lydiaire

I have been hungry since right after my surgery. I didn't care what I ate as long as there was some food in me. I can only eat a few oz of meat at one time, but then I'm hungry again right away. Metformin has been helping some, but some people DO still have hunger after surgery.

Your tummy continues to produce stomach acid, not as much post surgery but still more than you need to digest the small amount of food you’re currently consuming (well drinking 😉) plus fluids need less acid to digest. Talk to your surgery, you may need a higher dose of your esomeprazole to get you over the hump until you’re eating solid food again.
Congrats on your surgery.

Protein is important for the rest of your life. Everyone should be eating protein regardless if they are bariatric patients or not. Your body needs it for healing, muscle & bone health, digestion, … https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/functions-of-protein#TOC_TITLE_HDR_9 The daily recommended amount is 0.8g per kilogram for a non bariatric patient. (I’m required to reach 1.2g of protein per kg of weight in maintenance.)
My surgeon was ok if I didn’t meet my protein goals each day to begin as long as I was making an effort to be close. It gets easier when you can eat more.
If you can’t tolerate the shakes try Bone Broth, well strained cream Soups or consumes, wonton Soup broth (no wontons or vegetables of course). I struggled with shakes too so would dilute them & just rode out one a day for the two weeks.

Yea. You just add unflavored Protein powder to the Soups.

I'm on day 3 of my 2 week liquid pre-op diet before the sleeve. Hunger hasn't been too bad though it's been emotionally much rougher than I realized. But, I am so done with Protein Shakes, I feel like if I drink another one I'll puke. So my question is, how important is the Protein at this stage if it's just to shrink my liver? Wouldn't just eating nothing also work? Because at this point that sounds like a better alternative.