Question:
Glass of Milk?

My question is, at 4 weeks out, can I safely drink a glass of skim milk? I know popsicles, protein shakes, and other flavored sugar free beverages count as water intake for me, but would milk count as water in take? I love 2% milk, so that is what I really crave, I used to drink like half a gallon of milk a day. I just want to have a nice glass again!    — Ginigrrl (posted on June 11, 2004)


June 11, 2004
A couple of things: After a bypass you become VERY lactose intolerant. We have decreased amounts of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose) as adults. after bypass we lterally bypass that part of the gut that breaks down lactose. Unfortunatly for us the bacteria that live in our colon DON'T lack this enzyme and use it to produce copious amounts of gas and if that wasn't bad enough the undigested lactose works as an osmotic laxative giving you the most pleasant crampy explosive diarrhea experience! If you don't beleive me go on and have that glass of milk! I learned my lesson with one scoop of ice cream DUMPING and EXPLOSIVE DIARRHEA! Oyyy! .....and 8 cups of skim milk=720 calories. I've been drinking soy milk since.
   — DrQ

June 11, 2004
Obviously everyone is different. I am 5 months out and am NOT lactose intolerant. I have been drinking skim milk with my protien powder since I was a week out. I also use half an half in my coffee every morning. Because you don't know how you will react, my suggestion is to try maybe 4 oz and stay home. That way if anything unpleasant happens you will be able to get through it at home. You will not know until you try. I know I love a glass of milk with an Archway sugar free Rocky Road cookie from time to time. :) Good luck
   — Angela T.

June 11, 2004
Oooops.....Sorry No, I don't think milk can be counted as water intake.
   — Angela T.

June 11, 2004
As you can see, everyone has their own opinion. Here's mine....:-) If you are not lactose intolerant, drink skim milk as much as you want. It is 98% water and a healthy alternative to sodas, flavored drinks, etc. NOT ALL PEOPLE ARE LACTOSE INTOLERANT AFTER WLS. I do not have a gallbladder, so milk and some products are tough to take. I can eat cheese, yogurt and things that have milk in them. There is no one way to go on this issue. Everyone must find what works for them. Also, over time, your dietary contraints will lossen up and you will be a bit more tolerant of different foods. Good Luck!
   — Christina J

June 11, 2004
You don't necessarily become lactose intolerant after RNY. That only happens to some poeple. Thank goodness I'm not one of them either. Milk does count toward your liquid intake for the day. However, MY personal guideliens from my surgeon indicate that SKIM is the type of milk to be used, not any of the other percents. You could try Skim Fit Milk, which is a milk that is Skim but fortified in a ways as to make it taste like 2%. It's really good. I crave a nice glass of milk now and again too. SO, I know what you mean. Please do be aware that milk adds calories and fat and sugar to your daily intake. You've got to keep an eye on that and try to MINIMIZE all caloried beverages for long term success. Enjoy your milk!
   — LMCLILLY

June 11, 2004
I have drank 3 glasses of milk since I came home from hospital.skim milk. Nutrionalist says..great..good source of protein and she said YES it does count towards my fluids..so see each place is different..
   — Kathy S.

June 11, 2004
No problems with lactose intollerence here either. My surgeon has us drinking milk in shakes days after surgery, no problems for me, she encourages us to drink milk. And I still do, it's a great way for me to get my protein in when I don't feel like eating.
   — Patricia T.

June 12, 2004
have you tried Hood Carb Coutdown, it has way less carbs and about 1 1/2 times the protien...sharon
   — Sharon L.

June 12, 2004
if you're a 2% girl you can "SIP" your milk, after 4 weeks I doubt if you can drink it. If you manage to ingest more than 1/4 of milk you're good. Milk covers quite a few nutrients - calcium, small amount of protein and since it does have water it counts - took me a week to drink a "nice glass" again.
   — Anna M.

June 12, 2004
My nutrionist encourages skim milk, but not to count towards your water intake and only to use as a protein supplement. She suggests adding some kind of protein powder in it to up the protein level. You should note that skim milk has calories and liquids with calories are one of the things that is discouraged when having an RNY. I would make sure to count it as a meal/protein supplement though and not just drink it or substitute it as water. You are four weeks out and right now the little you are eating, the few calories you are getting from skim milk probably won't cause much harm, but when you are able to eat more it could be quite different.
   — Lisa N M.

June 12, 2004
I love milk also, but have drank only skim milk for almost 30 years. My dietician has me add 1/3 cup of dry, non-fat milk to each 8 oz. glass of milk I drink to add to my protein. By adding the powdered milk to the skim milk, my protein goes from 8g for just the skim milk, to 16g with the added dry milk (non-fat) powder. I also add 1/3 c dry, non-fat milk to my yogurt. I buy the "lite" yogurt from Walmart (Great Value brand). It has only 80 calories and has 7 g protein which increases to 15 g protein when adding the powdered milk.
   — Katherine F.

June 20, 2004
Try Soy Slender by Westsoy. It's SF soy milk and comes in vanilla, chocolate and cappucino. Very low carb and very good. I use it to make my SF whey protein shakes too. Diane N www.WeightlossSurgery.ws
   — DianeN




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