Having trouble getting my daily protein

[sylvia2017 166]

I'm 5 weeks out post op sleeve. I'm never hungry till its too late. Then I make myself eat. Vitamins make me feel very sick. I've always had a problem taking vitamins. I'm worried because I'm only getting about 400 calories and about 30 grams of Protein my muscles will break down. My body feels so weird right now. I'm like a marshmallow. I've lost 50 lbs and it's been a week and I've not lost another lb. Any suggestions?

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[Berry78 4,261]

You're in the "3 week stall", just a smidge late No worries, it will break in a week or two. Get out of the habit of only eating when you're hungry. That could be until Christmas. Try to get on a schedule of 5-6 small meals a day. You need to keep your blood sugar levels (I.E. Strength) up.

Liquid Protein sources are the easiest this early out. Protein Shakes, milk, yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese, eggs, refried beans...

[Mkita1982k 19]

2 hours ago, sylvia2017 said:

I'm 5 weeks out post op sleeve. I'm never hungry till its too late. Then I make myself eat. Vitamins make me feel very sick. I've always had a problem taking Vitamins. I'm worried because I'm only getting about 400 calories and about 30 grams of Protein my muscles will break down. My body feels so weird right now. I'm like a marshmallow. I've lost 50 lbs and it's been a week and I've not lost another lb. Any suggestions?

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Have you tried the Isopure liquid Protein Drinks? They have several flavors and each 20oz bottle is 40g of Protein. Drink them ice cold and over ice and that will help u eat more protein. I got mine from the Vitamin shop

[sylvia2017 166]

Have you tried the Isopure liquid Protein drinks? They have several flavors and each 20oz bottle is 40g of protein. Drink them ice cold and over ice and that will help u eat more protein. I got mine from the Vitamin shop

Yeah I tried one. Don't like the protein flavor. I eat a yogurt everyday that has 15 grams and I drink a protein milk sometimes that has 30 grams. I think I'm just brunt out on the same old stuff.

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[regina1 12]

I like genpro Protein Powder - i put it in a greek yogurt and stir cant tell its there!

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[Missy161 395]

You need to find sources of Protein or in about 3 months your hair will start falling out and you will end up malnourished. Have you tried protein Water? I got it at Safeway and it has 15 g of protein in it. I was having a lot of issues as well until my nutritionist told me about losing my hair and now I make sure I get my protein no matter what! Protein Bars, protein water, cheese, chicken whatever I can get down.


Mich W
Hw 223, SW 217 CW 198 GW 135

[Dashofpixiedust8 1,469]

I agree that you can not wait until you are hungry to eat. You need to eat, drink, and take your Vitamins on a schedule. When I was freshly out I made a spreadsheet with the times I needed to eat, drink, or take a Vitamin. Being a fresh bariatric patient is a full time job which is one of the reasons they recommend you take 6-8 weeks off of work after surgery, so you can get used to the schedule.

If you wait until you are hungry you will never get in what you need. some people are never hungry, especially soon out as the stomach is still healing and swollen.

I had to schedule things from 7am-11pm in order to get everything in, but I also had medications I spread out because I took a lot of medications as well.

While you should schedule out small meals throughout the day don't force yourself to finish the meal if you can not, that will just end with discomfort and possibly vomiting.

Try to figure out a schedule and meal plan that works for you, everyone is different. I am about 14 months out now and I eat a small meal or snack about every 2-3 hours.

[AZLoser 103]

At 5 weeks worry about liquids first. In another 3 or four weeks you can worry about Protein. You will not get malnourished at this point. No need to eat more than 3x a day. Anything more is grazing and that's a slippery slope down the road. Try obesityhelp site instead. More long term vets and better advice and support there.

[Sosewsue61 3,185]

@AZLoser your advice is ill advised, there is no way a 5 week sleever can consume adequate Protein requirements in 3 meals only. The stomach is still swollen and no where near healed making it impossible to get more than a couple ounces in at one sitting.

[Berry78 4,261]

1 hour ago, AZLoser said:

no need to eat more than 3x a day

I completely disagree with this. It will be years before a patient can meet their requirements in 3 meals.

Have you heard of Johns Hopkins hospital? It's in Baltimore, MD.. hugely respected place. They have a bariatric unit, and here is their recommendation for 5 weeks:

Sample Soft Diet meal plan (Weeks 5, 6, 7 and 8)

7:00 am 8 oz Fluid such as decaffeinated coffee

8:00 am 2 oz Protein food such as an omelet (1 scrambled egg with 1 slice light cheese and 1-2 tbsp cooked vegetables)

9:00 am 8 oz fluid such as Water with an orange wedge

10:00 am 8-12 ounces protein supplement

1:00 pm 1-2 oz protein food such as tuna with low fat Mayonnaise 2 saltine crackers 2-4 oz canned/ diced pears in 100% juice

2:00 pm 8 oz fluid such as water with lemon

3:30 pm 8-12 oz protein supplement

5:00 pm 8 oz fluid such as decaffeinated sugar-free iced tea

6:00 pm 1 ½ -2 oz protein food such as chopped chicken breast (moist, tender) 2 tbsp cooked green Beans 1-2 tbsp mashed potatoes with 1 tbsp fat-free gravy

7:30 pm 8 oz fluid such as a sugar-free flavored water

8:00 pm 1/2 cup melon

I count 3 meals, 1 snack, and 2 Protein Shakes. So in my eyes, it's eating 6 times a day.

If anyone wants more info on Hopkins' plan:

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/johns_hopkins_bayview/medical_services/specialty_care/bariatrics/nutrition_after_surgery.html

Click on the "Nutrition Guidelines for Weightloss Surgery".. the first link on the page.

[Dashofpixiedust8 1,469]

No need to eat more than 3x a day. Anything more is grazing and that's a slippery slope down the road.

This is not true. Many people after surgery, whether it's fresh out or years down the line, can't get all their Protein and calorie goals in just 3 meals.

My 6 times a day usually consist of:
1. A Greek yogurt.
2. A hard boiled egg and some cheese.
3. 3 oz lean protein and some veggies (maybe a small salad or steamed veggies).
4. A cottage cheese.
5. 3 oz protein with veggies again.
6. Protein Shake or piece of fruit.< br>

I am over a year out and can not eat only 3 meals because it hurts if I try. Also I find this helps curb hunger because as your stomach heals your hunger will come back.

[hmills653 365]

I completely disagree with this. It will be years before a patient can meet their requirements in 3 meals.
Have you heard of Johns Hopkins hospital? It's in Baltimore, MD.. hugely respected place. They have a bariatric unit, and here is their recommendation for 5 weeks:
Sample Soft Diet meal plan (Weeks 5, 6, 7 and 8)
7:00 am 8 oz Fluid such as decaffeinated coffee
8:00 am 2 oz Protein food such as an omelet (1 scrambled egg with 1 slice light cheese and 1-2 tbsp cooked vegetables)
9:00 am 8 oz fluid such as Water with an orange wedge
10:00 am 8-12 ounces protein supplement
1:00 pm 1-2 oz protein food such as tuna with low fat Mayonnaise 2 saltine crackers 2-4 oz canned/ diced pears in 100% Juice
2:00 pm 8 oz fluid such as water with lemon
3:30 pm 8-12 oz protein supplement
5:00 pm 8 oz fluid such as decaffeinated sugar-free iced tea
6:00 pm 1 ½ -2 oz protein food such as chopped chicken breast (moist, tender) 2 tbsp cooked green Beans 1-2 tbsp mashed potatoes with 1 tbsp fat-free gravy
7:30 pm 8 oz fluid such as a sugar-free flavored water
8:00 pm 1/2 cup melon


I count 3 meals, 1 snack, and 2 Protein Shakes. So in my eyes, it's eating 6 times a day.
If anyone wants more info on Hopkins' plan:
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/johns_hopkins_bayview/medical_services/specialty_care/bariatrics/nutrition_after_surgery.html
Click on the "Nutrition Guidelines for Weightloss Surgery".. the first link on the page.

This is similar to the sample menu I was given. I understand it's a good concept but I know my dietician wanted to to start eating that way at 3 weeks. I am 8 weeks out and I have to wait at least any hour after I eat to be able to drink or I can feel it. Then I am finally able to drink about 6 oz at a time, but then I have to wait at least a half hr before I can drink more. On the days I work its hard sometimes to even get a lunch break sometimes. I do 12 hr shifts, unfortunately we've been understaffed for over a year now making it worse. But I do have to eat multiple times a day to get enough protein. Yesterday I had 2 eggs before I left for work at 6 am. While at work anytime I went to the back to grab something for a patient I passed the break room, so I stop and drink some water. Around 10 am I ate a string cheese. At 1 pm I ate a 20 gm Protein Bar for lunch. At 5:30 I had a Greek yogurt. When I got home at 8:30 I had 2 oz of chicken for dinner. During the day I was able to get in about 36 oz of fluid and 77 gm of protein. Ideally I shouldn't be eating dinner that late, and yes I should get more fluid in. But I feel for working on a busy floor at the hospital I did pretty good and there's no way I could've done it without Snacks in between meals. I haven't gotten to the point where I'm able to add in vegetables yet though bc I get full off the protein but I know it will come in time. At home I can do a little better without the time constraints of work.

[mariernest 33]

Four months out three meals and was told no snacking I eat a cube of cheese and a pork rind or two if I get really hungry between meals.