Question:
Protein from food sources only: Alternatives to shakes/bars, etc.?
I am 3 months post-op Lap RNY, down 51 lbs. My doctor wants me to get all of my protein from food sources only, which means no protein shakes, protein bars, powders, liquids, or whatnot. This is fine with me because I have tried many different kinds of protein supplements and they taste SO awful to me! yuck, yuck, yuck. I have developed a milk allergy since my operation, but I have been getting by on some cheeses, a few meat products, beans, and soy or eggs very rarely. What else can I eat to get enough protein in my diet? I am still pretty early out and on about 3oz. of food per meal. I would drink milk all day if I could, but now it just makes me vomit. :( When I get the munchies I snack on jerky, nuts, and cheese. But I'm already getting tired of these things. My weight loss has slowed significantly in the last month, and I'm sure it's because I'm not eating enough or getting enough protein. Any suggestions? Are there recipes out there to make my limited food choices more appealing? Or is there anything else I can add to my diet to help me along? Remember... NO protein supplements / drinks / bars / powders, etc. I cannot stand them and doctor says No! Thanks in advance for your help and support. — maurer_power (posted on January 22, 2003)
January 22, 2003
sorry, i don't have an answer, just a question: why is he so adamant
against protein supplements?
kate
www.geocities.com/katebme2002
— jkb
January 22, 2003
I highly recommend Victoria Bowen's cookbook for gastric bypass patients. I
recently got mine after ordering it online. Good information for post-ops
on various issues and some yummy recipes! I tried one of the recipes the
other night and my hubby and I were pleased with the results! And he's not
even post-WLS! I can't handle protein shakes either but I do have a protein
bar each day -- Balance Gold. They may have more sugar (ranging from 11g to
13g) than some post-ops like but I do great with them. I've found they not
only help me get my protein but they substitute as my chocolate fix.
Congrats on your success so far :) - Anna LAP RNY 7/3/02 -106lbs.
— Anna L.
January 22, 2003
I would never ever ever tell anyone to go against their doctors advice, but
I will tell you why I like protien supplements: It takes some of the worry
out of this way of life. My experience with protien supplements has been
that they help me be less hungry between meals, I always know that I have a
minimum of nutrition, and so many really successful posties use them. The
more you can nourish yourself now, the longer your body will take to adapt
to its new configuration. Your intestines will become more complex over
time to absorb as much as possible, and that change seems to come more
slowly to those of us who use protien supplements. Your doctor is a
professional, but many doctors demand the use of supplements so it is
something to really think about before ruling it out. Good Luck to you.
— Cara F.
January 22, 2003
I had an interesting conversation with Vitalady.com this past week in which
we discussed just how much protein we absorb from food. She said that one
doctor told her it was closer to 30 percent. If that is true, then I can
understand the need to supplement, otherwise we would never get in enough
protein consistently, especially in the early post-op stages where you just
cannot eat enough. If your doctor says no supplements, and you cannot eat
a sufficient amount of protein yet, then I would suggest that you find a
supplement that you can live with. There are lots of ways to doctor up
shakes with fresh fruit and water, not milk. Also there are some protein
drinks that look like Koolaid if you can't handle the thicker shakes. I
know this goes against what the doc has ordered, but I have found that
often times, the doc does not know best.
— Cindy R.
January 22, 2003
Liz, I don't use shakes, I have never have. My dtr believes we should eat
our protein. I din't have this surgery to be abnormal or drink shakes for
the rest of my life! I am 5 mos out and I get about 80-120g of
protein...here are some suggestions: 93% lean burger patty w/ cheese (40g
of protein), 1 med chicken breast (26.6g of protein), Lg Shrimp (2 grams
per Shrimp), Deli Turkey (4oz, 26 gram of protein), 1 string cheese (8g of
protein), etc...email me if you have any questions. Heather (Open RNY
8/15/02 - 305/218/150)
— heathercross
January 22, 2003
One dish I always keep around is lasagne with no noodles. I put spaghetti
sauce in the bottom of a casserole dish, I mix ricotta and mozarella
cheeses together with an egg and some spices and parmesan. I layer this on
top of the sauce, then cover with sauce, more mozarella and parmesan and
bake at 350 for about a half hour or until the top is golden. I let it sit
for a few minutes, then cut it into 1/2 cup portions and put it in gladware
containers in the freezer. 1 serving has a good amount of protein and is
fairly low in fat and very filling. I've also found it to be better for Mr.
Pouchy!
— JoAnn B.
January 22, 2003
Not all protein is created equal. You can only use complete protein
chains. To make a complete protein chain you need the right proportion of
the 14 amino acids you body cannot produce. You body will try and make as
many complete protein chains as it can from the available amino acids..
excess amino acids are wasted.
<p>What all this comes down to is how much usable protein is
available in any given food. Forinstance rice has a high concentration of
the first 7 amino acids while beans have a high concentration of the other
amino acids (not sure what the exact proportions etc...). When consumed
together you r body will combine the aminos to make a chain. Even in high
protein foods such as eggs, milk, meat, and nuts there tends to be higher
concentration of a few amino's and a shortage of another(s). Forinstance
meat yields about 65-70% usable protien so if you eat 100 grams of steak
you'll only be getting about 60-70 grams of protien. Eggs have the highest
concentration of usable protein about 90-95% so 100 grams of eggs will net
you about 90-95 grams of protein. Milk has about 85-90% usable protein and
I'm not sure the amount of usable protein in nuts. Think about it... eggs
and milk have the task of producing/nourishing another animal during the
most formative time of it's life and thus will yield the most complete
protein per ounce.
<p>Now couple this with the fact that the bypass will malabsorb a
futher percentage of the protein you take in. With the protein suppliments
they will have very nearly 100% usable protein since the manufacturers can
more or less control the proportions of amino acids. However if you don't
want do protein suppliments then I'd suggest you try to get your protein
from eggs/milk whenever possible.
<p>Take Care, Be Well, and Be Happy!
— John T.
January 22, 2003
i would get some neutral portien powder like egg white powder and add it to
your foods to boost the protein intake. or soy (yuck) that is tastelss in
oatmeal or soup. or bake some egg protein in a meat loaf etc. good luck!i
know your docotr wants oyu to get all of your protien from your food but my
doctor would like me to diet and exercise to lose weight, its not
happening!!!!!!
— janetc00
January 23, 2003
Non-fat dry milk powder is also a good source of protein that you can add
to foods.
— Michele C.
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