Question:
HOW CAN YOU GET ENOUGH PROTEIN IN ONE DAY

I HAVE A VERY HARD TIME GETTING ALL MY PROTEIN IN IN ONE DAY DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY ANSWERS THAT WILL HELP? THANKS A BUNCH    — amy G. (posted on June 20, 2004)

June 20, 2004
It depends on how far post op you are. There are some really great portein drinks out there. Check out the web site for Prodiet, they have flavored drinks ie, grape, fruit punch, pink lemonade, orange that are very good! They have about 15g of protein per 6 to 8 oz. If you are on solid foods try turkey breast lunch meat, 5g per slice. Low fat string cheese is also good. Try Tuna with a boiled egg. 3 oz of tuna and an egg are about 21g of protein. You just have to make sure you eat your protein before any other food and to get a good protein drink.
   — mary M.

June 20, 2004
Almost everyone has problems getting all their protein in during the initial stages after surgery, but by 6 mos. you should be getting it in easily. In addition to the protein supplements, try low-fat cheeses, nuts, beef jerky, shellfish, chicken, beef, cottage cheese. The list is endless.
   — Cathy S.

June 20, 2004
Amy...I have had trouble getting all my protein in from the beginning. I'm 5 months post op now. I have tried the protein drink powder and the bars, but they cause me to feel so bloated that I can't get down any more than a couple of drinks or bites of the bars. I contacted my dietician and she told me to add 1/3 cup dry, non-fat milk to 8 oz skim milk and 1/3 cup dry, non-fat milk to my lite yogurt. This gives me 16 oz protein for the milk and 15 oz for the yogurt by adding the powdered milk. Then I have 2 oz of chicken or turkey for lunch and for supper and usually one more yogurt or milk after supper. The morning is yogurt or milk for breakfast, yogurt or milk for mid morning, chicken or turkey for lunch and supper and one more yogurt or milk for evening snack. This generally gives me about 77 g protein per day. But I had to work up to this amount. It took probably close to 4 months post op to get in that amount and some days I still can't do it. Hope this helps...good luck and God bless.
   — Katherine F.

June 20, 2004
Hi! I make sure I get my protien in first...like eggs, beans, cheese for bfast. I also eat lots of salmon, cottage cheese, etc. Then I add liquid protien to my water. GNC makes a punch flavor. I add 3 table spoons with splenda for 18 grams of protien per serving. I get my water and protien in that way! I'm 8 weeks out and this is really working well for me now...but it took a while to get here. Good luck, Rachel
   — Rachelq

June 21, 2004
I use Champion Pure Whey Stack Chocolate as my primary protein source. I have been able to get in my 3 shakes a day for about 90 grams of protein since I went on full liquids at 7 days post-op. I use other protein powders as well and I always mix with water to avoid any sugars from milk. I do eat protein rich foods, but don't count the grams from regular food since I don't know how well I am absorbing it. The whey stack is predigested and chances are I am absorbing a lot of it. I feel good from this part of my regimen and will feel great when I have my mineral deficiencies dealt with (another whole story in itself and evidently existed pre-surgery). I get my protein from vitalady.com, but there are many resources out there for it. Feel free to email me if you would like additional information. Sandra
   — Arizona_Sun

June 21, 2004
Amy, from your profile, it looks like you are about 9 months out. At this point, you should be easily able to get your protein in with just regular food if you are following the "protein first" rule. You don't say how much protein you are supposed to get a day, but I assume it's in the 60 to 80 grams a day range. An ounce of cheese or meat, or one egg equals about 7 grams of protein. So, if you had two ounces of deli meat with an ounce of cheese for breakfast (21 grams), 1/4 cup nuts or 2 tablesppons of peanut butter for a snack (another 14 grams, total = 35 grams), 3 ounces of chicken or tuna on tossed greens for lunch (another 21 grams, daily total = 56 grams), 1/2 cup of yogurt or an ounce of jerky for a snack (another 7 grams for a daily total of 63), and 3 ounces of meat or fish for dinner, with veggies (another 21 grams, for a daily total of 84). That gets you above your target, and I haven't counted any incidental protein you might get from veggies or whole grains you'll have with your lunch and dinner. If you're not getting enough protein in at this point, then you need to reassess what you eat. There are either too many carbohydrates and fat, or just not enough food. If you're really stuck, maybe a visit to a registered dietitian would help. Protein is very important for the rest of your life, so it's good that you're paying attention to it. Best wishes.
   — Vespa R.

June 21, 2004
As Vespa said, by 9 months post-op, you should be eating enough to get in your daily protein amounts. If you can't eat that much or perhaps you are a vegetarian, try supplementing with the varied amounts of protein shakes and bars that are out there. Remember, your system cannot absorb more than 35 grams of protein at one time. Something I used as an early post-op when I could not stomach the shakes or eat enough was the Isopure zero carb drinks, found at GNC, Vitamin Shoppes etc. 20 oz glass bottles with koolaid like flavors with 40 grams of protein in them. I would pour over ice, cut in half with water and sip all day long. Grape Frost was my fav. I still buy them on occasion but at 2 years 5 months, I never have a problem eating enough!
   — Cindy R.

June 27, 2004
Hi. My surgery is on July 14. However, I have gotten all of my protein together in readiness, and have had all of them. I have found that with the Champion Pure Whey Stack Chocolate, I mix one scoop into 3 ozs of water. If you like double-chocolate ice cream, or double double choc anything, you will love this. It is really really good, and you are getting in a full serving of protein (23g) with just 3 little ozs of water. But, you gotta love dark chocolaty anything. You have to shake the living hell out of it too. Also, according to Champion, you CAN mix up the Champion Pure Whey Stack Chocolate and freeze it. So, if you freeze the liquid into ice cube trays, it just takes a few cubes to put in a blender and it makes a really lovely treat.
   — SpyderS

June 27, 2004
As prepared as you think you are when you go into this surgery, getting all the recommended protein in the first 1-3 mos was very hard for me. Your mind is playing tricks on your. Your body is going through why did I do this to myself. Head hunger is playing royal games with you. It pays to work yourself into a mindset for the first month at least is that you do it, don't think about it and move on. Establish a routine for yourself, choke it down if you have to and stay on your routine. My surgeon required 4 Carnation Instant Breakfast (No Sugar Added with 1/3 cup of dry milk) per day. I hate milk and I choked those things down and it did get easier.
   — Cathy S.

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