Are you consuming enough protein? This is the most important question following weight loss surgery, whether it be after a sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass or lapband. Protein is the major structural component of muscle and other tissue in the body. In general you need enough protein to ensure optimal nutritional status.
Here are five good reasons to ensure you get enough protein in your diet:
- Preserve lean muscle mass
- Improve muscle recovery
- Increase the feelings of satiety and fullness
- Support your immunity
- Maintain weight loss
The aim of undergoing these procedures is to reduce your calorie intake so that you will feel fuller faster and for longer periods of time. However, some patients make the fatal mistake of not consuming the right foods when they feel hungry. Due to the reduced size of your stomach, you will not be able to consume the same amount of food that you used to which means that you need to take care when selecting your meals. It is recommended that patients following a weight loss procedure aim for at least 2 serves of protein a day.
In saying this, do not mistake eating protein with consuming protein bars as these can sometimes contain up to 30grams of sugar, which is equivalent to eating a chocolate bar.
Patients will also find that after weight loss surgery it can be difficult to eat enough protein due to small serving sizes and decreased hunger. Here is a list of some foods that will ensure you keep up your protein intake:
- Protein yogurts
- Lean meats (remove fat and skin)
- Legumes
- Eggs
- Dairy (Milk & cheese)
- Tofu
- Nuts
- Protein drinks such as Protein Water can also help to meet your protein requirements.
If you feel like you are struggling with your nutrition, why not make an appointment to see one of our dietitians to help you get back on track. You can contact us on 07 3871 2277, via the enquiry form on our website or via our Facebook page.
