Surgeon says don't worry about protein

[mbnurse 28]

Hi everyone,

I'm having trouble deciding who to listen to - my surgeon or my nutritionist. HW 243 SW (day of surgery after pre op diet) 234. 2 month post op I was 214.5. I'll also mention that I had a lap band for 10 years and had it removed almost 3 years ago- gained back anything I had lost with it.

When I went to my 2 month post op appointment, my surgeon was unimpressed by my weight loss. So was I. He asked what I was eating and I told him I was getting about 700 calories a day but getting in all of my Protein. He said I was eating WAY too much and this is why I wasn't losing. He said only eat when hungry, forget about protein, stop Protein shakes, and live off my fat. I pointed out that is very different guidance than I had received from the nutritionist that I had seen right there in that very office. He said something like "yeah, yeah, I know. She gets all focused on that and it is really not necessary - this is an ongoing conversation I am having with her".

Because I was on a stall at the time, I decided to go with his advice and see what happens. I lost about 10 pounds the following month. Also during this month I upped my exercise, getting 10,000 steps most days with a combination of walking and jogging (using couch to 5k, up to week 4). But now I am on a stall again, and wondering what I should do nutrition wise. I am getting around 700 calories still most days but really never over 40ish grams of protein.

It is hard to figure out what to do when your 2 resources are telling you different things. I haven't seen anyone else on the boards who are being told to forget about protein.

What should I do? Forget my surgeon's advice and go with the nutritionist even though my weight loss was slow when following that plan? Follow my surgeon's advice even though it is not consistent with any of my research or reading others' experience?

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[SilentBotts 138]

700 cals a day seems correct for 2 months out. I know they wanted me off the shakes and onto food as fast as possible but both my surgeon and my NUT have stressed the Protein. You'll start to see hair and muscle loss if you're too Protein deficient. It seems counter intuitive, the protein helps build muscle, which you should be building more of with increased exercise, which then burns more fat.

What did you change with your diet that you're still getting in 700 calories but only 40 grams of protein?

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Normally, I would say listen to your surgeon, but since the advice your surgeon is giving you is diametrically opposed to what my surgeon's instructions are I will have to go with your NUT on this one.

Yes, you can get most of your energy needs met by the energy stored in your fat, but that doesn't give you the Protein you need. You need Protein, especially to stay healthy and lose weight, and if you don't get enough to meet your bodies needs your body will slow down your metabolism and draw critical protein needs from your own tissue (think muscles like your heart).

The way my surgeon explained it is if I am not eating enough protein my body interprets the lack of protein as famine and will do everything it can to store energy, not expend it.

My protein goal is at least 100 grams a day. 700 calories is extremely low even if I had a lower protein target.

In my opinion, you need more protein and calories.

[mbnurse 28]

700 cals a day seems correct for 2 months out. I know they wanted me off the shakes and onto food as fast as possible but both my surgeon and my NUT have stressed the Protein. You'll start to see hair and muscle loss if you're too Protein deficient. It seems counter intuitive, the protein helps build muscle, which you should be building more of with increased exercise, which then burns more fat.

What did you change with your diet that you're still getting in 700 calories but only 40 grams of protein?

I really just cut out the Premier Protein I was having in the morning, and I'm eating only regular food. I have an oatmega bar in the morning, a balanced break cheese/nut snack or homemade lunchables with a couple of crackers, lunch meat, and cheese at lunch, maybe a little bit of fruit at some point, and a few bites of meat/veggies/sometimes a bit of carbs at dinner.

It really stinks to be stalled at 201.

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[KristenLe 5,979]

@@mbnurse Your surgeon wants immediate results. Your NUT wants healthy results without screwing up your metabolism for good.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

After watching every episode of My 600 Pound Life, it has been good to see Dr. Now even start to talk about the importance of Protein. I think that may have been a relatively new focus based on research.