Protein after sleeve gastrectomy – how much is enough?

Protein protein protein! It’s often all you hear about when people are talking life after sleeve gastrectomy and what they need to eat. Whilst getting enough protein is important after a sleeve, it’s also important to know how much is enough and which foods are good sources of protein, so you can get the balance right. In this post, I’ll set the record straight!

You can watch the video below for an overview or keep reading to see it all laid out for you.

Eating enough protein after sleeve gastrectomy is very important for a number of reasons:

1. In the initial stages, getting enough protein is important for healing.
2. Eating enough protein is important to help minimise the loss of muscle, while you’re losing weight (although this will happen no matter how hard you try).
3. Protein is considered the building blocks for your body, and is essential in building cells including muscle, skin, blood cells and many more.
4. Protein helps to keep you fuller for longer, so you’ll feel more satisfied and less like snacking between meals. Less snacking = less calories = more weight loss.

How much protein do I need?

The recommended daily intake (RDI) is 46 grams for women, and 56 grams for men, but you’ll need more than this if you’re overweight. The ASMBS recommends 60-110g of protein per day, but most people after weight loss surgery tend to eat about 60-80 grams each day. Make sure you talk with your dietitian to check how much you should aim for as it will vary depending on your weight, medical conditions and your exercise levels.

How should I eat it?

Aim to eat a high protein food at each meal or snack. It’s better to spread the protein across the day as the body can’t absorb more than approximately 30 grams at once (and you’ll struggle to eat the portion needed to get this much in as well). If you’re including protein at each meal or snack, you’ll help to manage your appetite, too, as protein is really important for keeping us satisfied.

Top 10 Foods with Protein (and how much protein is in them)

The following table contains some of the best sources of protein from both animals and plants. I’ve given a smaller portion size than you might see elsewhere so it’s more suitable to you if you have a sleeve, but you’ll need to adjust this to match what you actually eat. I don’t like counting calories or recording food every day (more on that here), but it can be a good idea to check how much protein you’re eating every once in a while – use an app like Calorieking or Easy Diet Diary for this.

Source: FoodWorks – NUTTAB Database