Is it unrealistic, at 4 weeks post-op to expect to get the majority of your Protein from food rather than shakes? I am really struggling to get more than 40 gms from food and all I ever eat is protein. Last couple of days, I've been doing one shake a day but it's just really not making the grade and I'm missing the protein quota of 80 gms.

What's a realistic timeframe to give up the shakes?

My surgeon's daily plan is 3 meals of no more than 3 ounces each, and no snacks, for six months after surgery. After six months you can increase your meal size to 4 ounces, but still no snacks until you reach your goal weight. So for me I don't think there is any way I'll be giving up shakes until I hit maintenance and that's a long way off.

I'm 8 weeks and my surgeon said I should be getting most protein from food. I'm allowed 3 meals, 4oz each. I still have a shake for breakfast every morning because if not, I don't get enough protein.

I was able to eliminate the shakes by six weeks, but I occasionally have a protein bar now if I am really busy and need the extra protein- usually on the weekend. At four weeks I still wasn't physically able to eat that much food.

I've been getting minimum of 90g of protein a day.

I only have 2-3 protein shakes a week tops. The rest is from food.

I do eat 6 times a day though with max cals at 900.

At 4 weeks it was still 500-600/day I think.

I struggled so much getting shakes down, it slowed my fluid consumption. They lasted only through the purée stage (one a day at that point), but my protein goal is lower than yours at 63 vs. 80. I drank milk 3x a day (okay to add a little cocoa) and only the highest protein foods possible until I could increase my food capacity upwards a bit.

at 2 1/2 years I still use 2-3 shakes a week. My doc doesn't mind. Shakes are fluids, and at least partially count towards water. Early on I used shakes like medicine, didn't really like them , but found some high protein ones and drank them down as much as needed to get in my protein (mine was also over 65). I did this as a vegetarian, so bean soup, greek yogurt and (after the lactose intolerance went away) cottage cheese, eggs, refried beans with cheese, peanut butter.... For me, I just wanted to get in as much nutrition as I could, so shakes for most of the protein, and lots of veggie soups for vitamins, fiber and yummyness! Of course now, I can eat anything! You will know it when you can get off of shakes, just keep trying other things now and then to see how they work for you.

I can't seem to get my 80 g of protein in without a shake so either I have a shake every morning or sometimes I swap it for a premier protein bar.

I'm about 10 weeks out & I still have my espresso shake every morning mostly because I like it. However, if I wasn't drinking it I think I would have to work harder on getting enough protein in. Most days I hit 70-80g protein range just fine, but if my shake was taken out of the equation it would be much more difficult to do. You've seen my food diary, so you know I eat pretty decently, but the shake is definitely a crucial protein boost.

I am almost 8 weeks out and on mostly food. - A few shakes a week - but my protein goal is 60. My NUT advised to switching to to the clear protein drinks when transitioning to solid food, if you need extra protein, but they make me gag. I eat 4x a day, (3) 3 oz of protein a meal plus (4) .25 cup veg or fruit, and (1) 2 oz protein snack. I am still struggling with some dense meats, as well as eggs (oddly enough), and also my appetite --- I am protein weary, even though it used to be my fave.

Is it unrealistic' date=' at 4 weeks post-op to expect to get the majority of your Protein from food rather than shakes? I am really struggling to get more than 40 gms from food and all I ever eat is protein. Last couple of days, I've been doing one shake a day but it's just really not making the grade and I'm missing the protein quota of 80 gms.

What's a realistic timeframe to give up the shakes?[/quote']

6 weeks post op and I still have shakes. They never bothered me, though. I akso have GNC Isopure clear. Good if it is cold with 40 g.

I'm a year and a half out and still hit the shakes but not every day. After workouts or working hard all day shakes are mandatory. I sprinkle whey powder on my cereal sometimes. Whey powder tends to bind me up and being an old guy I place special value on my bathroom performance.

I place special value on my bathroom performance.

Based on my height/weight/body mass, my NUT doesn't want me to eat more than 65 g of protein a day, and no more than 15 g in one meal. At 4 months out I still have at least 1 shake a day; I find if I don't I just can't get to my protein goal. I'm a little slower than most people in my ability to digest, so the only lean animal protein I can get down is fish and really moist chicken. My NUT is fine with me continuing on the shakes until I'm comfortable getting everything from food.

I am coming up on 11 months out and I still have a scoop of Protein in my coffee each morning. I use that as my Breakfast, as I love my morning coffee and I am not big on eating "food" in the morning so it kills two birds with one stone.

I get between 80 - 100 grams of protein a day now and am up to about 1,000 calories a day.

I eat beef Jerky, cheese and lunch meat as Snacks to up the protein and then lunch and dinner is mostly protein with a few bites of veggie.

Edited to add, I think it is unrealistic to get all your protein from food at 4 weeks out. I was at 60 grams per day till about 6 months and at that time with only 600 calories there was no way to get enough protein with out the supplement. If you HATE the shakes/powder it can be done, but it definitely will take planning very carefully what to eat to hit the mark. You MUST get your protein though!

I've kind of gotten my head around protein shakes for breakfast for the indefinite future. I don't mind them as long as it is only one per day.