Questions About Protein - Keith!!

Keith (or anyone, really!)

I've found that, since my reflux started about a month ago, I'm not able to eat as much at meals and my still-great restriction doesn't allow much dense protein. (Yes, I'm taking a PPI and my surgeon has referred me to a gastroenterologist - appt next month). That being said, I've continued using protein shakes to get my protein in daily, and even with using 2 a day, I'm still only hitting about 60 grams of protein MAX a day. My meals typically look like this:

B: ~200 cal shake with soy milk and Synthrax Nectar - 23g Protein

L: 1-2 oz chicken breast

D: Varies, but I always get some sort of lean protein (1-2 oz)

S: another shake or more protein in meat or cheese form

I feel like my restriction is causing me to not hit my goals... So I guess my question is that, in order to get in my daily protein, is it acceptable to add more than the "serving size" of 1 scoop of protein powder to my shakes? I remember something Keith said about the body only being able to absorb a certain amount of protein at once, so it's not like I could just dump in 3 scoops in the morning and, boom, there's my daily protein. So what's the max amount I could use, with 1 scoop yielding 23 g? 

Thanks in advance!!

 

Not Keith but....

(1) Switching to "Oh Yeah!" RTD protein shakes will get you 32g in 14oz.  They taste fine to me and seem to have one of the highest protein counts in the RTD lines.  Also counts as part of your liquid intake for the day.

(2) Adding ISOPURE..... I guess you'd call them protein infused flavored watered....  Either way, it can net you 40g in 20oz and also helps boost your liquids for the day.  I skipped this option because it seemed like adding calories (protein = calories also) without adding much other nutritionally.  However, I can see a benefit there for people having trouble getting to the solid sources of protein.

I'm sure you'll get other suggestions, but these can help you bridge for a while until you're able to handle the solids better.

Thanks for the reply. I haven't tried that brand of RTD, but I'll look into it. I've become lactose intolerant since surgery and have to find lactose free, which limits the brands that I can try. I really like the Synthrax Nectar Vanilla and I know myself and know that I need to be using something that I'm drinking because I LIKE, not because I feel OBLIGATED because I need to meet my protein goals.

As for Isopure... I used it immediately post op, but it seems to upset my reflux. Plus it's just so cloyingly sweet that I can't manage an entire bottle without wanting to upchuck :(

If I can just use my powder, just more of it, I'll be perfectly happy.

I found a bunch of great liquids on mybariatricpantry. Sample packs of hot chocolate, fruit flavored beverages, soups, and shakes. Each packet is 60 calories and 15 grams of protein. For awhile I was having one of those a day which I counted in my fluid and gave me the boost to get up over 60 grams.

Thanks for the reply. I really like my brand... I think I'll just use more of it at once instead of less spread out through the day. I'll check that website out though!

I checked-out the soups on that website.  Am I reading it right that the soups are less then 1 ounce per packet?  I thought beginning the second week we could have a little more then 1 ounce, like anywhere from 1 to 4 ounces.  I realize it's different for everyone, so that's why it varies.  Does the 1 ounce not include the water you place in the soup?  Thanks!

Hope-1 ounce is the shipping weight of the little cup of soup packet, not the volume of your soup after you add ho****er (usually about 6 ounces) :-) Katy

Oh good, I must have read it wrong, LOL!  Thank you for clarifying!  :-)

The total volume when made is 8 ounces. It must be just the powder that's 1 ounce.

Honestly the whole "body can only absorb so much protein at one time and the rest is wasted" argument is a very old one and you'll find people on both sides of the fence coming from every avenue of the medical community. While obviously like anything else too much of even a good thing is not going to be used optimally buthonestly wouldn't worry for your (our) purposes. Proteins are just long chains of amino acids and when following a low carb diet, as most of us are, any excess that can't be used will be stored much in the same way excess carbs do, first as glycogen stores in our muscles and lastly,if binging on protein and the body can't use it, fat. But think about it. You meet your daily protein requirements, protein being the building blocks of every muscle nerve and fiber of your being and if there is excess to be stored these healthy amino acids chains are stored as glycogen in your muscles. Not too bad if you ask me. Honestly, don't fret. Even in the beginning i would often double up the scoops on shakes and even now i still sometimes do, dropping 50gm protein and 2gm carb for 200 calories isn't half bad. Its up to you and who you want to believe. I say listen to your body and believe it when you see/feel the result. Best wishes.