So I'm still on soft foods and I was super nauseous the first three weeks and the last two days I've been feeling really good and my food is going down nice and so is my water and now I catching myself nibbling on things but I'm scared I'm starting to eat to much. I hate the protein shakes and my doctor said I need to get at least 50 g of protein but I've been eating more so I get 75-95g, what is everyone's suggestions because I don't want to eat a lot but I hate the shakes

I feel like I nibbled all day today. 6 weeks out and this week is when I really really starting eating different things. I thought about it too. In fact I feel like I want to eat now, but im not. I'm a newbie at this too but from what I understand on here the more you start eating, you can taper down on the shakes and add up the protein you've eaten. I have yet to try that. I know I don't eat enough for 60 grams of protein but maybe 25/30 which would only require me to drink 1 shake instead of 2. Maybe take away 1 shake I think u can do that if your averaging 75-95 a day. That would bring the protein(and calories) down to about 60, 65 grams of protein a day. Try it : )

Edited September 26, 201510 yr by Veronica_mm

Protein shakes taste terrible. But protein is necessary - essential to the program. The important thing is finding a Protein shake that you can tolerate.

As your meal volume increases, you have the option of reducing the amount of Protein Shakes that you consume each day. Your protein requirement is a combination of the amount of protein you consume from meals combined with the amount of protein you obtain from supplements (protein shakes and protein bars). This is provided that you concentrate on eating high protein meals. This option does not become available at 3 weeks or even 6 weeks but closer to 3 months when your meal volume has increased significantly.

I put some discussion on this subject in a short article at http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery.pdf

Before you consider reducing your use of shakes, I suggest keeping a journal of all of the food you eat (even if only a small taste) and the quantities, so you can calculate exactly how much Protein you are eating. If you truly are getting 75-95g of protein or more, then you can probably reduce your use of protein shakes as @@Veronica_mm said if you are able to maintain your 50g of protein a day with other foods.

I would also caution you that very soon now, when you reach the solid foods stage, you are going to have to stop the "nibbling". Grazing (as @@James Marusek can tell you from a recent study he was talking about) is a major cause of weight gain, and that goes especially for WLS patients. When you are on liquids and purees, eating small portions constantly is fine, and even necessary to get in your minimum protein because the pouch is so small, but when you are getting into real foods, you should be moving towards discrete meals with nothing but Water or water substitutes (Powerade Zero, Crystal light, etc.) in between.

Also, it's important to know what you are grazing on. Are you grazing on yogurt, cottage cheese, tuna or other high-protien foods? Ok. Are you grazing on whole fruit and veggies? Not as good, but still probably ok. Are you grazing on canned fruit, crackers, nuts or other foods with lots of carbs or fat? Probably not good.

Finally, if your grazing is due to real hunger, not just "head hunger", then you might want to try adding a bit more protein to your normal meals. Protein should keep your hunger down longer. However, if you are not really hungry, but just satisfying a craving, then you may want to think up of some things to get your mind off of it, or possibly see a therapist to work on that. If not dealt with, the head hunger can really derail your success.

Thank u guys!!