IF you're at least 3 1/2 to 4 years out - protein ??
Okay, so my surgery was in Dec 2008. There have been some bumps in the way but I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
I've haven't been on OH much and have trying to get back into the habit of paying it forward, but now I have a question, since I am working on tweaking my diet in small ways back to the optimum. (optimum health not necessarily a certain number - I don't go there)
At 3 or 4 years out - what does your protein intake look like. In grams, in food, in bars, in shakes?
I've been bad and let mine slide quite a bit, but I know I have little or no malabsorption left so wasn't even sure what it should be now.
Please don't tell me to call my surgeon. He has been an ass since very early post op, plus his office is constantly in a general state of flux with PA's coming and going and him only concentrating on the new money to be gained out there (in other words, pre-ops). Nope, I'm not angry, just stating the facts. At almost four years out I didn't expect much from him anyway unless something monumentally bad happened.
Any input is appreciated, but please post ONLY if you are at least 3 years out. There is no way for you to know what I'm talking about if you're pre-op or in your honeymoon phase.
=)
amy
I've haven't been on OH much and have trying to get back into the habit of paying it forward, but now I have a question, since I am working on tweaking my diet in small ways back to the optimum. (optimum health not necessarily a certain number - I don't go there)
At 3 or 4 years out - what does your protein intake look like. In grams, in food, in bars, in shakes?
I've been bad and let mine slide quite a bit, but I know I have little or no malabsorption left so wasn't even sure what it should be now.
Please don't tell me to call my surgeon. He has been an ass since very early post op, plus his office is constantly in a general state of flux with PA's coming and going and him only concentrating on the new money to be gained out there (in other words, pre-ops). Nope, I'm not angry, just stating the facts. At almost four years out I didn't expect much from him anyway unless something monumentally bad happened.
Any input is appreciated, but please post ONLY if you are at least 3 years out. There is no way for you to know what I'm talking about if you're pre-op or in your honeymoon phase.
=)
amy
I am almost five years out. I try to have over 100 grams of protien a day. I start my day off a Quest natural protein bar and usually lean meats with veggies for lunch...sometimes some complex carbs too and I have a Click protein shake (made with milk) sometime in the afternoon. On weekends I generally have a hot Click protein drink for breakfast....lunch and dinner are sometimes on the go on weekends.
Have a great weekend.
Lisa
Have a great weekend.
Lisa
I do food 98% of the time too. I've been keeping beef jerky in my desk at work for in a pinch. I want to get back to eating more greek yogurt. I used to have at least one a day and miss it.
I've never been good at the shakes. I'm good at buying the protein powder not so good at using it. But I keep some around for in a pinch.
Right now we are on a fish, shrimp, crab cake kick.
My husband is also post op and when I was really busy this winter I would buy him already smoked ribs at a meat market and he could microwave some of those in a pinch
eta: I said pinch a lot in this post, wonder what that means lol
I've never been good at the shakes. I'm good at buying the protein powder not so good at using it. But I keep some around for in a pinch.
Right now we are on a fish, shrimp, crab cake kick.
My husband is also post op and when I was really busy this winter I would buy him already smoked ribs at a meat market and he could microwave some of those in a pinch
eta: I said pinch a lot in this post, wonder what that means lol
about 90 grams, sometimes a little more, per day. Usually one protein bar and one shake a day, sometimes not, though.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
I am really sorry you dont have the support of your surgeon or NUT. I am in a different situation in that mine is an hour away and my NUT doesnt take any insurance so after the first year, we had to start paying out of pocket - I cant afford to pay her. I did it until I hit 2 years out and since then I have done it on my own. My surgeon is great and I go yearly but just for medical stuff not nutritional stuff.
We all lose our malabsorbtion by about 18 months, so now that you are 3 1/2 years out - you definitely lost most of it, if not all of it. The malabsorbtion that we have forever is our vitamins and minerals. They are absorbed in the parts of our stomach and small intestines that have been bypassed and will never be able to be bypassed. You will have to take the following for the rest of your life = multis, calcium citrate, dry vitamin D3, carbonyl iron with vitamin C or heme iron (if these dont work - IV iron), B12 = sublingual or injections, B1 -- others based on your labs.
As far as food - you really need to go back to the beginning to get yourself back on track. Stick to the basics. High protein, low carb, low fat. The best way to eat to optimize your metabolism and maintain a constant blood sugar level without making your hungry is to eat 5 to 6 small meals per day. Each meal must have protein, then add some vegetables, if room add a fruit. You need some carbs but just make them good carbs not starchy stuff at the beginning. You can also include a protein shake once per day but you really want to get as much protein in food as possible. If in your labs, you find your protein and albumin levels are too low, then you need to add another protein shake (with atleast 30-45 grams) - my protein shakes and protein hot chocolate have 45 and 35 grams of protein each. Try to avoid bars - some of them are okay but most are just glorified candy bars with protein in them. You have to be very careful to find ones with very little sugar and also low carb. I cant eat nuts and almost all of them have nuts or peanut butter. They also have alot of fat in many of them. Best to stick to food. If you want something easy to carry with you - try cheese sticks, deli meat rolled up or a half a sandwich on 40 calorie bread, yogurt, nuts or other items with protein.
You also want to eat every 2 to 3 hours to not let your blood sugar go up or down and not let yourself get hungry which is when you end up cheating. Eating the high protein keeps you full longer. As far as the amount of protein, I have always been told atleast 100 grams after 1 year out. I have always followed that and my protein levels have always been perfect.
How are you with your supplements? Are you taking your multi 2 times per day? Which type? You dont want it to have iron in it. Centrum silver is a great choice - they also have chewables if you like.
calcium citrate - 1500-2000mg per day in 3-4 daily doses no more than 650mg at a time. You can take then 2 hours apart and not within 2-4 hours of your thyroid or iron . Citrical maximum, petites or bariatric advantage are great choices.
Dry D3 = depends on your vitamin D level. You want to be up around atleast 60 but preferably around 80-100.
B12 - either sublingual 1000mcg daily minimum or monthly injection. B12 deficiency is very dangerous and can cause nerve damage and cognitive problems. You need to keep optimal levels up around 1200-1800, anything below 500 puts you at risk for nerve damage.
B1 - 100mg per day =like B12 can cause nerve damage and you need optimal levels.
If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me - I had my surgery on 10/28/2010. I am not on everyday but I do answer everything. I hope this gave you the information you needed.
rbb
We all lose our malabsorbtion by about 18 months, so now that you are 3 1/2 years out - you definitely lost most of it, if not all of it. The malabsorbtion that we have forever is our vitamins and minerals. They are absorbed in the parts of our stomach and small intestines that have been bypassed and will never be able to be bypassed. You will have to take the following for the rest of your life = multis, calcium citrate, dry vitamin D3, carbonyl iron with vitamin C or heme iron (if these dont work - IV iron), B12 = sublingual or injections, B1 -- others based on your labs.
As far as food - you really need to go back to the beginning to get yourself back on track. Stick to the basics. High protein, low carb, low fat. The best way to eat to optimize your metabolism and maintain a constant blood sugar level without making your hungry is to eat 5 to 6 small meals per day. Each meal must have protein, then add some vegetables, if room add a fruit. You need some carbs but just make them good carbs not starchy stuff at the beginning. You can also include a protein shake once per day but you really want to get as much protein in food as possible. If in your labs, you find your protein and albumin levels are too low, then you need to add another protein shake (with atleast 30-45 grams) - my protein shakes and protein hot chocolate have 45 and 35 grams of protein each. Try to avoid bars - some of them are okay but most are just glorified candy bars with protein in them. You have to be very careful to find ones with very little sugar and also low carb. I cant eat nuts and almost all of them have nuts or peanut butter. They also have alot of fat in many of them. Best to stick to food. If you want something easy to carry with you - try cheese sticks, deli meat rolled up or a half a sandwich on 40 calorie bread, yogurt, nuts or other items with protein.
You also want to eat every 2 to 3 hours to not let your blood sugar go up or down and not let yourself get hungry which is when you end up cheating. Eating the high protein keeps you full longer. As far as the amount of protein, I have always been told atleast 100 grams after 1 year out. I have always followed that and my protein levels have always been perfect.
How are you with your supplements? Are you taking your multi 2 times per day? Which type? You dont want it to have iron in it. Centrum silver is a great choice - they also have chewables if you like.
calcium citrate - 1500-2000mg per day in 3-4 daily doses no more than 650mg at a time. You can take then 2 hours apart and not within 2-4 hours of your thyroid or iron . Citrical maximum, petites or bariatric advantage are great choices.
Dry D3 = depends on your vitamin D level. You want to be up around atleast 60 but preferably around 80-100.
B12 - either sublingual 1000mcg daily minimum or monthly injection. B12 deficiency is very dangerous and can cause nerve damage and cognitive problems. You need to keep optimal levels up around 1200-1800, anything below 500 puts you at risk for nerve damage.
B1 - 100mg per day =like B12 can cause nerve damage and you need optimal levels.
If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me - I had my surgery on 10/28/2010. I am not on everyday but I do answer everything. I hope this gave you the information you needed.
rbb
Almost four years out- 85 grams minimum usually. I would say food is 75 percent and the rest is protein supplement due to specific activity. I do vanilla Click and skim with ice in a blender every single prerun. I do either nectar or my new fave Whole Gains mango in my blender bottle and drink during/after weights.
If I didn't workout like I do I would prob do more food.
If I didn't workout like I do I would prob do more food.
Be happy.
I never really could handle the shakes. I did them very early post-op but I have some dusty canisters in the cabinet.
Recently I've been eating more Greek yogurt. I also eat a lot of fish. I make tuna fish and leave it in the fridge (there is some good tuna at Costco.you don't drain it and it's make from smaller tunas so they say there is less mercury).
I do find when I really focus on eating protein it still works. I feel restricted and the weight goes in the downward position.
After surgery I could only eat 70 grams of protein a day due to the kidney stuff. Now that I have a new kick-ass kidney I get to eat 90 grams a day.
Deb T.
Recently I've been eating more Greek yogurt. I also eat a lot of fish. I make tuna fish and leave it in the fridge (there is some good tuna at Costco.you don't drain it and it's make from smaller tunas so they say there is less mercury).
I do find when I really focus on eating protein it still works. I feel restricted and the weight goes in the downward position.
After surgery I could only eat 70 grams of protein a day due to the kidney stuff. Now that I have a new kick-ass kidney I get to eat 90 grams a day.
Deb T.
Amy, how nice to see you! I have missed you.
I will be 5 years out in August, and I get 70-90g of protein per day. During the week, I get 20g of protein through supplements (which gives me the 90g): I either add protein powder to my morning SF hot chocolate (along with some calcium powder and Benefiber!) or I have half of a Cytomax protein water (in warmer weather). Every now and then in the summer I will have a Syntrax twisted cherry or roadside lemonade protein drink, and I have protein bars very occasionally as emergency protein to combat low blood sugar. Other than that, all my protein comes from food. I still eat most of my protein first at a meal (although I do mix in a couple of bites of a veggie or whatever).
Don't be such a stranger! I have found that continuing to come here really helps keep me on track.
Lora
I will be 5 years out in August, and I get 70-90g of protein per day. During the week, I get 20g of protein through supplements (which gives me the 90g): I either add protein powder to my morning SF hot chocolate (along with some calcium powder and Benefiber!) or I have half of a Cytomax protein water (in warmer weather). Every now and then in the summer I will have a Syntrax twisted cherry or roadside lemonade protein drink, and I have protein bars very occasionally as emergency protein to combat low blood sugar. Other than that, all my protein comes from food. I still eat most of my protein first at a meal (although I do mix in a couple of bites of a veggie or whatever).
Don't be such a stranger! I have found that continuing to come here really helps keep me on track.
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
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