Question:
Is is possible???
Could someone please share their thoughts on protein?? I've found since I've had surgery, I can't stomach meat of any kind, ugh! And have never drank any of the protein drinks (thankfully I'm not losing any hair, yet) Oh, I forgot to mention I'm 5 1/2 months preop and down 82 lbs. Do you think protein can actually help you lose more weight? I've been plateauing for the last two weeks and I'm trying to find a way to 'kick start' the weight loss again. Thanks for your help!!! :) — katia H. (posted on August 22, 2003)
August 22, 2003
I am 5 months out on August 26 and have lost 82 lbs.. when my weight loss
has stalled I eat a combo of whipped cream cheese mixed with cottage cheese
and strawberries and add splender ..its like a dessert and all that protein
always makes me start loosing again..also some pritein with fat like baccon
added will boost it ..go figure ..its like the Adkins diet . Then I tire of
that and want carbs and I eat some not alot for a while and do the high
protein again when I need a jump start again .. Hope that helps .. Ruthie
in SC
— ruthie
August 22, 2003
You can get enough protein without supplements but it's hard. The protein
is not only important to help you lose the weight but it's vital for
keeping you healthy. If you don't get enough you will lose muscle mass
rapidly and your heart is a muscle. So, make sure you are getting at least
50g of protein a day - more if possible. Cottage cheese is a good high
protein food and low in calories. I have it for lunch almost every day.
— Patty_Butler
August 22, 2003
I have started nearly each day with moz cheese sticks for breakfast - since
about six months out I've had 3 to 4 ounces at a meal and that gives me 28
grams of protein just to start the day. I haven't found any shakes that I
can stomach. I do like the detour/uturn and one way bars for additional
protein when I'm out and about or having a low protein day. However I
don't "rave" over them like many do. But they work and they're
not <i>bad</i>. I agree with other posters about eating
cottage cheese or other cheeses for protein, eggs if you can eat them (I
had trouble with them for quite a while) and any meats you do tolerate
(canned corned beef often settles well and is in fine pieces - I love it
with shredded steamed cabbage). Good luck and wow - 82 pound!
— [Deactivated Member]
August 22, 2003
Your question said pre-op, do you mean post op. How is your lab work. If
you do not get enough protein in you are setting yourself up for serious
health problems. You don't say what you are eating. We can't help without
the details.
— faybay
August 22, 2003
If I am interpreting your question right you are not eating any protein.
If this is true you are setting yourself up to get very sick. The 82 lbs
you have lost is likey mostly muscle, which is not good. You MUST find
some protein of some sort you can tolerate. Even if it means choking it
down. Go buy some unflavored whey protein powder and put it incottage
cheese, mashed potatoes, jello anything. At least you will get some
protein in. If you are living on carbs, and fruits and veggies are carbs
but decent carbs, then you will not likely keep the weight off long term as
carbs is what brought us to surgery in the first place. You need to be
having some blood work down to see what is all going on before things get
serious.
<p>Have you tried shrimp, fish, crab? 3 ounces of boiled/steamed
shrimp is lots of great protein. I eat tons of shrimp. BBQ shredded
turkey by The Turkey Store tastes good and has 10 grams of protein in a 1/4
cup and low fat and carbs. String cheese I used a lot the first 5 months
and even lately I have been eating it more again. 8 grams of protein per
stick. Carb Solutions high protein bars taste pretty good and a whole bar
is 23g of protein. Even half a bar would be some good protein. You need
to call your surgeon and let them know you have not been eating protein so
they can check things out and help you find somethings to eat that have
protein. At 5-1/2 months ideally you should be at the 60 grams per day but
right now even 30 would be an improvement. Sorry to take such a hard
stance here but I am really worried about your health. Please get some
help!
— zoedogcbr
August 23, 2003
No Thinking About It.....Protein does help in the weight loss!
Good Luck! Lap RNY...2/11/03....-90 pounds...250/160/140
— Hazel S.
August 23, 2003
ok this is going to be controversial, but hey I've been there before. The
protein is important for weight loss, especially since it is necessary to
LIVE. protein feeds your lean muscle mass, it is needed to build every
organ in your body. I am not a big proponent of Protein shakes but you
might need it to protect your health if you are not getting any other
protein in. I really like the designer whey protein powder, I prefer
vanilla, mix it with milk for extra protein, calcium etc, and a couple
pieces of frozen fruit. I keep frozen bananas in the freezed just for this
purpose. I also buy bags of frozen strawberries, peaches, raspberries,
blueberries etc. strawberries with chocolate protein powder are mmmm mmmmm
good. I don't have this every day, only if I am not getting in my whole
amount of protien to nourish my body (56 gms a day as calculated by my
dietician) I try real hard to get it from food. I had hernia repai surgery
last week and had no appetite and dropped 7 # in less than a week and was
concerned it was too much too fast for my place in my journy (11 months
Out) Any ways I prefer the designer whey because it is smooth, not too
sweet or strong tasting. We all have our preferences. Good luck! & eat
to live!
— **willow**
August 23, 2003
Kick starting weight loss is not the priority here; making sure you're
getting adequate protein is. First, ask your doctor to run some lab tests
to see what your protein levels are. Second, review what non-meat proteins
you are eating, or can eat (see excellent suggestions below), and figure
out how to get AT LEAST 60 grams of protein in per day from them. I'd
have to respectfully disagree with the poster who concluded, based on your
question, that you've mostly lost muscle mass so far (there's no way to
know that from your question), but I think that's a considerable risk and
that it's fair to say you are at serious risk if you don't get enough
protein into your diet, pronto. I don't much care for meat foods, either,
but there are plenty of other protein food sources to consider (eggs,
cheese, soy, beans, fish), as well as protein shakes (time to consider that
option as well). There's little point in getting thin if you wreck your
health in the meantime, and people who don't get in enough protein have
done that, quite handily, following this surgery. So please get going on
the protein deficiency question. :-) And, as far as a plateau goes, more
info is needed. What are you eating, how much, how often, and what's your
exercise program, etc. Most folks will lose a lot no matter what they do
during the first 5-6 months, but really learning to work your tool for
long-term success requires a lot more. Good luck!
— Suzy C.
August 23, 2003
I, too, am not crazy about meat, but I eat some type of fish almost every
day. Salmon is one of the best things we can put in our mouths..has so
much protein. There are the individual packages of tuna which are great
for work. Mixing cottage cheese w/ fruit or tomatoes and cucumbers is
another great meal. I do this and add 1 oz. of tuna and 1 tsp. of Thousand
Island dressing, and that's a very satisfying meal. 1/2--cup of cottage
cheese is 14 g of protein. Though I'm not a proponent of fast food
restaurants, Taco Bell's refried beans w/ melted cheese is 180 calories and
10g protein, and is one way to get the protein. There are many many
sources of good protein, you just need to research them out. Here's a
great website address which may help you learn the nutrition value in many
foods: www.caloriesperhour.com. As other posters have said, you absolutely
must get going w/ at least 60 g. of protein per day. All the best.
— Kimberly L. A.
August 23, 2003
Suzy, My comment that she has mostly lost muscle mass was based on the
assumption she is not eating any protein. If she is getting protein from
other sources then the comment would apply a whole lot less. Whether we
are WLS patients or not, protein is something that our bodies must get
every day. If it's not provided the only place our bodies can get it from
is our protein stores. There is no way to know what portion of the weight
loss is muscle mass and which is fat, but certainly a significant amount of
muscle would be in jeopardy compared to someone who is getting in some
protein. My statement was probably too black and white but I, like you,
are concerned about her health at this point. Protein is critical to a WLS
patient. Regardless of how much she has lost is related to muscle mass, it
is important to improve the situation now. I hope all turns out okay.
— zoedogcbr
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