Protein amounts

[SParkle 4]

This may sound silly but I have a question about the amount of Protein we're getting....

From what I have read on here its recommended we get 50-70g a day.

With Protein Shakes this is pretty easy, I use one which gives me 21g per scoop and if I make it with milk then I get an extra 8.4g of milk per 200ml serving, so 2 of those a day is around the 60g mark, then anything else is extra.

Its the extra I am questioning.... I have a book about fat, carb and Protein count of food per 100g (roughly 4oz).

When I look at what people are eating in a day I can't see how they are getting in the recommended amount without additional protein shakes - or have I got it all wrong?

For example:

chicken breast 100g (4oz) grilled with no skin - this has 28g of protein

(So I would count 28g if I ate 100g of this)

Baked Beans 100g - 5g protein

King prawns 100g - 24g protein

Ham leg of, pre packed 100g - 19g protein

Etc etc......So am I right in thinking I have to weigh everything - and weigh what I can't manage to eat to work out my protein amounts?

As obviously 2oz of chicken isn't 2oz protein.

Edited July 19, 2010 by SParkle

[Tiffykins 673]

I don't weigh my food because my stomach holds by volume. I know it's controversial, but I measure with cups instead of a scale.

I am able to get my Protein from food. 4 meals per day with a minimum of 15gr of Protein per meal. Never used Protein Drinks. Now at 13 months out, I easily get 80-100+gr of protein per day from food.

It's more difficult early out, and that was a main factor in me staying on mushies much longer than others. It was easier for me to get my protein from deli/meat, or chicken/tuna salad than it was from solid meats.

Some meats do weigh the same as the actual measured amount. So the quantities are close. If I'm 0.2oz off on weight, I'm not going to sweat it, and I'll toss in some chunk cheese, or cream cheese to make up the lack of protein in the meats.

[Jachut 487]

That's the way to look at it - just include a Protein source at every meal and snack and dont sweat the small stuff. You need enough Protein but really, if you get 40 grams one day and 80 the next, it does even out.

We can argue till the cows come home about whether high protein low carb diets are better for weight loss too, but I think most people who have WLS really WILL find their diet much lower carb. Even with a band and more capacity than a sleever, I simply cant fit in a lot of bread, Cereal etc or I wont be eating enough protein and vegies.

[SParkle 4]

I'm trying today to cut back and up my Proteins from normal foods and only have one shake today..... think I'll be ok with it so far....

Thanks for your replies ladies....

[wannalise 16]

I've been mixing it up a lot lately to find foods that I can get Protein sources from, then I do one biggie Protein Shake for Breakfast. I have never been a Breakfast girl and it really helps me. Just some additional Protein ideas:

1 c. cottage cheese 1%-28g (I add a few Tablespoons of lemon juice)

Greek Yogurt-1c 23-g

tuna (canned in water)-3 oz-20g

extra lean ground turkey-4oz-28g (I put taco seasoning in it.)

I don't do well with chicken it just doesn't go down well. I have made cube steak w/cooking spray and it goes down really well.

So much of this is just trial and error, I am 4 mos out and am still learning new things every week. Good luck finding what works best for you.

Anna

[SParkle 4]

Thanks for the ideas Anna...... I managed to get all my Protein in today without a shake, but I did find it quite hard and felt like I was eating loads!!

I had:

1 weetabix with milk

1 Protein Bar

1 beef burger

1 slice melon

3 slices beef with gravy and brocolli

1 yoghurt

With some high scoring bits in there it wasn't as hard as I thought.... although I'mnot getting much balance of veg in there.... just couldn't eat any more.

My Nut has cleared me on everything now... I'm 6 weeks on Thursday. but 'm also trying to be a bit careful and chewing everything really well.

I managed to get quite a bit of liquid down as well around it all... this waiting after eating is what I find the hardest so I find something else to do for a while after eating to take my mind off things.