What about Milk?

Hey all.  I only live an hour from my surgery team and nutritionist.  I emailed my nutritioinist about starting what we are calling the time out plan.  She was cool with me doing the shakes and said it's no big deal metabolism wise for a couple weeks and it will help me a lot with the cravings.  That's great! She also wants me to add milk.  I have always been encouraged by her to drink milk because I made it through the surgery without being lactose intolerant.  I am originally from Wisconsin so I am so happy milk is still an option.  But, it appears that many here aren't into drinking milk.  I am not exactly sure why unless it's that they are intolerant.  I am hoping that I will still see good results on the time out plan with having one shake a day mixed with milk instead of water and an extra glass of milk at night.  Since I spoke with my nutritioinist I am ABSOLUTELY going to take her advice.  Does anyone else incorporate milk, time out or not?  If not, why? Thanks Rachael

Hi Rachael. I love your name AND the way it is spelled.  Anyway, I am sooo glad you checked with your nutritionist and even happier that she gave you the green light. I am not married to this plan and nothing is set in stone (except no solids). I am listening to my body as I go along and am regaining control by NOT giving into all those cravings of carbs and food in general. It is helping a LOT with my cravings and the only reason I am not adding milk to my diet is because I don't have to. I used to love Nectar Cappuccino but only with milk. I don't see how it would be bad to drink skim milk in a shake. That makes perfect sense to me, I know there are a lot of naturally occuring sugars in milk.  Good luck! Molly

what's nice is that the unjury protein powder I use is only 170 cals for 28g of protein WITH the milk.  Adding milk to some other kinds might be too many calories.  I think if you can, checking with someone at your surgery team is great.  I am going to follow her advice mostly because if it doesn't work, I can talk to her again saying that I did what she suggested.   You can thank my mom for the extra letters in my name.  My middle name is Nichole, notice the extra 'h'  :-)

Sigh...I would love to get a surgeon in my area but as a stay-at-home mom and wife to a husband who is self-employed that is not an option. I get my labs done one time a year, my neighbor is a doctor (pediatrican) and the internet are what I have to guide me through this journey. So, I live vicariously (through others****il my situation changes. Hugs!  Molly here's a milk cheer!

Hi Rachael,  I've never had any problems drinking milk :-)  and have drank skim milk for years.  I'm deeply thankful that I'm not among those who became lactose intolerant after my wls.  One of protein shakes during the day is made with skim milk, another shake is with water & crystal light, one is with plain water.  Sometimes I mix a scoop of protein powder in with the skim milk I put on my Kashi go lean cereal.   Nothing tastes better to me than an ice cold glass of milk before bed.  All the best, Lynn J.

I drink a 20oz nonfat latte every single day from starbucks.  It's mostly milk.  I've been doing this since about week 4.  It's 20 grams of protein and so my nutritionist never had any problem with me having it instead of a protein shake.  Other than that, I can't stand the taste of milk, so unless it's in my latte, I don't drink it.  (I use to be allergic to it when I was very young, and I am convinced I don't care for the taste of it because of that).  As for the sugars, it's lactose which is a natural sugar and natural sugar's are okay.  It's those processed sugars you want to stay away from. Kerri

what is a "time out" plan? thanx.

I use to drink milk all the time prior to surgery, after surgery - HOLY KERAP it kicked my butt like no other - I generally avoid it - I have little to none in my oatmeal because it just makes me feel wicked bad.  I'm sad i miss sitting down drinking a cool glass of creamy (ok 2%) milk.

I drink milk every morning with my GNC Strawberry Whey Protein - 210 calories for the protein and 8 oz, of skim milk. It tastes AWFUL with Water. I have been able to tolerate milk from the beginning. Plus you are getting the needed calcium, which is great for me, because I always forget my calcium citrate in the afternoon. If I could ONLY take it with my vitamin in the morning, i would remember it.

I guess I am the anti-milk queen. I am lactose intolerant, but was already and I love, love, LOVED milk.

Strangely, we sign a contract with our surgeon that includes no milk. ??? He was raised on a farm? Wat is he THINKING? But he noticed these things:
-milk makes baby cows gain wt
-milk makes babies "thrive", as in gain wt
-in his early days, he noticed consistently better wt loss with his lactose intolerant ppl than his milk drinkers.

It isn't the fat. Fat won't make us fat again, since we malsborb between 40-90%--depends onsurgery type) of fats/oils. But sugar will and that IS the main ingredient in milk. Lactose. Sugar. Being a natural sugar doesn't make any difference to a wacky pancrease in our disease.For the sugar grams, there isn't much protein or calcium in it, actually. Dairy is not the best source of caclium. Imagine MY suprise! Nuts, seeds and greens are all higher in calcium content, cup for cup.

I know basically all dieticians base their programs on milk. While I now can't wrap my head around INCLUDING it, they cannot wrap their heads around EXCLUDING it.

So, if I could tolerate the milk in my body, I still would avoid it since it doesn't add anything (I'd need bota full stomach and use of the duodenum to extract the protein/calcium from it) and it's sugar. And sugar causes cravings for more sugar and sugar is like leaving a trail of bread crumsb for mty lsot 150# to find me again!

So, you make your own best decision based on your desired outcome.