I'm a month out from surgery and I'm finding I just can't get enough sleep. I normally get up at 4:00am anyway, so I'm used to feeling tired, but it seems more drastic now and this morning I have dark circles under my eyes.

I know about the importance of protien and I am careful to focus on that at every meal. One thing my doctor does that a lot of folks on here don't do is that he says NO PROTIEN shakes once I started on food, so I doubt I'm getting my 60, but I'm definitely making protien at least 3 of the 4 oz of food that I'm allowed.

Any suggestions?

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I would up the protein and be sure to take your vitamins. I also take B-12 tablets.

Even if your Dr. doesn't allow protein shakes, can't you add protein powder to applesauce or jello or in cottage cheese?

You can supplement with liquid protein drinks (not shakes) such as Isopure (index). These are ready to drink (no powder, no mixing) clear drinks with protein in them. As opposed to a shake, which is probably in the neighborhood of 200 calories each, drinks like isopure are only 80 calories for 20 mg of protein per serving. There are 160 calories, 40 mg per bottle.

I tried adding unflavored powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury to oatmeal and Soup. Yuck!

My doc says no liquid calories!

Where could I get the Isopure and is it palatable? Do you just drink it straight like the liquid Vitamins? How many ounces do I have to drink to get 20 grams of Protein?

Isopure CLEAR is available at GNC stores. It comes in many flavors. I like them, but some people don't. I like the apple melon and the pineapple orange banana.

The whole 20 oz bottle has 160 calories and 40 gm of Protein, so you could drink half for 80 calories and 20 gm of protein.

At two months out, I still drink a glass (or 1/2 the bottle) if I haven't gotten enough protein in with meals.

Thanks. I'm going to ask my doc about it. He's really strict, but I have yet to figure out how to get 60 grams of protien in 12 oz of food per day.

I am beat all the time too, and I am getting in 50-60 grams of protein a day. I don't get it either, but I am plugging along. I just started solids so maybe I was just fed up with the mushy/pureed stuff. I do get a Slimfast down and few times a week.

My doctor says no Protein shakes too. The reason he gives is that as the shakes are liquid, they will flow through the stoma and you will be hungry before it is time to eat again.

However, I do occasionally have a Protein shake for lunch when I know I am not getting enough protein. I don't have a big problem with hunger, so it doesn't usually bother me to wait until dinner to eat again when I have had a shake for lunch.

If you drink the shake slowly I don't see a problem.

You should probably count your calories and your protein for what you are eating and see where it lies. 4oz of food 3 times a day doesn't sound like a whole lot, and I imagine you're lacking in a good number of nutrients.

There actually are good solid proteins that are high protein.

Those small cans of canned chicken/ham/turkey (some are Hormel brand), are like 120 calories for the entire can, and 23g of protein. I can eat the whole can as a meal (I flake it, heat it up, then mix it with a small amount something wet like Mayo, cranberry sauce, or apple sauce).

It's a good way to boost protein for me!

These are great suggestions. I'm going to look for the canned meat. My doc did say I could occasionally have a protien drink for Breakfast if I didn't have time to eat. I do it about 1-2x a week.

I'm hungry today too. I get my first fill next Friday.

I figured it out! I wasn't tired because of what I was eating, it was my latest cholesterol pill. Half of the ones he's put me on give me insomnia. This one was mild enough that I didn't notice, with the holidays, then the surgery, then my trip to GL.

I had my first normal week of work and was so tired, then had a hectic evening and forgot to take the meds and the next day I felt 80% better. I haven't taken it since and I'm back to normal.

Back to the drawing board on cholesterol meds. Geeze, I think I've tried them all.

Good defective work! Maybe you'll be able to lower your cholesterol enough after losing more weight, so you don;t need them anymore!

I sure hope so because I've tried just about everything there is an each one gives me side effects that I can't live with. Vytorin gave me insomnia so bad, I was only able to sleep about 2 hours a night. This one was much more subtle, I laid in bed about an hour each night trying to fall asleep, but worse than that, when I did sleep, it was fitful so I never felt rested.

I am a HUGE fan of B-12

I have these drops you put under your tounge (which is the best way to absorb B vitimins) they dont taste great but are not too bad. but I can tell the difference in minutes once I take it.

I get mine at the health food store. I got a bottle for about 11 dollars. I think it was definitly worth the money.