Can somebody tell me the advantage of drinking a Protein shake rather than eating real food that is high in protein (for those of us on solids)? It seems like a lot of people are doing this. Am I missing something?

I thought that real food will stay in the pouch and help us to feel full, while a shake will just slip right through.

I would love to hear the pros and cons.

Thanks!

I was just banded on Friday, June 18th...I would love to know the answer to this! ANY additional tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

You are right, a protien shake tends to slip right through the pouch. I have one for breakfast because I am pretty tight in the morning. Other then that, I eat solids. Good question.

I am under the impression that you are correct. Protein from food (like a chicken breast or whatever) also has other constituent parts (like fiber) and takes the digestive system time to break down.

For me, in the morning, my band feels tighter. I also LOVE the regimen and regularity so I have a Protein shake for breakfast and a Protein Bar mid morning. Total calories about 320 and total protein 50g (combined). That gets my day off to a good start and allows me to find my extra 10-30 g of protein in my other meals.

I imagine folks use it as a way to portion out their intake more than anything else. I have read that certain Proteins are more readily digestible (eggs for example) that others (red meat).

I have often wondered the same myself. My doctor is really big on protein shakes for breakfast- but most of them are SSSSSOOOO bad!

Banded 10/14/2009

My surgeon does not want me drinking any calories, period. Because they go right through the band and don't satisfy you. I keep a few shakes around in case I've had a bad stuck episode and am having trouble getting food down. But they are not part of my normal diet.

As a side note, chicken or other protien foods, don't have Fiber.

Cocoa is right. My surgeon and many others I know want you to limit drinking calories. Your more apt to consume for because it doesnt stick as well. My surgeon suggests drinking one in the morning cause I too am super tight. If I dont get to one in the morning, or I eat something else cause Im more loose, then I have one for dinner after a good workout cause the Protein will keep the muscle I just built up. The only thing is that shakes are where you get a LARGE amount of protein so I rely on at least one a day to get my protein in.

Tip for those who cant find a good shake:

I HATE HATE HATE the taste of shakes. I was even forcing myself to drink them and would throw them up. I have since discovered Matrix Protein powder (I like chocolate). I mix it with 1 cup choco soy milk (or fat free milk), half a banana, and 2 tbsp chunky Peanut Butter (no sugar added all natural). I SWARE TO YOU, it tastes like a milk shake. If a shake tastes anything like protein powder to me, I wont drink it and I can drink these allllll day if I had to. I actually look forward to having one daily! Hope this helps!

Where do you get Matrix? I do the exact same shake but with Isagenix Isalean shake mix. It is a bit pricey and you have to get it from a distributor so if Matrix is easier to obtain than I would definitley like to check into it. I drink one most days for breakfast..I am too tight to eat anything also. Must be why the surgeon is so big on protein shakes for breakfast.

I get it at Vitamin Shoppe only $19.99. Used to pay over $40 at my surgeons until I found it here. I see youre in Tulsa, I looked and they dont have one. There might be somewhere else there that carries it, Nectar is another good one.

I use Protein supplements. I don't use them instead of food---I use them to ensure I get enough protein when I am unable to get enough from solid food.

I just don't have the capacity to get the number of protein grams I need each day in from solid food alone. So I start the day with a protein shake---and if I haven't gotten enough, I end the day with one, too.

You're right, they're not as satisfying as food. But they get the protein in, when the body's already had 3 solid meals and really can't hold any more :smile2:

Hmmmm, manufactured fake food made by humans with lots of additives - either a lot of sugar or a lot of artificial sweetener depending on whether you pick a low carb one or not.

Or..... real food with nutrient balance in way nature intended.

No competition in my humble opinion. I never drink shakes and never have. I've never found I needed to supplement above what I could eat.

The only time I use a protein shake is when I have to do liquids after a fill.Other than that it's REAL food all the way.

Those of you who dont do shakes, how many grams of protein are you getting in a day? I stay between 80-100. Its what my doc and nut recommend. If you are this high, how the heck are yoou getting it all in? One shake has about 45g of protein. I eat a lot of eggs and turkey bacon and lean protein meats and nuts, but I cant physically eat 80-100g of that a day based of quanity alone. Would love to know your secret

Hmmmm, manufactured fake food made by humans with lots of additives - either a lot of sugar or a lot of artificial sweetener depending on whether you pick a low carb one or not.

Or..... real food with nutrient balance in way nature intended.

No competition in my humble opinion. I never drink shakes and never have. I've never found I needed to supplement above what I could eat.

What did you do when you first had surgey? I'm only one week out and sick of just liquids.

I have no idea how much Protein I am getting and I don't really care.I am not focused on protein I am focused on getting a balanced diet that includes all food groups.

However here is a sample menu from one of Trudy Williams books.(Trudy is a very well respected nutritionist specialising in banded diets and has written lots of books)

Cereal + milk or an egg on toast 9g

crackers with ham and salad 16g

2 pieces of fresh fruit 4g

mince/chicken or salmon 19g with veg 4g

yogurt 10g

muesli bar 3g

milk in tea and coffee 5g

total 70g.

All from a normal diet that includes all food groups and with no extra Protein shakes.

I understand if you are not concerned too much about protein but I do major weight training and lifting and I work out twice a day. A HIGH protein diet is NEEDED to keep and build that muscle. WIthout it, you will lose muscle. My goal is to replace my fat with muscle and only way to do that is high protein.