Senior needs advice

[JRG5096]

I'm 75 years old and for the past two months have transitioned to a healthy eating program.  My starting weight was 233 pounds and my target weight is 215 pounds.  I've been eating between 1000 and 1500  calories a day and making protein shakes and have increased protein intake to approx. 80g/day.  I lost 8 pounds the first month, but since that time I've now gained 6 pounds....I'm sedentary and for health reasons it is difficult for me to get much exercise, I do walk two or three times a week for about 20-25 minutes.
How can I be gaining weight?  Is it possible that the increase in protein is causing muscle gain?  I just don't get it and any thoughts, suggestions or help would be appreciated.
Jim

[Barb135]

We also have a food diary here, on MH on which you can calculate calorie needs and track your calorie intake, as well as an exercise tracker...

[gymdandee]

Remember most fruit contain high sugar content! the ratio should be 60%/40% veg. to fruit.
Combine apple, kale, spinach, ginger, and lemon. The nutrients and fiber curb hunger for hours.
Can you do slow but long cardio?
Determine how many calories you currently eat on a daily basis by entering your food in the following link https://www.myfitnesspal.com/    Then use a calculator like this one.  

http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm  

That estimates your calorie needs based on your age, weight, and activity level.
These online calculators aren’t perfect, But they are good!

[Barb135]

I had the same problem with protein shakes/smoothies that my doctor thought would be best for me to lose weight on...He wanted me to consume a total of 108 grams of protein/day.  I did not lose weight on that regimen, instead I kept gaining.  I, finally, stopped using the shakes and started eating "real" food that contains a healthy mix of vegetables and protein, with more fats from meat, dairy, coconut oil, olive oil, etc and lost 23 lbs in about 3 months... Adding more fats actually keeps me from eating as much at each meal.

I have hypothyroidism and because I, also, have pre-diabetes, I eat no added sugar and no more than 1 serving of fruit/day, if that.  When I eat grains, it's usually whole grain, brown rice, etc.

In addition to the weight loss, my cholesterol dropped back to normal and my triglycerides almost back to normal.  My fasting glucose levels were also back to normal on my 2 latest blood tests; I haven't had a recent A1c, but I'd expect that to be lower, as well. My blood pressure also dropped, which allowed me to get off one of my blood pressure medications.

[JRG5096]

Thank you gymdandee for your response, very enlightening.  I'm using pea protein and don't see maltodextrin as an ingredient.  I do make smoothies, in that I add banana or berries most of the time.
I really don't understand nutrition very well, but I am now eating what I consider a healthy mix of foods.  Oatmeal, shrimp, tuna, home made chili, green salad, cantaloupe and red meat once a week or so.  I keep a food journal and record everything I eat.  I just can't understand not losing weight?

[gymdandee]

Ingredients your protein shake should NEVER contain,
Maltodextrin,It's a complex carbohydrate by structure, is often used in protein powder supplements and because it is technically a "complex" carb, it's also touted as a healthy! It's not! Maltodextrin is an insulin and blood sugar spiking carbohydrate with a glycemic index of 105. One of the highest ever recorded glycemic indexes and a score 50% higher than white bread!  Regular consumption of carbohydrates in this GI range has been repeatedly shown to halt fat loss dead in its tracks and can even lead to Type II Diabetes.
Any protein supplement containing maltodextrin should be avoided.

Artificial sweetener use has been repeatedly linked to weight GAIN, not weight loss.  In fact, in one study those who used artificial sweeteners experienced a 500% increase in belly fat stores, while the group who used no artificial sweeteners experienced no weight gain at all.

Your body doesn't store protein the same way it stores fat and carbohydrates. You need to consume the amount of protein that your body requires in a day. You need protein to maintain your muscles, skin and other organs. Proteins are also essential to build and repair cells. Even proper digestion and body fluids rely on an adequate supply of dietary proteins. According to the Institute of Medicine, most adults need to consume roughly 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, or 0.36 grams per pound.
If you consume more protein than you need in a day, your body will convert the remainder into energy or calories that are either used or stored. In addition, your kidneys are responsible for filtering waste components from protein and removing them from your body.

Whey protein concentrate, NOT protein isolates
Protein isolates are proteins stripped away from their nutritional cofactors. There are three
problems with that...
• All isolates are exposed to acid processing.
• Your body cannot assimilate proteins in isolated form.
• Due to over-processing, isolates are deficient in key amino acids and nutritional
cofactors.
Sweetened naturally, NOT artificially, and low carb
Most whey products are artificially sweetened making them useless if you have sugar
sensitivities, or just don't want to put artificial sweeteners or flavors into your body.
Your whey should be low glycemic, low carb and should not contain any artificial sweeteners,
sugar alcohol, glycerin, fructose, sugar or gluten.
Maximum biological value, NOT compromised or damaged
Most whey proteins provide some benefit. But, due to the ingredients, the source of the whey,
the concentration of beneficial nutrients, or the type of processing, many whey products simply
don't deliver what they promise.
You want whey that's guaranteed to retain its maximum biological value -- one with all the key
amino acids, cofactors and beneficial micronutrients present and intact rather than compromised
or damaged, and not missing any amino acids or essential nutrients.
Easy to Digest, NOT Causing Digestive Stress
Many whey products contain long-chain fatty acids which are hard to digest and require bile
acids to absorb.
You want a whey protein powder with medium chain triglycerides (MCT). These are easily
absorbed, digested quickly, and utilized as energy without causing digestive stress.
Ideally, you want a product in which the MCT come from the best source of all -- coconut oil.
Free from Toxic Heavy Metals or at Such Low Levels NOT to be a Health Risk
Many protein powders both whey and non-whey could contain dangerous levels of heavy
metals like mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic.
A recent Consumer Reports' evaluation showed some leading brands of protein powders
exceeded United States Pharmacopoeia's (USP) recommended safety limits for certain
heavy metals.
You want to avoid these products at all costs because any high concentration of heavy
metals taken over time could lead to serious health consequences.

Depending what you put into your shakes, it should be about 100 cal. per shake!  Protein is the most filling macronutrient, and you should have it before meals!!
Have you tried substituting one meal per day with a protein shake? ONLY
ONE MEAL!!
You state you make a shake so you don't add fruit or veg. if you do then it's a smoothie!!