Im confused

I was told to eat between 700-900 calories should I be focusing on protein instead to feel full and forget the calories?im struggling to eat so little and my weight has stalled for weeks now I'm desperate as to what to do. Any ideas? I'm eating my protein first like I'm supposed to.

Glad it was helpful, WondaWendy. Yep, I'm a nurse but I mostly deal with broken bones or hip replacements LOL.

cheers Nini.

Nini, it really sounds like you know what you are talking about (I think you're a nurse - right?).  I just wanted to say thank you for such an excellent explanation. It totally makes sense to me now.

The number one reason for WLS patient to have a higher protein intake is to stop muscle wasting. When you are on such a low calorie diet your body will start to break down it's own muscles to provide energy, this can include your heart, which is a muscle. Obviously it is important for your long term health to prevent this break down of muscle. The second reason is that protein takes longer to break down and therefore stays in the stomach longer giving a sensation of fullness for longer reducing snacking. Once you get to goal and can eat more calories it is not as important to have such a  high protein diet and you can concentrate on a healthy balanced diet. 

cheers Nini

Yes most dietitians do recommend protein first for the first few months but I found it almost unbearable so I introduced my veg and fruit back pretty early.  I was also advised by not only the dietitian but the Dr that just eating protein all the time is long term bad for both the liver and kidneys.  I have seen a video that says it should be the first part of your meal to hit the stomach to close the valve on the bottom of the stomach so it fills faster making overeating harder but other types of food can follow.  I think by the stage of 3 to 4 mths everyone should be eating plenty of fruit and veg I have just finished watching a video that Mabrahmz put on the pre op page and the Dr in that certainly praised eating fruit and veg above overdosing on protein give it a look very interesting.

I haven't seen a dietican for a long time though I should go again.

I was told in the initial stages, "do not count calories"; "eat a balanced diet; though protien first"; and also at twelve & eighteen months the same; plus take multi vitamins and calcium + D. From my memory (and this can be lacking of late): calorie counting shifts the focus back to dieting, and as on a lifestyle change "for life", no calorie counting. (I think if I had of and have been calorie counting I may not of put on some of my weight loss, at two-three years; which I am working on). Protien first, as you find you feel satisfied earlier and for longer; and less likely to pick/snack; though needing a balanced diet to achieve the lifestyle change.

I too have been wondering this one! I was told protien first and to be honest I can't fit in more than a can of tuna at one sitting. I can have 1 scrambled egg but if I do soft boiled I can have 2. I am also still doing an optifast for breakfast everyday as it suits my lifestyle kids/school/work etc... I guess I should attempt to get some fruit and veg in too :)

I reckon like most things, they'll always be different opinions. Kristie, you're doing very well, you've lost heaps of weight. I guess most on here would follow what their surgeon's team recommends and your doing that.

One thing also about protein, particularly any meat, (unfortunately not so much fish or vegertarian protien, like beans/tofu etc) is that it sustains you for longer in the sense that you feel satiated for longer.

Good luck!

Thanks for your replies everyone.

Im going to try and add a bit more variety to my diet. I really miss fruit. Think Ive only eaten one apple and 5 strawberries since Feb!!!!!

Hopefully my weight loss continues

Kristie

With my dieticians, the focus in the beginning was protein, protein, protein. The diet does become a little more balanced as time goes by, but still the rule is generally protein first, then the veggies, and/or whatever else if there is room. Which I don't have a lot of, seven months out and I've only just been able to start getting in somewhere between 1/3 - 1/2 a cup of food at meal times!

If I'm faced with the choice of either a banana or a small tin of baked beans as a morning or afternoon snack, I'm still more likely to choose the beans, because of the protein. And quite possibly, the other thing a lot of people think about in the beginning, is the issue of hair thinning/loss. The more protein in our diets, the better for our hair!

I see an awful lot of talk on here about people focusing on getting enough protein and I mentioned it to my dietitian and she said similar to yours. Basically, don't worry about loading up on protein, just make sure you have a balanced diet and make sure when you have your food that you get the protein food in before you're full. No mention about counting calories either, just healthy diet.

When I was researching getting the sleeve, I was talking to my friends husband who had his in December. He is doing really well.  I said I noticed on this forum that you have to make sure you get enough protein.  He said not really, he was told he needed to eat a balanced diet rather so was more important to eat a wide variety of foods.  

However, I continue to see lots of people on here heavily focused on protein so I am not sure why that is.

I will also be interested to see other's responses to this post.

Cheers,
Wendy :)

Hi all

I am so confused!!!! Went to see my dietician today to find out what I should be doing with my diet. I had my op 19th Feb and have lost 28kg so far with hopefully another 20kg to go.

This is only the second time I have seen her and I was just wanted to check I was on the right path. She told me that I need to have more variety in my diet and dont  concentrate so much on protein. I need to eat more fruit and veg. I also asked how many calories I should be having per day. She told me that I should not be counting calories and to just eat till I felt comfortable. Her view is that by having the sleeve you should be able to eat sensibly a wide range of foods and not have to worry so much about counting calories.

Has anyone else been given this advice?

Kristie