Hello all,

I hope I am able to share your experiences to help others with their missions!

I am a lifestyle consultant specialising in nutrition, supplementation and exercise.

I have a patient who's undertaking a very structured training regime under my supervision.

He's 37, VERY fit and has managed to loose lots of weight and is now in the process of a complete transformation, however, every 6 weeks or so, he falls ill and is out of action for about a week. General flu like symptoms.

It would seem as though his immune system is compromised.

Without going into too much detail regarding his supplement regime to ensure that his intestinal flora are optimal, D3 levels high, all has have been addressed, etc.

His surgeon is attributing his compromised immune system to his high Protein intake.

Apprx 250g a day. His activity level during training might actually demand more than this. All his other macro's are in check, but the Dr wasnt interested in those. Just said that the high protein levels are responsible.

Now Ive been in the this industry for nearly 2 decades and have never heard of ANYTHING so nonsensical. Especially from a medic that just suggests taking the cheapest multi-vit supplement in place due to reduced appetite and lack of key essential micro's.

I know that many post Bariatric patients undergo sustained ketosis and continue on high protein diets for extended periods and have never been told by their physician that this would give them the flu.

As I dont have a PHD, his Dr is discounting everything I say through sheer arrogance. Can someone please direct me to any medical studies on this subject so that we can start addressing the actual cause of his compromised immune function and not make spurious allegations based on uneducated emotional responses.

Many thanks!!!!

Kam

I spent about 2 decades on and off the atkins low carb/high Protein diets and only experienced flu like symptoms about 4-6 weeks after the new year started(Started a new hard core diet every year), or I was exposed to the illness elsewhere. Could be his body shutting down and demanding carbs and natural Vitamin C(via fruit).

With all due respect, it seems to me a doctor specializing in the issues of weight loss would know more a lot than a lifestyle consultant when it comes to health issues.

If I were in this situation, I'd be trusting the doctor and following his advice. He knows not only the patient history but his current stats as well. Like it or not, the PhD does matter greatly.

Again, just my opinion.

Mis73.

I have been working in the field of nutrition for many years and as a 'lifestyle consultant' have studied to a PHD level, if not beyond. I (we) work in the field of lifyestyle medicine addressing the root cause of the issue, not just addressing the symptom.

The Dr in question has given NO nutritional guidance at all. He is happy to suggest that high Protein is not good, but not able to give a recommendation on how much is optimal.

All the peer reviewed academic studies I have conducted, or am aware of suggest that the Dr is incorrect. Though his closing comment is always 'its because he's post bariatric'.

The three letters PHD mean a lot and thats why I have a team of them that I work with closely at my clinic however, we have never conducted tests on bariatric patients over extended periods so was hoping to get an insight here.

With all due respect, it seems to me a doctor specializing in the issues of weight loss would know more a lot than a lifestyle consultant when it comes to health issues.

If I were in this situation, I'd be trusting the doctor and following his advice. He knows not only the patient history but his current stats as well. Like it or not, the PhD does matter greatly.

Again, just my opinion.

great information.

Thank you.

Well I can tell you that being in the medical field such extreme high levels of Protein over a long period of time can cause severe kidney damage and even shut it down. 250 grams of protein is not necessary no matter how much you work out. Has he been tested for various things like HIV, Hep C, or any other immune deficiency test there is. There is no reason to eat that much protein. He needs a balanced diet of protein, good carbs and healthy fats. I don't care how long you have been teaching nutrition but something is either medically wrong with him or his organs are shutting down because of the excess of protein. No body can tolerate high amounts of protein for long periods of time. You should know that. Optimal protein should be between 70 and 90 grams and that is it. You can go as far as 125 but not for long periods of time.

i agree with cheryl. when i read the 250g of Protein i immediatly figured that it was an extreme amount. most banded ppl stick with between 60 and 80g of protein and that amount includes food. but there are blood test to determine if the overdosing of protein is causing problems. i get a panel done every other month for different things. my latest showed high levels of vit. b-12 and ferritin. nothing out of normal is good for anyone. so your client needs his surgeon or primary care doctor to run some blood tests. i think it is necessary here. not everything wrong with a person is because of being banded. banded ppl still get diseases and such unrelated to the band.

***not everything wrong with a person is because of being banded. banded ppl still get diseases and such unrelated to the band***

agree with this

The last time I saw my internist (the first and only time since surgery), my T3 levels were low, though my T4 was fine. Her immediate "go to" comment was that I wasn't getting the proper nutrition since being banded. She's had issues with RNY patients being completely Iron deficient (along with other things), so of COURSE my issue HAS to be from my surgery, right? Not! I will admit, since my band/plication surgery, I eat very little fruit and veggies, because when I'm done with Protein, there isn't much room left. If I eat the veggies with my protein, I get full much faster. I'm still working on this. It's bothersome to me that I don't eat the level of plant foods that I used to (except for Beans, onions and tomato products).

Anyway…… I agree with Cheryl….250 grams of protein is downright dangerous. I do have kidney issues, and was cautioned about excessive protein intake. I stick to around 50-60 grams per day, which is perfectly fine. Sometimes I have more, but rarely ever exceed 80 grams.

250 - INSANE!
(My doctor recommends 100 per day which is tough)

Must be ALL he eats! Sounds like he needs more of a balanced diet!?!!?!? I also had some sort of FUNK - where every four to 6 weeks I would get sick be in the bed, throwing up and unable to cope for 24-36 hours...aftre about a year it disappeared. This was all prior to Lap-Band! THE ONLY thing I changed was 1,000 Vitamin D a day - treating my bronchitus - seems I treated this FUNK as well.

Good Luck - I am sure he is MISERABLE!

My surgeon and his surgeon wife are fitness and health fanatics. I asked him on my last visit about how much was too much protein. His response to me was that I wouldn't be able to eat too much protein especially with my band. He said that protein would not damage my kidneys and unless I had bad kidneys already I'd be fine. I'm also a nurse for 22 years who had a mother who was a dietician and based on what I've been taught both in my childhood and since, his words didn't surprise me. I was just confirming what I already believed. I don't believe all mds are qualified in all areas as are any health care persons. You just have to filter what you read or hear and make up your own minds.