Question:
4 weeks post-op and need 80 grams protein, ATLEAST, whats your daily?
My surgeon and RN want me to get 80 grams of protein daily atleast, which is quite a bit. I know it will help more with weight loss, etc. But I am only 4 weeks out from LAP RNY and its too hard. I get in about 65-75 grams daily. (usually just 60 lately) Never hit the 80GRAM mark yet. Isn't everyone else's average daily for protein 60 grams? I do not know whether I am distal or proximal. But I have lost 35 pounds in 4 weeks, haven't exercised yet b/c I am still in pain, not to mention some other problems (possible gallbladder problems, plus pseudotumor cerebri, and muscle spasms - I'm only 22!) I plan to start this week though. Am I doing ok? The protein just makes me so nauseaus sometimes. I drink ISOPURE, and eat eggs, cheeses and yogurt and eat veggies and drink atleast 70 ounces of water a day. THANKS so much! — Lezlie Y. (posted on June 29, 2002)
June 29, 2002
Congrats on your weight loss! I am still pre-op, but my surgeon and my
nutritionist say to shoot for 60 grams of protein a day. I don't know why
your surgeon is shooting for 80... They do say that it's better to go
for protein from food rather than from protein drinks or bars. Your
water consumption seems right on line too.
— John Rushton
June 29, 2002
Dear Lezlie, I'm just 5 weeks post and my Dr. wants me to get in 80 g a
day also. I can't take the protein drinks either, but I try to put
1tablespoon of designer whey into my oatmeal. I'm hoping I can get it into
SF pudding also. In the mean time I found that string cheese has 8 g of
protein in one stick. Congrats on your water, I'm just getting to where I
can sip more than two small sips every two or three minutes.
— Janis D.
June 29, 2002
You need .8 grams of protein for every 2.2 pounds of body weight. Take
your weight/2 * .8 Good luck and God Bless!
— Kimberly L.
June 29, 2002
Question about previous poster... So if I weigh 350lbs divided by 2 is 175
times .8 is 140grams of protein a day... that seems like way too much!!!
How exactly would one get that much.. I would like to see a menu!!! The
daily protein intake for a "normal" :-) person on a 2000 calorie
diet is 50 grams a day... I understand we need more but THAT much MORE??? I
thik 60 to 80 grams is plenty considering the amount of food we consume!!
— Allie A.
June 29, 2002
I went thru a period where my protein levels were running on the low side.
Right after surgery I was told to get in 60g/ day; then my Dr upped it to
80 g/day. I eventually had to go to 100g/day to get my levels up where they
should have been. I'd say if your Dr is recommending 80 grams/day it's
because you need that much. I agree, it's tough, but you just have to keep
trying & you will make it. Have you tried protein bars? There are some
really good ones. If you can eat 2 30 gram bars, you're over halfway there.
I think to get up to the 80 to 100 gram/day range, you really need to use
drinks and/or bars to supplement. It is hard to get that much in when you
can't eat very much at a time. I would suggest experimenting with some
other bars & drinks til you find something you can tolerate for a
while. In time, you'll be able to eat more & will be able to get more
protein from your food. My favorite bars are "Pure Protein"
(especially the blueberry cheesecake) and "Ultimate Lo Carb 2" (
try chocolate s'mores, vanilla bean). Of course, everyone's tastes are
different, but I bet you'll find something you like. Good luck.
— Kathy W.
June 30, 2002
I am right there with you on this one. I had swelling in my feet and
ankles and went to my surgeon thinking i had a blood clot or something
wrong and after he checked everything to make sure I was fine, he asked me
about my protien. I was getting in around 50-60 gr a day, he said it
wasn't enough, that I had to do between 80-100 gr. Cause your body is
gonna hold on to everything if you are undernourished, so I upped it,
taking in 2 protien shakes a day(made with skim milk which made the protien
even higher) and snacking on stuff like unsalted dry roasted peanuts,
string cheese, and other high protien stuff, and I the swelling went away.
The swelling occured after I went back to work after the surgery(6 weeks)
so it is important to get the protein.
— stacey1273
June 30, 2002
I had surgery in Dec 2001. The nutritionist I saw before surgery
recommended Met Rx Plus Protein Bars (walmart)they come in different
flavors but I personally like the Choclate Fudge. They have 32 g of
protein, she told me to eat maybe 1/3 of a bar at a time. I still eat one
of these bars a day. I also drink carb solutions protein shakes. I usually
have one of these in the morning..it is I believe 19 g of protein. I have
lost 85 pounds and feel great , I have not had any complications, no
nausea, no vomiting , no nothing. I go for my 1st. blood work the beginning
of August so I am anxious to see if all is well. Good luck to you.
— janicediana
June 30, 2002
I do about 180g a day in supps. I eat some meat, but I'm not as worried
about that. My doc requires 120g in supps (or more) for someone as distal
as I am. But I prefer how I feel & look with the higher protein
regularly. I make my shakes wth water, 30g protein per or use one that I
can dump in my water bottle. It's habit, it's easy and I LIKE the one I
make with the hand blender & ice chips
— vitalady
June 30, 2002
Interesting. My surgeon suggests that I eat 40-60 grams of protein per
day. I am 8 weeks post-op so this soon out, she said I would be on the
lower end of that (40) but after a couple more months I should be at the 60
range. I have been taking in anywhere from 44-85 grams per day. Guess I'm
healing well! [8 weeks post-op...52 pounds lost forever!]
— Jennifer A.
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