protein intake

[Guest guest]

,

My nutritionist has told me that I need 45 grams of protein a day. I am tall

(5'9 " ) so I weigh more than most women. My ideal weight is about 150-160 lbs.

For the last 10 months or so, my weight has been about 155-157 lbs. If your

ideal weight is less than that then you would need a little less protein. The

people in my online weight loss surgery group say that at my weight I need to be

getting about 90-120 grams of protein a day. I didn't even eat that much

protein before weight loss surgery. No way could I eat that much now!

Especially with the panc problems since there are a lot of days that meat and

other things with a good bit of protein don't do well for me. According to what

I've read about liver disease, I should never eat more than about 60 grams of

protein a day and if my liver damage should progress to cirrhosis I would need

to be even more careful about my protein intake.

You asked about low protein foods and off the top of my head I'd basically say

that anything that doesn't have meat or dairy products is typically fairly low

protein. A lot of beans have a fair amount of protein. Things like bread,

fruit, and veggies typically have very little protein. Do you mind my asking why

you want to consume a low protein diet?

On days that I have problems handling meat, I will sometimes make a smoothie

with yogurt to get a little protein in. At one point I was using a protein

supplement because when my panc attacks were very frequent last summer and fall

I became malnourished. The only protein supplement that I found that I could

tolerate was the whey protein double chocolate.

I had a roux-en-y gastric bypass (weight loss surgery) in Dec 01. In the

beginning you eat so little that you really have to work hard to get enough

protein in. There is a lot of debate over what is 'enough' protein. My online

support group is mostly of the mind that you need to stick with very high

protein, very low carb diet to be successful with the weight loss even after

weight loss surgery. I am living proof that is not true (and so is my sis who

had weight loss surgery in Jun 02). I have lost 105 lbs and my weight has been

stable (except when I retain fluid because of the prednisone I have to take for

my liver disease). I argued with members that a very high protein, very low

carb diet is not good for your heart or kidneys. I had no idea that it is also

not good for your liver. Of course, at the time I had the weight loss surgery I

had no idea that I had autoimmune liver disease. I also thought that I had no

problems with my pancreas even though I initially had acute panc in Jan 2000 and

most of 2000 was a rough year. I went about 18 months with no major problems

from my pancreas and my old GI said my panc was perfectly healthy and I'd

probably never have another attack of acute panc. The acute panc attacks

returned in July 2002. My GI finally did a liver biopsy in Dec 2002 and it

revealed that I have autoimmune liver disease (specifically autoimmune

hepatitis). Finally in June 2003 I was put under the care of a new (and

WONDERFUL) GI. He told me that I have chronic panc in addition to the liver

disease - so much for my perfectly healthy pancreas! Anyway, boy I totally got

off track of answering your question.

Take care,

W