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i was curious about something - prior to surgery, i did NOT eat enough Protein. i would get 20-30g a day max. i am currently half way through my 2nd week post op and average 50-60g per day, although i know my goal is supposed to be 80g. it is so difficult especially because i hate these shakes!

when i move onto pureed/soft foods, since you can't eat more than a few bites, how does the food even provide you with enough Protein? don't you still need Protein shakes (ugh, my worse nightmare!) ? it is just hard to fathom i guess and i'm trying to do whatever i can to avoid these shakes lol

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If you don't want to have to supplement with shakes or Protein Bars, when you get to real food you will have to try to make food decisions that have a lot of Protein in order to get it in. By the way my surgeon said at least 60 grams so I do believe there is some leeway on the exact amount, I mostly try to eat foods high in protein and if my energy stays ok I don't worry about the exact grams. Good Luck.

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The amount of Protein you need is based upon your lean body weight.

# of lbs X .6 or.8 = daily required Protein grams

If you get creative, it really isn't hard to get all your protein once your stomachs swelling goes down.

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The amount of Protein you need is based upon your lean body weight.

# of lbs X .6 or.8 = daily required Protein grams

If you get creative' date=' it really isn't hard to get all your protein once your stomachs swelling goes down.[/quote']

So if I use your formula- 244 x .6= 146. So that means I should have 146 grams of protein per day? Right now I'm averaging 60- 80 a day.

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So if I use your formula- 244 x .6= 146. So that means I should have 146 grams of Protein per day? Right now I'm averaging 60- 80 a day.

You missed a word;).It's based on your LEAN body mass.

Find out what your weight would be if your BMI was 20-22 and use that weight I'm betting it will give you a number between 60 & 90

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I think the OP does have an interesting point: Before surgery, I am quite sure I was not getting 80 grams of Protein, and I did not notice any ill effects.

What will happen if you are Protein deficient, and why the great emphasis on it after surgery?

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I think the OP does have an interesting point: Before surgery' date=' I am quite sure I was not getting 80 grams of Protein, and I did not notice any ill effects.

What will happen if you are Protein deficient, and why the great emphasis on it after surgery?[/quote']

I'll bet you $1000 you were getting way over 80g pre op.

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I'll bet you 1000 you were getting way over 80g pre op.

You think so? meat has not historically been my "thing." In fact, prior to surgery, I ate very little meat. I guess maybe dairy and such would get me to 80 pre-op.

Still, why is the Protein so crucial?

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You think so? meat has not historically been my "thing." In fact' date=' prior to surgery, I ate very little meat. I guess maybe dairy and such would get me to 80 pre-op.

Still, why is the Protein so crucial?[/quote']

Aside from Water Protein makes up most of the human body.

The body need protein to heal, and to build.

A lack of protein will cause muscle deterioration, hair loss, weak or brittle nails, and it will retard the healing process.

The body needs protein to survive. If it doesn't get what it needs it will cannibalize itself for it. You don't want to lose muscle mass to cannibalization because with less muscle your metabolism slows hence slowing your weightloss.

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Aside from Water Protein makes up most of the human body.

The body need Protein to heal' date=' and to build.

A lack of protein will cause muscle deterioration, hair loss, weak or brittle nails, and it will retard the healing process.

The body needs protein to survive. If it doesn't get what it needs it will cannibalize itself for it. You don't want to lose muscle mass to cannibalization because with less muscle your metabolism slows hence slowing your weightloss.[/quote']

I completely agree. Protein are the building blocks for cells and cells are everything in your body! hair, skin, muscles, blood, etc. Its not just something doctors say but it's really important.

If you don't like meat do you like tofu? Or Greek yogurt has a lot of protein. Way more than Yoplait. Tilapia fish is good too. Black Beans...lentils

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As well, Protein is in a lot of things. We just generally talk about the good sources because we can eat so little.

There's Protein in wheat for instance. I know I was getting a good slug of protein pre op from Pasta and bread! I just couldn't eat that much Pasta and bread now.

Protein isn't critical to weight loss, but it will make a difference to muscle mass, and how you look and feel at the same weight.

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The amount of Protein you need is based upon your lean body weight.

# of lbs X .6 or.8 = daily required Protein grams

If you get creative, it really isn't hard to get all your protein once your stomachs swelling goes down.

So when is it .6 and when is it .8? Dumb question??

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So when is it .6 and when is it .8? Dumb question??

.6 for most people. .8 for an active lifestyle.

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So when is it .6 and when is it .8? Dumb question??

My surgeon recommended between 60-80 with 60gms being for most women and 80gms for most men.With exceptions for very active people so I would guess most women would multiply by 0.6 since we don't generally require as much...

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Thanks OTR and Kali. I've been aiming for 70-80 for the past three weeks, and you're right on target with your advice.

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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