Question:
I'm 11 days post op

I need help with finding things to eat that have good protein. Can I have cheese instead of milk? I have tried milk and it just comes right back up :( I have never been a milk drinker. I'm so scared that bad things are going to happen to me because of my lack of protein. I'm going to be honest I'm so sick of the full liquid diet I can't find enough variety so I have been eating spaghetti O's, mash potatoes, and Cambells chicken noodle soup.Is this Bad?    — Maribelle C. (posted on October 17, 2003)

October 17, 2003
My surgeon said there is no right or wrong answer. Everyone will eat at different stages, and have different results. I've been struggling with protein too. I was worried about getting too many calories to get the 50 g minimum of protein. I think I found the answer though. It's a protein powder you mix with water. It isn't very sweet, has 200 cals and 50 g of protein. Its called Isopure low carb dutch chocolate and it's much cheaper on line. supplementhq charges $24.99 plus $6.95 shippping for a 3 pound tub (21 servings). It's $49.99 at GNC. Good luck
   — Sandy A.

October 17, 2003
I, too, am 11 days post-op. I have graduated to a soft food diet for one of my meals and 2 protein shakes for the other 2 meals. I like Atkins shakes since they are only 2 grams of net carbs and taste pretty good if you get them really cold with ice in a blender. For my meal I have either a scrambled egg, 1/2 cup of cottage cheese, 1/2 cup of refried beans, or 1/2 cup of ricotta cheese. I don't know what your doctor recommends at this stage but that is what I am doing. I have lost 18 pounds of the 108 pounds that I need to lose to be at my goal weight of 155. I am 5'9" tall so that is a good goal weight for me. I hope this helps.
   — tntwildlife77

October 17, 2003
If your surgeon approves, you can have cottage cheese. Also, try some sugar free pudding (instant - not cook kind) and add a couple of scoops of protein powder to it. You can also add non-fat dry milk to pudding to up the protein content. I also ate bean with bacon soup after putting it through the blender. Frankly, anything would be better than spaghetti O's :) You're still early though. My surgeon wasn't as concerned with protein early on as he was with water/fluids. Just be patient. It will get easier.
   — Carolyn M.

October 17, 2003
Try the sugar free fat free pudding, and for good measure, use lactose free skim milk... lots of people have problems with real milk after surgery. Also, try to find a good quality protein shake you like, it can supply all your protein needs...so you can eat, but not stress if you're getting enough. Vitalady.com offers samples you can try for I think 2.99 each....Proscore 100 Chocolate is great in my opinion. If you're still in purees, I would avoid cheese, but you should be able to handle cottage cheese... and that too comes in a lactose reduced form. Diet yogurt offers a few grams of protein, so do scrambled eggs, made kind of runny. The foods you're eating right now are pretty high in carbohydrates, which may leave you feeling hungry, and may slow your weight loss....soft protein foods are the way to go... I remember at that point making chicken salad with canned chicken breast, low fat mayo, and blenderizing it. Good luck.
   — Kelly B.

October 17, 2003
Are you allowed by your doctor's plan to introduce pureed beans yet? That's a good protein source. Do you have access to a nutritionist who understands the special needs of gastric bypass patients? If so, get in touch with him/her. If not, try to find one! My nutritionist said that the main thing right after surgery is allowing the new tummy and connections to heal by eating the pureed/soft stuff. Sounds like the things you're eating are not very nutritious but they are at least soft. Peanut butter is soft and the natural kind with no hydrogenated oils or sugar is far superior to canned soups & stuff. Its impossible to eat enough protein at this stage and that's why the protein supplements are so very important. Your body needs protein to heal, so I'd look into the protein powders like other posters have suggested. I'm still pre-op but totally into nutrition.
   — Soosan

October 18, 2003
My surgeon told me not to worry about protein the first few weeks. At 11 days, I was still on full liquids and existed mainly on V8 Juice. At 12 days, I started soft foods - Cream of Wheat, scrambled eggs with cheese, baked potatos with cheese, Taco Bell Beans with cheese. See the cheese there - had a lot of it. Some people who have problems with milk also have trouble with cheese. Cottage cheese is a great source of protein if you are allowed to have it. I am 22 months post-op and I have cottage cheese about 5 days a week for lunch. I would stay away from the Spaghetti Os if I were you - lots of carbs compared to the protein and lots of sugar. My surgeon allows mashed potatos on soft foods and he suggesed straining any soup I like while on liquids. Like I said earlier, I stared soft foods (no puree) on Day 12 and by three weeks post-op, I was eating grilled pork chops.
   — Patty_Butler