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whats more important counting calories or getting in the protein?



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i am struggling a little, i am trying to keep my calorie intake no more than 1500 calories per my nutritionist but sometimes i find that my Protein intake is lower than its supposed to be. somedays when i eat more protein my calories are higher. if i go back to the basics and eat more chicken, eggs, tuna, etc maybe this will keep my calories down. i go in to the surgeon on tues and havent lost any weight now for 4 months. the last time i went in she seemed very disappointed in me. i would get another fill but she said i was tight last time only at 1.5cc in a 4cc band. i have to say that in the past week ive been getting full quicker and not thinking about food as much. i just started using myfitnesspal.com to keep track of my calorie intake, it also keeps track of your protein also

andrea

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I firmly believe from years of research that surgery or no surgery Protein is by far the most important, along with vegies and fruits. Take for example: what makes you... you are protein first, Water second, minerals and Vitamins third. So eat or drink your protein first and foremost, Get plenty of water and also take the Vitamin supplements or eat various fruits and vegies.. the darker the fruit or vegie the better for you they are... broccoli, asparagus, red cabbage, spinach... or various colored berries.. try it for a few days, thats all you will need to see a difference.. Good Luck!!!

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Andrea, I think you should talk to your doctor or nutritionist again. 1500 calories might be too much for you. I'm trying to stay between 900 and 1100 calories and I have no problem getting 60-70 grams of Protein in along with veggies and fruit with that calorie limit. Occasionally I go over slightly in order to get more protein in. I definitely think the protein is most important, but you also need to stay within a reasonable calorie intake. All of our bodies are different, so I think you should talk with your doctor. Also, are you exercising?

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I agree. It's a combination of both. Get your Protein in but keep the calories at a reasonable level as well. I think under 1200 is what most recommend. Maybe adding protein to drinks etc is a way to get more in. I like to flavor up some boneless, skinless chicken for protein or eat tuna sensations. Everything else is fruit and veggies. I try to eat low glycemic...low sugar. It seems to help if I follow it like I'm supposed to. Maybe your nutritionis can help with suggestions to tweek your diet some. Maybe a slight fill will help?

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I'm firmly of the belief that if you eat a varied diet you will get what you need.

You may only get 40g of Protein one day, but 90 the next. Over time it evens out. I really do not believe it is necessary or advantageous to try to cram lots of Protein in.

Yes, we need protein, but we also need a whole host of other things and it is impossible to eat all of them in one day. Whilst you're focussing on protein, you're often missing fibre or Vitamin C (or whatever) for example.

A very varied diet of healthy foods will see you right. Just dont eat the same thing day in day out. Mix it up, eat lots of different colours - 2 fruit, 5 veg per day, avoid white carbs. When you do that with a band, you may even find the calories take care of themselves. But I'd sooner count calories than protein.

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i think 1500 calories is to high also i was losing like 6 pounds a week when i ate 1200 a day and only exercised 3 days a week for 30 min. now i am exercising more but also eating more calories. i also havent been eating enough fruit and vegetables. thanks for the support tomorrow is a new day and im not giving up yet. it is frustrating not to lose for 4 months but my eating habits are so much better since ive been banded i just need to regroup and try something different

andrea

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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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      1. summerseeker

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

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