So far I've been doing pretty good since surgery. I'm just having a hard time with the 70-80 grams of protein. I like the cytosport drinks - I used to like the Isopure but post surgery they tasted icky. How are you all getting the 70-80 grams of protein in each day without feeling like the protein drinks are overly sweet?

I relied a lot on the Unjury chicken soup protein in the first few weeks after surgery. Also, Healthwise brand protein soups, and mixing unflavored protein into beef broth or miso soup. The sweet stuff was a lot harder for me to drink.

To be honest the first few days/week you are probably going to have a very hard time getting in all of your Protein if you are on liquids only. I used the Body Fortress shakes and after surgery they tasted terrible to me. So I would just grin and bear it and drink them despite my growing seething hatred toward it (LOL). I was not restricted to a post-op liquid diet. I went to puree for about a week then softs (and am still on softs). Try to get something like a Greek yogurt (which was something I did not like pre-op but quite like now). You can also add something like baby food chicken to chicken broth and make a heartier soup if you are on softs. And you can also get unflavored or chicken flavored protein to make soup if sweet is bugging you.

I'm four days out and have not meet the Protein or the liquid quotas yet! I drank an Isopure 40g protein, chocolate Protein shake 30g, and Water. I can not seem to comfortably consume more than that yet! It's ok, I'd rather go slow and not get as much in than to drink more than I feel comfortable with and potentially damage my sleeve. Just do the best u can and listen to your body.

I would ingest nothing but Protein products:

Isopure (it's horrible, but packs in the protein so I gag it down);

lots of BariWise chicken bouillon--it's really tasty and has 15g of protein per drink packet-I would make that and add a hot and sour or Tom Yum soup broth to it (Asian gourmet soup spice packets have no MSG, reasonable sodium, 1 g of carb per serving and only 20-35 calories per serving; spice packs are mixed into hot water).

Nashua Nutrition no carb raspberry protein Jello (15g of protein per packet and zero carbs)-it's wonderful!

Syntrax nectar (protein powder) I love Peanut Butter and it's not too sweet. I mix it with Water for 23g of protein per serving.

In between, I tried to drink water but it made me nauseous, so I would usually drink watered down Powerade Zero. Today (my 15th day post-op) was the first day I could sip on water without adding anything to it and not feel nauseous. I buy electrolyte water and have nearly made it through 50oz today.

I promise you, it will get better and you'll get more liquids in soon Just do the best you can for now so you aren't too deficient. Try to ingest as much protein as you can to avoid hair loss and brittle nails!

I'm 4 days post-op and I've gotten whey Protein shots. They have 42 grams of protein in a 3.8 oz tube. I've gotten them at CNG and The Vitamin Shoppe. I've tried all the flavors, fruit puch, watermelon, grape and blue raspberry. They are sugar free as well. I like the raspberry the best and watermelon is the worst. The only thing is that they are real sweet and thick but two of those a day and my protein is done.

I am looking forward to next week when I can add my Muscle Milk pro series 40g Protein shakes, the choc mint is wonderful!

Thank you for all the guidance and tips. I too am 4 days post op and have already started the muscle milk. But were you all able to get in 70-80 grams a day on top of your liquids and vitamin doses?

I'm 6 days out and barely getting 50g in a day. More like 40. But I also ordered the New Whey shots. Looking forward to trying it. I have a hard time with keeping comfortable with eating. Going suuuper slow. And I found sitting up after I eat helps a ton. But not walking until it settles.

I was in the 60-70 gram range for the first week post-op. After that I was hitting 75+ consistently.

I am 6 days post-op and feeling better everyday. I was told by my physician that we cannot metabolize more than 25 grams of protein at a time, so it does no good to drink 40 grams at once. I have been drinking Isopure protein drink (16 gm protein per 8 oz. ), and the taste is not bad. Also Truetein protein shakes from Bodybuilders.com, 24 gm protein per 8 oz. They have really great flavors, I am mixing them with water now but will mix with milk once I am off clear liquids. The flavors I especially like are Cinnabun, and orange creamsicle! I will admit that there have been a few times I had an Atkins Advantage shake (16 gm protein) and it has seemed to help when I think I just can't drink anything else, but have only had 2 of them this week. I am so ready to graduate to full liquids tomorrow!

I'm going to have to ask my dietician about the protein. They never said anything about only being able to digest a certain amount. That would suck because I'm having enough trouble getting anything in without feeling sick or over full.

I don't think I'm getting in the Protein I need. I've been eating yogurts, cottage cheese, and lentil Soups. I tried a smoothie with whey protein and it didn't sit too well. Going to try to go to GNC or Vitamin shop today and see what else I can get.

What is muscle milk? I'm willing to try anything to get more protein in...today is post op day 6.

At that point my doc only cared about me staying hydrated and to stay on liquids.

I don't think I'm getting in the protein I need. I've been eating yogurts, cottage cheese, and lentil soups. I tried a smoothie with whey protein and it didn't sit too well. Going to try to go to GNC or vitamin shop today and see what else I can get. What is muscle milk? I'm willing to try anything to get more protein in...today is post op day 6.

Muscle milk is in most stores by the other protein drinks. I bought it ready made but not sure if they have powders too. I have only tried vanilla so far and I liked it but had to mix some skim milk with it to cut down on sweetness.

I find it interesting that different doctors give different instructions regarding the diet. I will be entering postop week 2 tomorrow, and for the past week, as instructed, I have been on full liquids but also had to include 70-100 grams of protein a day. I have felt like all I have done is drink, and drink a lot of very unappealing protein drinks at that. My docotor said if I didn''t get enough protein in, I would not lose weight, my stomach wouldn't heal properly and could leak, I could lose hair, etc. How I wish I could have cottage cheese, yogurt or even lentil soup! But those are not allowed until week 3, for me.