how much protein to be successful?

I had the band revised to RNY and have lost 110 pounds. I have more to go, but am generally pleased with my surgery. My mom had the band and is still struggling. She called me today saying her 1200 calorie diet isn't working and she is going to cut out eggs and milk. I suggested she try adding a protein shake and she got angry with me. She is getting 60-80 grams of protein based on the fitness log she uses.

Her argument is that 180 calories in addition to the 1200 (100 if you add to coffee) would be too much for her and she would gain:-( I disagree and naturally we ended up agreeing to disagree. I have lived with her, as well as see my own issues I know there is a bit of denial about the calories in there.

So my questions is how much protein do you need to keep losing weight? I am not trying to prove either of us is right/wrong. I am really curious about the right combo.

Sorry but I agree with mom here. It is simply calories in vs calories out. Adding calories is not going to help her. She can substitute the 180 cal protein drink for a larger calorie meal and she will see a difference. Upping her exercise would also see the scale move I'm sure. Some new research hints that protein may be able to satisfy hunger better than either fats or carbohydrates. If this proves to be true she may eat less by having more intake of protein, but if she is still eating a ton of carbs, well carbs make you crave carbs. I rarely get in more than 60 grams of protein in a day because I don't have room for much else and I've lost my excess and maintained since June so far.

Protein is not some magical substance that makes you lose weight.  You need enough to survive - at least 60g - and beyond that it's basically "just calories."  You might feel more satisfied by additional protein and that can help you make better choices but it's just food once your dietary needs are met. 

If your mom is maintaining her weight perfectly on 1200 calories per day then adding more is likely to result in gain.  You can't cheat the system.  Lots of assumptions about her habits and accuracy in there though.  

She is just not losing her weight very quickly/at all.  I just always thought since we have trouble absorbing that adding more protein will help with weight loss.

In my mind 1200 calories of oreos is different that 1200 calories of food plus an extra 100 in a protein shake. I think the discrepancy is that I am RNY and she is the Lapband. I need more protein due to the not absorbing well.

My thinking on adding protein is the not eating enough and her body possibly in starvation mode. Looking at some articles here you it suggests 90 grams of protein  for RNY and a 600-800 calorie not 1200. It is all so confusing:-( I  need to do some more research. Thank you for your replies.

You're absolutely right than 1200 calories of Oreos is a lot different than 1200 calories of real food in terms of optimal health. However, in terms of weight loss it pretty much comes down to calories in/out. 

The research I've seen suggests we do not actually malabsorb protein and the 60g minimum I stated earlier is for RNY patients. 

Further, starvation mode is a myth.  Well the way most people think it works is a myth.  It's impossible for your body to stop losing weight because you eat too little so there's nothing to worry about there.  

Best wishes!

Starvation mode nonsense makes me crazy. It's just nuts. If you eat less than you burn, you will lose weight. Either 1200 is her maintenance number, or, more likely, she is eating more than 1200. Does she weigh her food? Weighing is much more accurate than measuring, and far, far more accurate than guesstimating.

  I never get why people believe that about protein !!!!  

I eat more than 60g of protein each day because I can!   If I didn't eat a higher level of dense protein, I most certainly would be filling up on carbs and as a diabetic, I have to be judicious about HOW I get my calories every day.   Long term maintenance really does depend on your calories and how they're made up!   Eating more dense food is less caloric for me than eating less dense/slider foods because after a few years, we really can pack those mash potatoes etc in!!!!

If you're very active, you will need more than 60 grams of protein according to everything I've read.  If you're not very active then you are correct. Anything over 50-60 is just a different form of calorie. 

You're absolutely right, I just didn't want to dive into the complexities.  The current medical guidelines for protein are between 60 g and 1.1 g/kg of ideal body weight.   If you are EXTREMELY active then you might need more.  Also, if you have a diagnosed protein deficiency then you might need more too but that's on the rare side of things. 

Be well. 

Her base metabolic rate is likely different from yours as well.  Different people require different amounts of calories to sustain their normal daily activity. So someone who is a couch potato is going to burn less calories in a day than say a nurse working a busy hospital shift. Neither or formally exercising but the person just moving more is going to burn more calories.

Maybe if she got something like a fitbit that would track her steps -- just increasing general movement can help.  

Unless you are in Ketosis - less than 25 grams of carbs a day or so, the amount of protein you eat isn't going to make you lose more weight.  There is no malabsorption with the band of course too.  I couldn't lose weight with the band unless I sustained a 1000 calorie a day diet or less and I was usually hungry -- which sucked!!  I hated that damn thing.