normally, something we didn't do when we gained all our weight. Its true
we need more protein than non WLS, but not to the exclusion ofeverything
else. Most of us say to follow our doctors directions, but as you'll see,
there are many posting here that receive different advice than others do
from their docs. I would have a hard time with an all protein diet.
— Cindy R.
June 16, 2002
Thanks to all those who responded! I don't think I will be seeking a new
surgeon. It took me over 5 months to get to see this one for the first
time. Also, I have been laid off from my job and am on COBRA, which has a
limited time frame. I don't want to run out of insurance coverage before I
get all this done!
Another reason I am concerned about the all-protein thing is that I am a
vegetarian. I'll eat eggs and dairy, but no meat or fish. I told the
surgeon this and he kind of looked at me like he knew I wasn't going to
follow the diet, but told me to eat lots of eggs anyway.
He went into great detail about the actual surgery and it does seem to
follow exactly what I have heard on this board. At least that part seems
"kosher" and that is what I am mainly concerned about. I am sure
I can still eat a very protein-heavy diet with shakes, bars, and soy
products and be okay afterwards even if I do sneak an occasional salad.
Thanks!
— Susan B.
June 16, 2002
I think some of the posters were mislead by the "ONLY protein"
statement. Juan, congratulations on your awesome weight loss, but you did
not do it on "only protein". Cheddar cheese has more fat than
protein (gram for gram). Eggs have fat and protein. I think you guys are
encouraged to stick to a high-protein diet, like most of us, and somehow
someone put it in your head that that is the same thing as "only
protein". Try to realign your thinking. You are not as deprived as
"Only Protein" would indicate (which would be impossible, by the
way. Even a skinless turkey breast has some fat in it). In my effort to
get the highest nutrition with the least amount of calories, I am finding
eggs with cheese to be a big part of my diet. I think the posters that
blasted your surgeon's recommendations took your statement literally.
— Karen F.
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