Protein Intake Daily???

[yankegal]

when I went to the dr. he told me according to a scale that they use that I needed between 65 -80 grams of protein, you want to get in your portein for energy and hair loss! the hair loss comes about the 3rd month. the shots are not bad! and neither are the jello! they are real small so its a good way to get in that needed protein. drinking all those shakes, it takes a lot! we need to sip water, and juice. I buy the gaitor aid with protein they are good. also another way is buying the chicken base, (no fat) with 3 grams of protein per serving. I made some chicken base last night and added a scrambled egg, it taste like egg drop soup, very warm and soothing..

[Dana]

An Ideal recovery will include isopure, its a clear liquid high protein drink that counts as water intake too. I could barely stand it before the surgery. After the surgery it made me gag. So I sipped mik until I found unjury and then I mixed it in my milk. I think I'm getting in too much sugar but its all I want! I'm trying to switch to the unsweetened soy milk but its not easy. Milk goes down easy and doesn't feel weird in my tummy. I'm going to have to reduce it or I will live on a stall! Its not a total no no but Its all I use and I need to cut back. I wish I hadn't burnt out on chicken before the surgery!

[yankegal]

Dana, have you tried almond breeze milk, there are different kinds. the unsweetened vanilla, and plain have 40 cal, no chol. and they also sell a sugar free chocolate, that yu can put a splenda in and add some of the powered protein, it tastes great too! this is what I drank for almost a yr before my surgery, it helped to lower my cholesterol to a normal level, without making any sacrafice. they sell it cold or on the shelf near can milk.

[nycbiscuit]

My nutritionist said that the collagen protein really isn't "good" protein -- it's cheap, does not have all the amino acids you need. It won't hurt you, but it's not really helping. As far as supplemental protein goes (i.e. other than real meat, dairy, etc.) stick to whey protein isolate. 60-80 g per day.

Nutrition counseling is a required part of my program (NYP- Weill Cornell in NYC), and the pre-op/post-op guidelines I've been given seem to differ GREATLY from the other posts I've read here, especially those who've had surgery in Mexico. Was on clears for two days prior to surgery, had nothing orally for 24 hours after surgery, then had 3 clear meals, and moved on to pureed, and had to be able to handle pureed before being released from hospital. Even then, the pureed they gave me wasn't necessarily all the protein I needed, but rather just to see how well actual food was tolerated.

Post-op the plan is purees for 3 weeks; then weeks 4-6 post op start introducing some solids like sliced cheese and deli meat, cereal, beans, ground meat (i.e. hamburger as opposed to blended/pureed meats) toast and crackers; weeks 7-8 post op diced meat, pasta; 3 months post op rice, soft bread and whole poultry; 4 months post op crunch veg and fruit; 6 mo post op red meat and pork.

50-60 oz fluid per day to prevent dehydration. Surgeons emphasized that liquid was far more important than food.

It was recommended that to ensure enough protein, especially during first weeks, to add at least one high-protein shake (15g or more) per day. Personally I think Muscle Milk is the best. The ready-to-drink bottles are 20-25 g, and the powders are similar, but Monster Milk powder is even more at 50 g. They also make Muscle Milk & Oats instant oatmeal that has 30 g protein. It has a little metallic taste that the shake drink/powders do NOT have, but is easily taken care of with added maple syrup or cinnamon and brown sugar, etc. Granted, it takes me about 2 hours to eat a whole cup and it's cold a half hour in, but I'm not personally bothered by those "inconveniences."

Kellog's also makes Special K 2O Protein Water mix, which is a whey isolate protein to add 5 g protein to a bottle of water. And it's sugar free, so a bit better than the Gatorade protein water in that respect, but Gatorade makes more variety of flavors. I figure you might as well add those few grams where ever you can. Even though I am diabetic, and the nutritionist wants me to stay away from empty sugar calories, both primary doctor and surgeon said not to worry so much about the sugar initially, as long as I keep monitoring/testing and I'm not getting prolonged super-duper high readings.

[pbjwalnut]

I was told by the nutruition at Mass General in Boston to not take in more that 26 grams of protein at one sitting......in shakes mostly as it would overtax your kidneys. I have never bought the shots and now won't. I have bought the eas and do like that and just ordered in unjury in individual packages so I can bring with me and add to drinks and stuff while out and about. Mass general put me on food two weeks out.....just chew chew chew. The shakes were no longer recommended , although I do add them into my day once or twice.....They also recommended carnation instant breakfast sugar free.....so that is what I use to. I have no problem with the milk and a few times have added sugar free ice cream for a different taste. Good luck and keep us posted !

[yankegal]

where did you purchase the muscle milk, monstern milk powder and muscle milk oas?

[nycbiscuit]

where did you purchase the muscle milk, monstern milk powder and muscle milk oas?

Muscle Milk powder, Monster Milk powder and Muscle Milk & Oats I got through Drugstore.com
Muscle Milk ready-to-drink I got through local grocery store. I know it is also available at GNC, so I assume they also carry the powders. I wouldn't have the ready-to-drink shipped unless you're getting free shipping, though.

Try cytosport.com/locations.html to see if there is a retail store near you.
Amazon.com, Walgreens.com, The Vitamin Shoppe also carry Muscle Milk (Cytosport) products.

[nycbiscuit]

Mass general put me on food two weeks out.....just chew chew chew.

What do you mean "on food?" What were you doing for the first two weeks? When you were given the OK to go "on food" did that mean anything you wanted, with no restrictions on puree vs. soft vs. regular solids?

[dutchgal]

I drank an Isopure today at work and everyone was wanting to know what it was. It was Orange flavored, zero carbs and 40 grams of protein.....was very nice......sipped on it throughout a meeting..(practicing my sipping since I'm a gulper)...........I kept thinking i could do two of these per day and get my protein and liquids too??

[pbjwalnut]

the food was pieces of meat....soft....chicken , fish , beef ....as long as I chew ....I too was surprised at no puree.....Have been doing good....just having like a credit card size piece at a time, some mashed potatoes and have had some stewed tomatoes with cheese with the chicken. I can as of this week start eating fruits with no skins.....I haven't had anything but a few bites of watermellon as of yet. Although I have had some yogurt with fruit pieces in it. I haven't had any trouble and stop eating when I get uncomfortable or full. I still have a few protein shakes a day as well, and lots of popcycles...and diet choc. pudding. I am a fussy and plain jane eater........so I've been sticking with just a few different things.

[janielou]

I got some Sunkist Protein shots from Amazon. I mixed it in a 20oz container with ice, water and an orange Crystal Light. 42 grams of protein and 0 carbs. After I am sleeved I am hoping this will be a way to get fluids and protein at the same time.

[Tuliptwy]

I just cannot get any of these protein shakes and drinks down. I'm 6 days post-op and KNOW I should be getting it in, but I just vomit immediately from the taste of any of it. I'm hoping to start my purees soon and get some in through meats and such. Does anyone else have this problem?

[FlowerGalTX]

Most of the protein shots are comprised of gelatin or collegan proteins which the body is not able to digest. Only 8% (0.08) or 3.36 grams of the 42g of a protein shot with gelatin/collegan protein is usable by the body. Most of us wouldn't be able to metabolize/use even 100 percent of what is usable.

The most useable proteins are Soy, Egg, Milk, Casein and Whey. These have a protein digestibility corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) of 1.0.
Beef/poultry/fish has a PDCAAS of 0.80-0.92

As to how much we need:
A general guideline is 1/2 gram of protein for every pound of weight. This figure is most likely based on people who are at goal weight from what I've read and typically at 140 - 200 pounds would be 70 to 100 grams of protein a day, divided throughout the day which averages out to around 28 grams of protein per meal. An individual consult with a nutrition to get the recommended percentages of protein is recommended.

[ToDream]

I didn't like the gatorade recover either.. has a nasty aftertaste. I prefer those Sunkist tubes (25g & 42g protein shots) or Pro Performance protein from GNC which has 40g protein per serving. I try and get 70g in per day and always start with breakfast being one of them.

[nycbiscuit]

Anyone know of a protein powder that can be added to savory foods?
I don't think I'd like mixing Vanilla or Chocolate protein with chicken stock.