Hey everyone. I was banded on 4/7/09. I have lost 19 lbs so far. I am taking in about 800-1000 calories a day. I am so worried that I am going to start losing my hair or become unhealthy bc i am not getting enough vitamins, minerals, and protein. How many grams of protein should I take in per day? What is the best protein shake and bar out there. Should I start taking a vitamin? I really havent been given any clear directions as exactly how much of all this to eat. Help!!!!!!!!!

Hey everyone. I was banded on 4/7/09. I have lost 19 lbs so far. I am taking in about 800-1000 calories a day. I am so worried that I am going to start losing my hair or become unhealthy bc i am not getting enough Vitamins, minerals, and Protein. How many grams of protein should I take in per day? What is the best protein shake and bar out there. Should I start taking a Vitamin? I really havent been given any clear directions as exactly how much of all this to eat. Help!!!!!!!!!

Well, it kinda depends on your doctors instructions, but you really should be taking a chewable vitamin. My dr has me take a Calcium supplement too, and says that we should try to get in 60grams of protein every day. Also it may take you a while to find out how many calories keep your body in weight loss mode, but out of starvation mode. I have to take in almost 1500 a day to keep losing. Hair loss seems to be common among those of us who are losing weight. I take Biotin supplements to help. I hope this helps!!

The doctors should have given you all this information. You need to take Calcium and a multi-vitamin.

The amount of grams of Protein to be consumed from my doctor was 60 a day.

So, for a protein shake, you would need to take about 3 8 oz. or whatever it says on the label.

Sorry, but I'm not really sure of what the best kinds are, I don't really like any of them.

Hi jen. I did lose some hair. It seemed like a lot at the time, but it did stop and I'm growing new hair now. That started about 4 months after my surgery and lasted for a couple of months. Some say you lose hair because of the surgery, some say not enough protein, I've heard not enough water...... who knows?? I've taken Biotin, but not sure that helped any. I'm sure there are some people who do not lose any hair. Maybe you will be one of the lucky ones. I do take a multi-vitamin every day (Walgreens A to Z chewable). I also take a B 12 dot each day for energy and chewable calcium. I was told to make sure to get 60 grams of protein each day. When I first heard that it seemed like a LOT, but it really isn't hard to do. I had to have 2 protein shakes a day for my pre-op diet and still have to have one every day for breakfast. I like the Atkins Advantage shakes. I like the chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. They are kinda expensive.... but we are worth it. I'm sure some people don't like them... but I do. I try to keep my calories at about 1000 a day. You might want to check with your surgeon - these are the things my doctor told me to take/do - yours might want you to do something different. Don't worry. It all seems overwhelming at first... but it gets easier after awhile. Good luck to you. Let me know if I can do anything to help you out. Becky

I agree...shame on your doctor. You need a great multi Vitamin. You need a balanced diet including 60 g of Protein each day. Where is your surgeon? How can he not give any instructions?

As to your hair; most lose some, then it grows back. It has more to do w/the trauma of surgery than with any supplement or lack thereof (for most of us)

My doctor said a minimum of 50 grams of protein a day. His nurse also said, hair loss is possbile from the surgery (anesthesia) and low protein. Seems like 1-2 shakes per day will be necessary to meet the minimum requirements. I actually liked the Optifast shakes and Designer whey. I add a sweet n low and cinammon for a egg nog type taste, or vanilla extract, other extracts like mint to chocolate, coffee, crystal lite... experiment with flavors. I could use one right now!:wub:

Your doc should have given you that info. This is what I have done....I take a chewable mulitvitamin....natures pride, its comparable to bariatric advantage but a lot cheaper. I take at least 1000ui of vitamin D. I also take a calcium citrate chewable (twin labs). I get these from the Vitamin Shoppe. Protein you need to be at least getting 50-60g per day but try to shoot for more. Isopure Pure Protein is a great protein powder. I like the creamy vanilla. Drink a lot of water. Shoot for a hundred oz a day. to help flush out your system. For hair loss I admit I have lost some but that is normal with losing a lot of weight. I heard Biotin helps prevent hair loss. Its in all multivitamins. Good luck and take your vitamins every day.:wub:

I consume 60-80mg of protein everyday and it hasn't stopped my hairloss. I don't know if anyone knows exactly what causes it. I hear the weightloss and also that major surgery causes it. I am losing hair, but it is only REALLY noticeable when I wash it. To me, it is a small price to pay for my weightloss.

I am 3 1/2 months out since surgery, and my hair is really falling out. I've seen the posts about Biotin supplements. Where can I find these? Do they seem to help? The good thing is my hair was really thick, but it is quickly becoming what most people would consider 'normal'....I just don't want it to go any further.

Thanks!

Mary

I am 3 1/2 months out since surgery, and my hair is really falling out. I've seen the posts about Biotin supplements. Where can I find these? Do they seem to help? The good thing is my hair was really thick, but it is quickly becoming what most people would consider 'normal'....I just don't want it to go any further.

Thanks!

Mary

You can find biotin at walmart in the Vitamin section. It's not very expensive. I did notice that it slowed my hair loss. No harm in trying.

Chewable vitamins....lots of people use Flinstones! Centrum offers a chewable tablet (berry flavored) and a liquid. minimum of 60 grams of protein should protect your hair. My hair stylist said that if I started to experience hair loss to let her know and she had other suggestions we could try. And, really, I would call my surgeon's office and point out that I was not provided any dietary guidelines, information on vitamins etc and ask that that be provided ASAP! We can all tell you our experiences, but it would at least be nice to know what your doctor suggests.

Hey there..

I have to be honest and say I don't take any Vitamins, I did lose some hair about 6 months out but it grew back quickly.. I don't count my calories or my Protein, I just eat protein first and then veg. I don't want to be so food focused anymore. My doc says lapbanders really don't have to worry about Vitamin deficiency. I am almost 10 months out and am doing great! I feel fantastic as well. I was so obsessed at the beginning with counting protein, calories and such and I realized that by focusing so much on food I had traded one habit for another. I am not dieting I am living. I do try and stick to 100 calorie Snacks and the reason isn't because of the 100 calorie's it's because the size is a perfect snack.. I hope this helps. If you are worried get a blood work up done and if it looks good I wouldn't worry at all.

I think someone posted this on another thread, but the hair loss is called "telogen effluvium". Hair follicles are either active (androgen stage) or they are resting, or in the telogen stage. At any time 5-15% of our hair follicles are inactive. Surgery, childbirth, illness, a high fever, or stress can cause more than the normal number of follicles to go into the telogen stage. That's why we lose more hair than normal, but it grows back. I'm only a couple weeks out, so I haven't experienced it yet. I'm freaked out about it and I almost cancelled the surgery when I found out about it. But, as someone said, it's a small price to pay to lose weight and be healthy.