I continue to have a battle balancing calories while trying to make sure that I get at least 60 grams of protein. I may at times don't even get up there all with food from morning to night. I try to stay at 800 calories but it gets tricky with calories and carbs. So I brought shakes to start drinking them in the morning. Any suggestions? I am 4 1/2 months out.

Same here, I look forward to my morning shake. I didn't lose my sweet tooth. It lasts most of the morning too because I add a lot of ice.

Not being a morning person either, it helps get me out the door faster

I stopped for a while but I drink on in the morning then for my mid morning snack I eat a P3 which has 14gms of protein so before lunch I have 40 + grams of protein.

I am almost 2 years post-op and I drink 2-4 shakes a day. However, I am into lifting weights and building muscle mass in order to achieve a toned look, avoiding the look of loose and wobbly skin. Mass building requires a lot of protein (1 gram per pound) at crucial times throughout the day. I have one first thing in the morning and one before bed. On my weight lifting days I have two extra shakes: one shake an hour before my weight lifting session and another shake within the first half hour post my workout session.

10 months out, and I have a Premier Protein chocolate shake every single morning. It jump starts my day with 30 grams of protein, one-third of the way to my daily goal. "And it's so tasty too!" (Just like Vitameatavegamin, for those of you old enough to remember THAT one!)

I had my shake this morning before going to the gym and it has 35 grams of protein in it. I feel better knowing that getting my protein will be less challenging. Now, it will be easier getting proteins from other sources.

My surgery is scheduled for May 27th and my doctors diet guidelines post op only allow me to have protein shakes for the first 3 weeks and then he doesn't allow them anymore.

@@RNYGal Seriously? Why not?

Yeah, he is very against his patients drinking their calories and wants me to get my protein in from food.

Edited April 21, 201511 yr by RNYGal

@@RNYGal But you won't be able to eat enough after just 3 weeks to get in 60-80 grams of Protein. Or does he not have a specific protein requirement?

@@TammyDTM, no he doesn't have a specific protein requirement. He just has guidelines of what you can eat and when and to stop the shakes at week 3. I'll have to clarify that he has no protein requirement. The post op diet sheet he gives out has no specific numbers on it except for how many ounces of fluid he wants me to have a day.

@@RNYGal Is there a nutritionist at his office you can speak with?

@@TammyDTM, yes. I just had my consult with her the day after I scheduled my surgery and she just went over what was on the handout sheet. She just said how many grams of protein the shakes should have and she also emphasized I stop the protein shakes at 3 weeks... It's strange they don't do protein shakes because all I see on here is people talking about protein and their shakes.

I have continued to have a shake for Breakfast every morning. I drink it on the way into work. I find this to be the easiest thing for me to kick start the morning and get the Protein I need.

I'm just past 3 months out and have a premier protein shake in the morning on work days. I know it's not the recommended process but i do drink slowly over the course of the morning. Sometimes I still have a bit left at lunchtime. I don't love them, don't hate them. They're just an easy way to get a big protein influx first thing.

When I had my three month visit, I was told to ease up on the shakes and try to get my protein from food, but they are not forbidden. At 15 months I still have a couple a week, on strength training days.