[Tonya-]

I was wondering how people get in their protein, especially those who don't use protein shakes?

[bren]

When you get the answer let me know..lol I'm still trying to figure that out.

[fr1endly2]

Well every meal for me always focused on protein. I always eat my protein first, then a tad bit of veggie and maybe a mouthful of rice or potatoe or other if i had room. MOST times i didnt.

FOR me everymeal was PROTEIN never wasted a meal with carbs. I ate cheeses, protein puddings (my fav stallone puddings), eggs, nuts....all milk products were with protein i used the HOOD brand carb countdown chocolate milk. EVERYTHING was protein protein protein. I even made PMS treats from protein bars...i would slice open a power crunch bar and plop some cool whip in it and freeze them. I had a 14 grams of protein PMS snack. LUNCHES were meatballs with melted lo fat mozzerella cheese, chile, shrimp, chicken salad, tuna salad...always with protein focus.

I did use protein shakes to get my protein in also!
SOME days i just didnt have the mood to eat early out
and a shake would help boost my protein levels.
IF you dont like the traditional chocolate or vanilla types
of protein shakes many folks add protein powders to their
coffee ( i dont do coffee) or i have even used fruit flavored
protein drinks and loved fuzzy navel flavor my first months post op.

I know early out i didnt get my required protein amounts in but in a few months it got easier. I alway focused on the protein and steered clear of the carbs!!!

GOOD LUCK!

[SheliaMae]

Hi! Like Lisa said, meat and dairy products--cottage cheese with a bit of fruit was one of my favorite first 'real food' meals. But I did get creative with protein shakes. I use 8th Continent Light Soy Milk ( vanilla and chocolate), some ice cubes (in blender), whey protein power (Body Fortress bought at WalMart). The pro. powder itself has 23 g. protein, the soy milk 6g/7g. If you don't like plain choc. or vanilla you can add extract (like almond, maple, coconut...) One of my favorites is vanilla milk and pro. powder and a little orange Crystal Light (Walmart brand). It tastes like an orange creamsicle! It is easy to also grab a protein bar. You just have to really read the labels! Some are high in calories/sugar/carbs. But there are alot of different brands/kinds. Some tast awful, but some are pretty good! When I could eat warm cereal (like oatmeal/farina/malt-o-meal) I made it with light soy milk instead of water and put in protein powder. It was tasty and gave a good dose of protein! Hope some of this helps!

[TinaLynn]

Hi! Ms. SheliaMae thanks for answering the question I was getting ready to ask about Body Fortress Whey Protein.. I wasn't sure if it was a good brand to use. I'm pre-op and my surgeon advised me to go on a all protein diet 3 months before surgery. Does 3 months prior to surgery sound odd to anyone? Thanks for your helpful info here on this forum everyone..

[fr1endly2]

Well the reason your doctor wants you on a high protein diet pre op is most probably to reduce the fatty liver size so he can perform a safe lapriscopic surgery. EVERY surgeon has patients meet that differently for me looseing 25 lbs pre op was my requirements some are put on medifast diets pre op.....My surgeon strongly believes that this helps reduce the risk
for surgery complications.
SO to me it doesnt sound odd at all!!!!!
I used atkins and lost my weigh which was high protein lo carb which is the recommended way of eating for us post op.
GOOD LUCK!
I look forward to getting to know you more Tinalynn thru your posts
and welcome to the forums. THIS is a great place to come for support and friends!
hugs

[LittleLisaMarie]

Hi there...

I am not one for protein shakes either. The only time i have protein in liquid form is when i add some to my morning coffee. I survived pre op and post op on stallone puddings. They are very high in protein and taste really good. I sometimes add half a banana to the banana one to add substance so it keeps me full longer. Another way i did and still do get protein in is tofu. Tofu is a great source of protein. As Lisa said the reason we are placed on a high protein diet before surgery is to one shrink the liver to make surgery easier for the surgeon and second protein aids in the healing of post op wounds. Very important. I know once farther along the surgeons well most of them would prefer you get your protein from real foods such as chicken and dairy rather then using the supplements such as protein shakes. I do however as i stated before add some to my coffee in the am. One reason they prefer you eat foods is that shakes do not keep you full long enough, and shortly after you feel hungry again. The same goes for the puddings and softer foods. I just dont do the shakes because i think they taste nasty. lol...


Best of luck to you , this is a great site for support.

LittleLisaMarie

[howietam]

Hi Tonya, and welcome!
I agree with the others, I wasn't one for protein shakes. I haven't found one yet that I really enjoy.
I DID enjoy (and still do) the choc carnation instant breakfast with 3 Tbsp dried milk powder and 1 cup skim milk. Sometimes I would add 1/2 a banana or a Tbsp of peanut butter in the blender. It's also good with a squirt of sugar free choc syrup for an even chocolate-er flavor.
Now I just use a shaker container to mix it all up (unless I am adding the banana or PB).
That was what I survived on. It would sometimes take me 2 hours to get it all down, but I just kept working on it.
I also enjoyed sf puddings, and would eat cottage cheese.
I would also eat tomato soup or cream of chicken soup (strained) and make it with milk instead of water and added a little dried milk or unflavored protein powder. Some say soup is a "no-no" at first, ask your DR.
Hope that helps!!