Protein Question

Hello,

I am one month out and am in soft food stage.  My plan calls for 1/4 of soft protein three times a day and get my 64 oz of water in. My Nut expressly said no protein suppliments as they were unnecessary calories. The food is fine and I'm not hungry.  But I have been very tired and lacking energy.  I "cheated" yesterday and had a Isopure no carb drink for a snack and I feel so much better today with that extra 40 grams of protein.  I also excersice about 1 hour a day.  So now I don't know if I should continue to have an Isopure a day or go back to my written plan......  I don't go back to the Dr. until May 9th.

Carolyn

I don't see how you could possibly get enough protein with only 1/4 cup of protein three times a day.  That would be a total of six ounces and six ounces of meat has about 42 grams of protein (approximately seven grams per ounce for meat).  The ASMBS recommends 1.1 gram protein per kilogram of ideal body weight, which means 42 grams of protein would be about right if your ideal weight was 84 pounds.  But I'm guessing your ideal weight is more than that, yeah?

I usually won't tell people not to follow their doctor's instructions.  You can ask your doctor why he or she thinks you need so little protein and why they disagree with the ASMBS guidelines on the issue.  I will tell you that personally, if my doctor or dietician told me to eat only 42 grams of protein a day, I would ignore that particular piece of advice and eat about twice that much.  I would also consider finding a new dietician.

Thanks Kelly,

I will talk to my dr on the 9th and I am going to continue with the Isopure.  I feel so much better with it.

Carolyn

For the most part, I think it's best to follow our doctors' instructions.  In some instances, though, I think they give really stupid instructions.  For instance, my surgeon told me to specifically take calcium carbonate, which we do not absorb.  I like my bones, so I decided to ignore that particular instruction and take calcium citrate instead.  In the end, we are the ones that live with the consequences of our choices, not our doctors.  And it is our choice.

Plus, how many calories is in one of those bottles of Iospure?  And how many calories are you getting from your six ounces of food a day?  It's not like drinking the Isopure is giving you so many calories you won't lose weight.

Are you tracking your protein every day?  For the first few months, I was at 50, then 60-70 until 6 months, and I developed a protein deficiency (I was unable to tolerate any more than that).  Now I have am at 90-100, and waiting for my next labs in a month.  You need to make sure you get adequate protein, especially with all the exercise. 

 My surgeon also didn't recommend protein drinks.  Gradually, I got up to eating the recommended protein requirements each day, but early on, no way.  Feeling tired and lacking energy is a by product of major surgery, and can take a few months to level out.