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?

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' date=' 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.[/quote']

I've never been a meat lover so this is a huge change for me. If you find a liquid Protein clear drink that works for you, I'd love to know!

Based on my height/weight/body mass' date=' 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.[/quote']

I hope I'm not jinxing it by speaking to soon but so far, my sleeve hasn't yelled at me and ice eaten a huge variety of things. Figured if I was going to have trouble, may as well find out while st home than on an airplane or during a client meeting!

I find fish, yogurt, cheese and cottage cheese to be the "lightest" for me as well.

I'm three + weeks out and just can't force the shakes.

I've been drinking one Isopure every day.

I don't love it, but if I Water it down and add tons of ice I can stretch a 20 oz/ 40 G Protein bottle into 60 ounces of Fluid for the day. It makes all the difference in my daily protein intake.

I really like Isopure. Just wish they weren't so expensive. :-)

The Protein Water sounds like a good idea. Too bad everyone seems to hate isopure.

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' date=' 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![/quote']

I don't hate the shakes. I see them as necessary fuel and have chosen a couple that work. But yes you've nailed my struggle. Only able to eat 2 oz at a time, around 600-800 calories, very hard to get in all the protein in 8-10 oz of food. So shakes it is then!

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.

I do the chike coffee protein one. Yum yum! Have you tried it? Keeps me from having to eat in the morning too, and I've never enjoyed eating first thing.

Hope you're recovering well

I just found Greek Style Cottage cheese by Kemps with 19 grams of Protein. It comes in the small containers like the yogurt. It's thick and creamy. Very good surprisingly and a nice change.

Where did you find this?

My dr recommends a Protein shake everyday forever' date=' thinking that there's no way I can get in 80 gms of protein eating as much as I do. I'm 7 weeks out and drink maybe 1 a day at most. Sometimes I only drink 1/2 of one. I'm getting pretty sick of em and can't imagine drinking them forever. I was sposed to drink 1 forever after my lapband almost 4 yrs ago. After the first month, I never drank another one till my revision 7 weeks ago.

It's a good idea, however, since I don't really count my protein. Hate counting anything...[/quote']

I suspect once we can add some fruit etc fr flavor maybe the shakes will become more fun. We used to have one for breakfast everyday. Post surgery, I cannot STAND the very shake I loved for 3 years before. Maybe you'll find one you like as your taste buds change.

I'm three + weeks out and just can't force the shakes.

I've been drinking one Isopure every day.

I don't love it' date=' but if I Water it down and add tons of ice I can stretch a 20 oz/ 40 G Protein bottle into 60 ounces of Fluid for the day. It makes all the difference in my daily protein intake.[/quote']

What flavors do you find...um...least yucky?

I really like Isopure. Just wish they weren't so expensive. :-)

What flavors would you recommend trying?

The protein water sounds like a good idea. Too bad everyone seems to hate isopure.

Try 4-ever-fit fruit flavors, I think they are delicious, mixed with water, taste natural to me.

Mango is my fav. I also mix and match the other flavors.

http://4everfit.com/component/option,com_rokecwid/Itemid,112/view,ecwid/#!/~/category/id=3779697&offset=0&sort=normal

Try 4-ever-fit fruit flavors' date=' I think they are delicious, mixed with Water, taste natural to me.

Mango is my fav. I also mix and match the other flavors.

http://4everfit.com/component/option,com_rokecwid/Itemid,112/view,ecwid/#!/~/category/id=3779697&offset=0&sort=normal[/quote']

You had me at "mango" I should try these. Thank you!

I quit my daily shake around 5 or 5 months, but still used them when I traveled because its harder for me to get Protein in on the road.

My program preferred us to have them at night after trying to get enough protein in, but at first I had one in the morning and one at night, then tapered to one at night and then finally one at night just on days when I didn't manage to get enough protein.

I believe I read we need 1/2 gram for every lb we weigh.

One of the ways I got enough protein is Fage 0 greek yogurt. 23 grams per cup. Cottage cheese is also loaded with protein.

Lynda

It's possible I'm over doing the Protein. It's for a very annoying reason. My husband doesn't track' date=' and I know he needs 80. So rather than track two inputs, I just am trying to monitor both of us together. I figure as long as he makes most of the meals, then it's only fair that I should track I'm kidding, I'd track it for him anyway. But maybe I only need to hit 65 or so and should not worry about it after that point.[/quote']

It's based on your height, or so my nut said. She went around the room asking everybody how tall. I'm 5'3" and my range was 63-78/day. No one had less than 63, that was the minimum.

My hubby was with me on preop day and got his # too. He's following the same rules, but without surgery, and has lost 25 lbs!

A good old chicken is jam packed with protein. I would buy a rotisserie and work on it all week. Mix w/ a little low fat olive oil mayo (if needed to get it down easier). It was a daily go to in the first few weeks to hit the magic #.

Getting there without shakes was very calculated, but doable. I did have to start early to pace myself through the day until my capacity increased

If you find a Protein shake you like, then it makes your life easier. I don't do chocolate, nor do I like fruit smoothies (crazy, I know!) and that was my shake downfall.

Not sure if eating meat vs. shake had anything to do with it, but I am not anemic and a regular blood donor at 3 1/2 mo. out.

I like the grape, orange and coconut flavored ones. :-)

What flavors would you recommend trying?