[Martee]

I am 4 months post-op and was recently instructed by my surgeon to consume my recommended 60-80 g of protein from liquid protein. According to his office’s body composition analyzer scale, it showed I was losing muscle mass. His theory is that my body is not absorbing the protein from food well enough and that consuming liquid protein, which is predigested protein, would be better for me.

Up until that point, I had been taking in on average 70-80 g of protein daily from a variety of food sources without any issue. I was also attending five Jazzercise classes a week (60-minute classes; high-intensity workouts with the use of hand weights, resistance bands, and exercise balls) and also walking 2 miles on a daily basis. I am a stay-at-home mother of three young children, so I am constantly on the go. I did point out to my surgeon that I still didn’t necessarily feel “energetic,” and he correlated it to the fact my body wasn’t getting the protein it needed and was, therefore, feeding off my own muscle. I don’t take any naps during my day nor am I not keeping up with my hectic life. It’s just that I don’t really have any spunk or desire to do anything…I do what I do because it has to be done.

Is it likely that this is truly an absorption issue or could it be that my protein intake should be higher to account for my level of activity? I’ve read on this forum, as well as other forums, that too much protein could hurt me, but I’ve never heard of anyone being suggested to return to liquid protein because of absorption issues post-op. I am also concerned whether the slight reduction in calories because of consuming my 60-80 g of protein from liquid protein could be hindering my weight loss or causing more problems. I experienced another stall when I switched from food back to liquid protein, which really didn’t surprise me, but my weight loss seems to have slowed down considerably. I realize I am still early out and stalls happen, but I don’t know if it sounds like my current eating plan is affecting it. I am also down to the last 31 pounds to lose, so maybe my weight loss is meant to be slowing down now. Maybe I'm building muscle? I take in 64-80 ounces of plain water a day (don't care for flavored stuff anymore), and I am religious about my vitamins and supplements (Celebrate multivitamin, Celebrate calcium, Citracal + D and Magnesium, dry vitamin D3 2000 IU, and Celebrate Iron + C 60 mg).

I was consuming around 800-900 calories from food before switching to liquid protein, and now I get about the same but 570-750 of those calories are from the liquid protein. I have been including veggies or a piece of fruit to my day because my protein needs are being met with the liquid protein, but I keep wondering if I am setting myself up for failure somehow by doing this. I really don’t know what to eat in addition to the protein drinks without overdoing the protein. When I consume four protein drinks, that gives me 112 g of protein.

I feel like I am developing even more food issues than I had before I underwent gastric bypass. I want to eat food, but I either don't really have room or feel like eating, it tastes awful, or I just plain feel guilty.

Any advice? Does any of this make sense? Am I just thinking too much into this? I had labs drawn last week and still awaiting a call from my surgeon’s office on the results...I will definitely be calling tomorrow. I am so utterly confused, irritated, frustrated, and quite simply put…mad. I am carrying so much tension in my jaw right now that I feel I could bite straight through a leather belt. I haven't found the joy in all of this yet, and that really concerns me.

Taking a deep breath...okay, not calm enough...another deep breath, iiiiiinnnnn 2 3 4 and ooouuuuttttt 2 3 4. Well, I'm still stressed out, and now I'm dizzy. Great...just great.

[DocSanae]

I think you're losing muscle mass because of the high intensity of your excercise level. If you haven't been doing it before, then you need to get in some protein before, not after, exercising intensly.
Also, since you are still 4 months out, your protein absorbtion ability may not yet be up to full limits. It probably won't stabilize until a year or so out.
Check out the following thread for tips on exercise and eating.
http://www.renewedreflections.com/fo...-food-etc.html

[gail1011]

This is temporary to aid healing and provide good health in the loosing process. Perhaps thinking in terms of "this is medicine" needed for a time would help. Many of the posts I read talk about the return to some form of normalcy 1-2 years out. I wish you well, some days it is one minute at a time--our thinking drives our behavior and for me I have to keep a tight reign on my thoughts not allowing myself to go off on a tangent. Talking with others, journaling reviewing my decision for WLS help me when I am struggling. We trusted our lives to our surgeons and need to trust them to help us through the journey. Blessings to you!!

[ANSLEY]

drink a shake an hour before exercising and right after.

[Martee]

Thank you, DocSanae, gail1011, and Ansley...your words were very comforting to read. I couldn't seem to escape the mental aspect of my situation, and what I needed was help with focusing in on my nutrition.

I did this type of exercise preoperatively, but I never had the level of energy that I do now. Actually, that seems strange to say because I don't feel I have more energy than I did preoperatively, especially right now, but I know my movement has to be far more expansive and intense than it was when I was 83 pounds heavier.

I have been drinking half a protein drink before exercise class and the remainder after the class. I think I will try your suggestion and drink the entire thing before class. I will also take the time to read through the link that was shared by DocSanae.

I know I have so much to learn about how to work this tool effectively. I chose gastric bypass because I knew it would be with me for a lifetime, and I want so desperately to develop healthy habits now that I can carry with me well into the future. Somehow, though, my brain tripped me up when my surgeon suggested I return to liquid protein. My mind still thinks he said, "Martee, I'm taking food away from you." He didn't say that. I just need to figure out how to balance my food intake with my liquid protein, as well as with my exercise. It will be a great day when I find that perfect balance. I'm definitely a work in progress.

Thanks for your responses! It's a nice change to be able to fall and have someone catch me and help pick me up. I've never really had that in my life.