Two months out/the importance of protein.

02-20-12

So, I am two months out and I had my first “follow up” at the doctor’s office a couple of weeks ago (this would have been at the six week mark)  there were several people in the office awaiting their turn.  As we waited, we started talking, all of us, sans one, had all had our surgery around the same time.  We all seemed to have lost about the same amount of weight, thirty pounds give or take.  We were all disappointed.

When I got back to the back to “weigh in” I found out that I had lost thirty pounds.  I sighed.  The Nurse said “what’s the matter?”  I said “I just expected to have done a little better.”  She looked at my chart and said “you are only six weeks out, and you have already lost thirty pounds.  “That is FANTASTIC; you are right on track for where you should be.”   “Really?”  I ask and she said “Yes defiantly, you only had surgery six weeks ago; you are RIGHT on track for the weight you started, and the amount of time that has passed.” I guess since I lost so much so fast the first month, I was expecting it the following months as well.

 She went on to say, “if you lose it too quickly you have more of an issue with sagging skin, (which you don’t want).” 

Her saying that, made me feel so much better. Next we all met with the doctor in a group setting where we could do a question and answer session.  The topic of the day was mostly about the importance of protein.

My doctor said that if we got eighty (80) grams of protein or more per day, that would be “perfect” but right now if we got 60 it would be ok.  The supplements at this point are a MUST.  He explained it like this.  Every ounce of meat is approximately 10 grams of protein.  (An Egg is 6 grams of protein.) If you went to a restaurant and ordered the smallest steak on the menu it would be about 6 oz.  He went on to say there is NO WAY we would be able to eat that much at one time.

  Another interesting thing I learned that day is your body can only process about 26 grams of protein / hour, (blended protein is absorbed over 3-4 hours ) so you can’t get all your protein in the morning and think you are good for the day.  The protein needs to be spaced out during the day. 

Not getting enough protein has some very nasty side effects (for lack of a better phrase) One of the most noticeable is the way you feel.  Without enough protein you can feel grouchy, tired, and just rundown all over.  The next thing is hair loss, without enough protein you will start to lose your hair, now about the hair; you don’t notice it right away.

Your hair loss will reflect your protein intake from a couple of months back.  So, he went on to say if you were not getting enough protein but now you are and experience hair loss it’s from when you weren’t.  Lastly and really important is losing muscle.

There are some things that I do for protein.  I drink the Atkins shakes they are low in carbs and sugars and high in protein (about 10 grams per shake),  I also mix the whey protein it’s a powder and I get it at Wal-Mart when mixed with fruit, ice and Greek Yogurt it is pretty good.  (Real Greek yogurt is HIGH in protein and Low in carbs/sugars you HAVE to read the back, just because the front claims to be "Greek yogurt" does not mean it really is)  I use the Oikos and the Nostimo.  They both have about 12-15 grams of protein, and only about 7 carbs per serving.  When mixed with the protein powder (I use the body fortress) it thickens it up to be more like a milk shake.  I also use the “shots” they come in this test tube looking things and are great when you are in a hurry.  One of my favorite sources is egg whites.  Now before you freak out let me say that I am VERY much a texture and taste person. The thing about the egg whites is this. They are pasteurized and are blended so you don’t get that slimy tenacious feeling in your mouth.  They are odorless and tasteless.  I make a glass of tea and add the egg whites or I make a cup of coffee use the sugar free creamer that I like, (let it get room temperature and pour over ice and add the egg whites)  You get 3.25 grams per pump, I use about 3 in a glass of tea or the cold coffee drink I mentioned.  You DO NOT want to add the egg whites to hot things like hot coffee or soup or you will have egg bits in your drink.  I order these from on line from Egg Whites International (here is the link  http://www.eggwhitesint.com/)

I hope this has helped you.  I am struggling to get enough protein every day, but I am doing better (the egg whites have really saved me) but like I said getting enough is something that I really have to be aware of every day and do my best to achieve.

A.  Dawn