Why protein comes first after bariatric surgery
With a stomach the size of a banana, the order you eat in decides whether you lose fat or muscle.
The arithmetic of a small stomach
If capacity is 150 ml and you fill it with rice, there is no room for protein. Over months that pattern produces weight loss made partly of muscle, which lowers metabolic rate and makes regain far more likely.
The target
60-80 g of protein daily for most patients, and more for men and those training. Achieving that in tiny portions requires deliberate planning: eggs, fish, chicken, yoghurt, cottage cheese, and supplements early on.
Why muscle matters more than the scale
Muscle is the largest consumer of glucose in the body and the main determinant of resting metabolic rate. Patients who combine protein with resistance training keep more weight off at three years than those who only diet.
Practical rules that work
Protein first at every meal, no drinking 30 minutes either side of eating, no grazing between meals, and a protein shake only when whole food is not achievable, not as a routine replacement.
The Ones People Actually Ask.
Do I need protein shakes forever?
No. Most patients transition to whole-food protein by month three and use shakes only occasionally.
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What Stands Behind The Plan.
