How do you get in your protein......

I'm going to do my best this week with eating protein first.  I have NOT had surgery yet, but I thought I will try to do what the rest of my life will be like with eating protein first!.   So.... I have heard people say not to get your protein through drinks? Is this true?  It's so convienant with protein drinks!!!!!!.   Please share how YOU get your protein in and what you eat for protein.  Real life protein intake!   Thanks!

Three of my staples are egg whites, cottage cheese and ricotta.  It's pretty amazing what you can do with just those 3 ingredients.  I made a ricotta bake last night that was pretty darned amazing.  Kinda like lasagna without noodles :)  I also eat a whole lot of beans because they help maintain even blood sugars and I just read an article that said maintaining eve blood sugars helps with weight loss.

Since I have trouble eating much food, I sometimes can barely get in my 1/2 cup serving at a meal, I do drink one protein drink per day...Isopure alpine punch, 25g protein, 105 cal, 0 carb.  The rest I get by eating shrimp, chicken when my pouch can tolerate it, tuna, beef, beans, chili, etc. It's a great idea to start early.  I started eating slower and chewing, chewing, and more chewing prior to surgery.  I also stopped drinking fluids prior to a meal, during a meal and for 30 min after eating.  I figured these would be the hardest for me and so I wanted to get used to it as quickly as I could.  I have found that it did help me a lot. Do you have a surgery date yet?? Good luck getting in those proteins!!!! Debi

I LOVE and NEED these ideas.  I hope others benefit too.  All I think of for protein is chicken and fish.  Keep the ideas comin'   Thank you SO much!

You know there are a lot of foods that you can eat, just need to be sure that it's the appropriate time for each food item...you can't have beef jerky while on liquids or soft foods, etc.  Plus some people can't tolerate food items that others can. Other ideas: I love Carnation Instant Breakfast (SF of course), beef jerky is quick snack, nuts in small amounts, Aldi's has a frozen food item called Fit and Active Bacon Cheese Chicken patties (these are so YUMMY), Trader Joes has Soy Crisps - the BBQ ones taste like potato chips, certain cereals, I drink Silk rather than milk or Lactaid (the old pouch dislikes both) - it has a lot of protein. Read the labels on everything, you'll find protein hidden in a lot of food items.

You are sooo doing things the right way---researching and practicing things before the REAL DEAL! Even though my 3rd anniversary is this May 16, I still have trouble getting in enough protein. I still find chicken and beef too dense and I get to feeling sick  UNLESS it's ground.   (I'm guilty--not doing the 'protein first' rule often enough...) Without confessing all my shortcomings and other sins, I will 'fess up to a protein smoothie nightly. (I currently am using a vegan base called 'VEGA whole food smoothie infusion'. The proteins are all organic veggies and grasses.)  2 scoops give 14 G protein, so I double the scoops in my blender with diet cranberry juice and a cup of frozen fruit.  I am not a 'granola bar' ex-hippie---I just cannot tolerate the whey/soya proteins.  Lord knows I've tried!  And this way I am getting in enough fruits too. When I'm at work and don't have time to pack an otherwise healthy lunch, I use the Ocean's Tuna Snack Kit. Everything is pre-packed--190 calories, 20 G protein, and you get the little spreader, napkin, and 6 crackers on which to spread the tuna/light mayo.  YUMMY!  And easy! This is my story and I'm sticking to it! (((HUG))) **SUE**

I was told that since it is going to be a long time until I can eat enough food to get all my protein in that way, I need to have a protein shake as a meal replacement.  Not as a snack, cause I am also to keep my calories limited, and I'm not to give my body the idea that it gets to have snacks (they say this can lead to grazing in the future).  My program says 3 meals a day, and that's it.  I know others tell their patients to eat more frequent, small meals each day.  That might be something to check with your surgeons office on.

Great to practice.  I practiced the no drinking, gave up all soda, and started walking long before my surgery. A couple of weeks ago I told a fellow worker who asked for a couple of things she could try to lose weight to stop drinking for 30 minutes before and after, figure out your tool trigger and stop eating when you get it, and instead of snacking in between the 3 meals, drink skim milk.  She lost 17 pounds in 10 days and hasn't felt like she is dieting either. For my basic I don't want to think menu~~I eat 2 tablespoons of oatmeal and 2 tablespoons of yogurt for breakfast, a hard boiled egg and 2 tablespoons of strained and rinsed single fruit snack pack for lunch, 3 pinky fingers of chicken with 1 tablespoon of vegies for dinner, and three 10 ounce servings of skim milk in between meals.  I have to do 46 grams of protein a day and I keep track of my number every day.  Since each ounce of skim milk is 1 ounce of protein (30 grams a day for just that****il I eat more food at a meal, I drink milk to get in the calcuim and protein with no fat.  The oatmeal is 3, the yogurt is 3, the egg is 6, and chicken is 4 -- that is based on 3 tablespoons at each meal. You have to start label reading and look for a higher numbers of protein and lots less sugar (under 7-15 grams per meal).  Lots of foods have high protein and low sugar -- you will just have to start hunting and experimenting. Hope this helps.... XXOO

I still get all my protein in thru food....I always have protein first. I started that way and it works for me. I bought a container of unflavored protein powder at GNC...I had it once to try it thinking I would need it. I haven't used it since. Anyone want it they can have it!! Hugs  connie d

A lot of those protein drinks taste like Monkey Butt.  They are just bad.  Don't spend a lot of money on them pre-op.  What you think is doable pre-op will taste awful post-op.  As you've already read, some people do find ways to doctor them up to be palatable. Protein supplements work as long as you are eating too.  If you are going to rely on protein drinks, get meal replacements, not supplements.  Meal replacements have the potassium and salts you need to live.  The supplements do not.  They assume you are eating other foods.  Read the labels!  I know better and I still ended up with a concussion after passing out from low potassium and salt.  I had those darn pills in my purse.  Just forgot to take them! Real food is best.  Tuna, chicken, egg salad.  Cottage cheese, string cheese.  Try sf pudding with protein powder mixed in.  Experiment.  I keep deli meat and cheese in the fridge all the time.  Another good thing to try is turkey ham cut up in chunks.  I chop one up and just put it in a zip bag in the fridge.  Everyone likes it and sometimes I don't even get any!  I do like the South Beach protein bars and I always have those around.  If I have to do a drink, I have low carb slimfast.  Convenient and comes in a can. There are lots of alternatives.  Over time, you will find what works for you.