Protein vs Calories?

[snowkitten 371]

I’m not sleeved yet but im on the pre-op diet and its raised a few questions for me…

I’ve heard plenty of people say they average 500-800 calories a day. How are you able to do that and still be able to get in the required 80g of Protein?

I’m on a high protein / low carb diet and ive essentially found that if I want to avoid going over the required 30g of carbs then I have to eat protein only foods . So that’s pretty much all I eat and im getting my required 80g of protein, BUT averaging about 1200-1600.

Im confused (and slightly panicking)

[jess9395 5,449]

I can't speak for all, but my doctor gives a range of 60-80 G Protein so I don't always get in 80 daily. I do always get in 60 and aim for 80.

But that said, a gram of Protein has 4 calories so 80g = 320 calories. I work towards a 50% protein 25/25 carbs and fat. So on the days I get 80g of protein I get 40g carbs (@4 cal per gram = 160) and 40g fat (@9 cal per gram = 360) for a total of around 840. But many days (especially when I was less than six months out) I only eat/ate 60-70g protein so then I come in around 600 a day.

[jess9395 5,449]

Given your 80g Protein (for 320 cal)

And your <30g carbs (for 120 cal)

That makes 440 calories.

So the rest of your 1200-1600 calories must be coming from fat, yes? That's like 800-1300 or so calories just from fat or over 100g. If you chose leaner source of protein your calorie count should go down.

Edited August 15, 2014 by jess9395

[snowkitten 371]

Given your 80g Protein (for 320 cal)

And your <30g carbs (for 120 cal)

That makes 440 calories.

So the rest of your 1200-1600 calories must be coming from fat, yes? That's like 800-1300 or so calories just from fat or over 100g. If you chose leaner source of Protein your calorie count should go down.

Ok i can see how you can get that math but high protein foods tend to be higher in fat and I go for the leanest i can get.

I use the Myfitnesspal app to track everything I eat. So for example I eat 4oz hamburger Patti (93% lean beef with nothing added). That's 170 calories and 23g of protein. According to your math 23×4=92 so that would mean 78 from fat?

I know chicken is lower in fat and I do eat alot of that but everyone can't possibly eat chicken for Breakfast, lunch, and dinner only??

[LisaNLasVegas 91]

I am only one week out, but I have one Protein Shake (160 cal/ 30 gm protein) and one Protein Soup (100 cal/ 20 gm protein) daily, which makes up 50 grams of protein and only 260 calories. The rest of my protein comes from (right now) cottage cheese and yogurt. Once I go to a normal diet, then I will probably still have continue to drink one protein shake a day to get in all the protein.

[Kindle 8,667]

Premier Protein has 30g Protein and 160 calories, so if you drank 3/day you could get 90g protein in only 480 calories. Syntrax nectar is 23g/100 calories, so 4 servings/day is 92g protein in only 400 calories. If you replace 1/3 of your food with just 1 protein shake, you will drop your calories significantly and still get plenty of protein. When you are immediately postop, Protein shakes are pretty much what you live on, that's why it's so easy to get so much protein in so few calories.

And that's why at 7 1/2 months out I still have a protein smoothie every day.

Edited August 16, 2014 by Kindle

[jess9395 5,449]

As everyone has said, Protein Shakes keep the calories low and that's pretty much a staple in early days. Fish (tuna and shrimp and tilapia and whatever) have very little fat. Nonfat dairy (Greek yogert is the bomb)

[snowkitten 371]

Thanks for the input, I'll keep all this in mind