Upping the Protein--Good Things Happening

I am at 7 months now and just had gallbladder surgery two weeks ago.  The hairloss has really been an issue for the last 3 - 4 weeks.  The scalp is beginning to really glow where once there was hair.  I know the second surgery will just add insult to injury so the hairloss will become even more of an issue over the next few weeks or months.  So I decided to up my protein.  I was lactose intolerant before surgery and it become intensified after surgery.  I had trouble tolerating any of the protein shakes because of severe abdominal cramping and horrible diarrhea so I have not used the shakes since about 3 months.  Due to the hairloss I decided I would have to put up with the intestinal issues in order to keep my hair.  I also added Biotin to my regimen.  Of course it is to early to tell if the protein is going to help the hair issue but it is helping the weight loss issue!!  When I began adding 2 protein shakes a day into my diet the weight loss really kicked into gear again.  This week alone I lost 5 pounds.  I haven't lost that much in one week since the first few months.  I am now getting about 90  gm of protein a day and haven't really changed my diet any other way so I know it has to be the protein making the difference.  And the protein shakes don't seem to be upsetting my stomach as bad at this point.  I am using the Matrix Perfect Chocolate and warming it as I stated in an earlier post.  It is a yummy hot chocolate drink.  I am going to pull out the other protein drinks I couldn't tolerate earlier and give them another shot.  Hopefully the lactose issue has improved because I am loving the way the scale is moving again.  So for anyone who is in a bit of a stall or slow down and still in the early stage, try upping your protein intake and see if it works for you as it did for me!! Peg

Thanks for the information, Peggy. I know tha my weight loss has slowed down a bit and another thing is I love the way the protien makes my fingernails grow too. Like crazy! I know that I need to get more protien in because I have slacked off a bit and I am seeing a few hairs in the sink when I comb my hair. I have to take care of that because my hair is baby fine to begin with and hair loss runs in my family. I get cold now and would be even colder without hair!!!  

Peggy, It's funny..I read your post going 'yep, yep, yep'. LOL! When I was about a year out, I saw a post by a woman who was 5 years out talking about PEW. That has pretty much become my mantra every since. To help get over weight stalls, increase one or more of the following: Protein  Exercise  Water...PEW. I still drink 2 protein shakes per day...and am still losing. Yay! If you go through another stall (even with your protein & water levels up), try changing your exercise abit. Our bodies get use to the same old-same old. So if you normally walk every day, walk MWF and do a jazzersize, strength training exercises or some other form of exercise on the other days. Just change it up a little and give some new muscles something to do. I have no idea why the nuts never tell people about Biotin until they are post-op and are already losing hair!?!?! It has really helped me through my many surgeries....although I haven't been on it since September so I know that in Feb. I'm going to be going through the mass exodus of hair again (with all my problems right now, they want me on the minimum amount of stuff). I usually take the strongest dose I can find. I still lost some even with taking it, but it definately slowed it down and new growth came in. When I first started on it, I think it took 2-3 weeks to start noticing a difference in how much I was losing. I know that lack of protein is usually blamed for it but I always got in a minimum of 60 g of protein (even when I was a new post-op) so I guess my scalp is extra greedy of protein..lol. Great job losing!! Sherri

What protein shake do you use?

I stick with AchievOne..Mocha Java flavor. It's 120 calories and 20 g of protein per bottle. I order mine through BariatricEating.com. They are a little pricey...especially with the shipping & handling. That should go down a little bit in 2008 because the company that makes it is suppose to be switching from glass bottles to plastic. I've checked  with the manufacturer and with a local store that sells it and BariatricEating was cheaper than either of them. They had a special going where you could get 4 cases (12 bottles/case) for $25 but I don't know if it's still going on or not. S&H would be about $25-30 for 4 cases. There IS a little bit of caffiene in them. I asked the manufacturer how much and they said that 1 bottle contained about the same amount as 1/2 cup of coffee...so I drink some extra water to counter it's affects. Through the years I've tried several flavors, several brands...from several places. The AchievOne's have been the easiest on my taste buds..and my taste buds have been ok with..for the longest time of all of them. I think I've been sticking with them for close to 2 years now. BTW...that site does have it to where family members/friends/etc can get you online gift certificates. Great gift idea to hint at! Sherri

Is the bioten very expensive?  I keep forgetting to look for it when I'm out and about and this week I have noticed that I have lots of hair coming out.  I knew it was gonna happen, since dont tolerate the protien shakes. I have done my best to eat nothing but higher protien but I dont do well with meats either, but sometimes ya just gotta do what ya gotta do.  About 7 years ago I actually managed to lose 65 lbs but in a very unhealthy way (bad marriage, divorce) and lost alot of hair so I knew it was coming this time. My hair dresser had me get some shampoo to help strengthen it and fortify it, but I still need to check out the protien.  She has a couple of other clients that have had WLS so she is pretty helpful.

Ulisha, Biotin is the least expensive of all my meds....maybe $2-3 for a bottle of ~100 or so. Sometimes I can get it for buy 1 bottle, get the 2nd free at Walgreens. Sherri