bellabill

I just got back from Bali, Indonesia and now in Singapore.
You bet I still drink shakes. When I can't find the right food it is far better than eating something too spicy or I have no idea what is in it. The shakes keep me on track. If I eat at a restaurant and what I ordered just isn't going to work for a variety of reasons, I know I can have a shake and I'll get the Protein I need. Also keeps me from fooling myself and eating some crap cuz I couldn't find the right foods at a asian restaurant.
And I really like Protein Shakes. Fuzzy navel has saved me many, many times from eating the wrong foods. And I do feel full with them most of the time.

I am 48 days out. *(maybe I should start counting weeks) and I'm recently down from 3 to 1-1.5 a day just to make sure I get in my 75g a day. I like them. They are very convenient and I have to be in class 3 nights a week....
I use GNC Lean 25 pre-made and they are very tasty.
Funny, this topic should come up. I just met with my nutritionist this past Saturday and she explained why we should wean off Protein shakes. Basically, we have to learn how to eat enough to get our Protein from food so we can keep ourselves feeling full longer. That will help avoid cravings for bad stuff. Protein from shakes is protein received, but in liquid form doesn't help to keep our tiny tummies full. Therefore, we can end up eating bigger portions than we should as time progresses. Our portions will eventually get bigger as the months pass from surgery. Our goal is to eat 3 distinct meals with small Snacks, but if we use fluids instead of meals we leave room for more bad stuff. Also she warned that patients will think "oh I've made my protein quota, I can eat this and this..." and they can bc there is room. Too much protein with bad stuff will cause weight gain.
She gave me a scheduled ratio for protein to carbs to ensure continued weight loss. BC if you eat too many carbs (good or bad) with protein you will gain weight back.
I don't have to worry about sugar or calories or fat - yet. She said focus on protein and carbs ratio and if you plateau we will examine the food log and see if sugar or calories or fat comes into play. I can't eat that much yet anyway- and still rely on at least 1 shake a day to meet.

I am 3 months out and pretty much have a Matrix shake each morning for Breakfast. My husband who is not a WLS patient drinks one every morning too. It is much better than the danish he was having and it holds him to lunch.
I normally have a mid morning egg, spinach and Tomato and feta. But I drink my shake at 7 AM. My sugeon and NUT are fine with it.

I use shakes in my coffee! It's makes a good latte/mocha/whatever.
Usually I make up a Syntrax vanilla one and keep the shaker in the fridge and go through it in about three days worth of coffee. Or if I am lazy I use a pre made Atkins vanilla one.

I am sorry about your struggles. Maybe you can make an appt. with a psychologist to talk about food addiction. I say this cause you said you are always hungry? Are you drinking your fluids between meals? Have you tried My fitness pal app. to track your food? I use this and it' s been an eyeopener to see how many calories are in such foods. Did you know there is 70-80 calories in 1 slice of american cheese? Many foods can add up calories!!!
I hope you find your way and get back on the wagon

@@Deanna66
BECAUSE!!!!
couldn't resist - i took an extra silly pill instead of my Vitamin
back to topic
warning, warning, warning
you will have MAJOR surgery!!!
then you will have a teeny tiny little bitty tummy
its sore, tender
you need to handle tummy with plenty of TLC
be nice to it, and it will be nice to you
your NUT/doc will give you a date you can start puree' etc
this will be a slow process
DEAL WITH IT :lol:
"God Grant Me Patience, Just Hurry Up About It "
good luck
speedy recovery
kathy

Go to Youtube and watch an actual surgery of the type you are having. Not a two minute video, but a 20-30 minute video where you are observing an actual procedure. That will remind you of how brutalized you stomach will be. It simply needs time to heal from being manipulated,cut up, sore and swollen.
I had a new granddaughter born on Monday. There is no way we would try to feed her a chili cheese slaw dog. It that same manner, your new tummy is not able to process food until it starts healing and the swelling goes down. I hope your team explains this to you - it is so important to respect that new tummy.

Hi, I remember my back and body hurting but I was thinking that it was when they put you the table you are knocked out and the other at you are not n the table and getting back to your room, you were handled while sleeping. So it's possible we were not comfortable but obviously we could tell them. It will feel better as time goes by. Call your doctor if it persists.

I work in a hospital and I certainly hope you write a letter to the department head and the president of the hospital. This is unprofessional and no one should make you uncomfortable while you are getting test done. Believe me, there are people who should not be working in the health care and I have seen this.

I just had to share about my appointment yesterday!! Everything was good, good and good!! Doc was happy with my progress, and all my blood work came back great!!
When they told me that my blood work showed NO signs at all of diabetes or being pre diabetic I started to cry. It came out of nowhere, but all I could think is I guess that worrying about getting diabetes bothered me so much more than I thought. My grandpa on my dad's side and my dad both got late on set diabetes so with my weight I just assumed I would get it at some point. It was such a relief to hear that now I will not.
We also set up a date to have my ventral hernia removed from my lower right abdomen and I am so happy to be getting rid of that. Herman (as we refer to him in our house) needs to go, he was the reason I started this WLS journey and now with my weight loss so far he shows and is paining me more then ever. Good Riddance Herman!!
Now onto my next goal of reaching 175lbs. Doc feels I should have no problem achieving this and so do I!!
I attached a pic of me taken at my docs pre op appointment and one my hubby took me of my yesterday!!

I don't know if I could hold off coloring my hair....This would be bad for me. I wonder if there is a gentle coloring out there?

I do at times when I don't wanna cook an its just me..

18 months out and still have one for breakfast- keeps me full til lunch!!!

I will continue with at least one per day because I work 3-11pm and don't really get a break to make something so drinking the shake will be easier. It makes getting my Protein in a bit easier too.

I still have Protein supps (nearly 2 years post op) nearly daily. My goals have changed, but still, I enjoy my Protein Shakes.

I love coming home from the gym and tossing some fruit and ice in the blender with some Garden of Life vanilla raw Protein powder. 90 calories plus whatever fruit I added. 17 g of protein. Much better than sitting around eating cheese sticks.

I drink shakes many mornings for Breakfast. I find it is an easy way to keep my calories lower.

I think there is room for a bit of balance. I personally find the bars to carb heavy and only keep 1 or 2 in my car for emergencies. I make a morning shake because I work out most mornings and it's not good to work out on an empty stomach. Perhaps it's because of what I put in mine, typically, yogurt and some sort of fruit and/or veg like spinach, occasionally a bit of tumeric or flax powder, even oatmeal in addition to Protein powder. It's enough to keep me full but not so much that my stomach gets upset while working out. However the rest of the day and on non gym days I am eating real food and getting my Protein and nutrients from real food. I discussed this with my nutritionists because there was the concern about drinking my calories. Because I am getting most of my protein from food and my shakes are a little more complex, she is okay with it.

I switched from Protein Shakes to bars once I was allowed solid foods. I am hesitant to drink my calories and don't find the shakes filling. If I have a bar for a meal or a snack, it makes me feel full until my next meal or snack.

I have to look into this Chike stuff you are talking about. Sounds good to me.

...when I do the "old man" waddle when I first stand up and walk....
...when my joints sound like a bowl of Rice Krispies and firecrackers...
...when I have to pee by Braille because my stomach removes all hope of visual reference...
...when my 4-year-old asks if I'm pregnant "like Mommy was"...
...when I get lightheaded if I take too long to bend over to pick up my 1-year-old daughter...
...when I can't sit on the floor and play with my girls without it feeling like my hips are being dislocated..
...when my snoring and sleep apnea forced me to sleep in the guest room so I don't wake up my wife...
#1 - when sex becomes more work than pleasure.