This is a question mainly for post-op patients who are up to eating solid foods again after surgery, but anyone can weigh in!

I am wondering about eating versus drinking your calories and nutrients. When it comes to Protein, do you prefer to chow down on foods such as chicken, fish, yogurt, cheese, and Protein Bars? Or do you opt for protein shakes and powders? If you are still using shakes and powders, is it because using them is the only way you can hit your protein goals, or because they are more convenient, or simply because you like them more?

With fruits and vegetables, do you throw them into smoothies and shakes and/or juice them? Or do you eat them whole? And why? A lot of people find that smoothies help them up their fruit and veggie intake, but some people prefer to eat them to get the satisfaction of chewing solid foods…and maybe avoiding the need to clean a blender when making a smoothie!

So what is your preference?

It’ll also be helpful if you post what type of weight loss surgery you had and how far out you are so other members can get an idea of what to expect or what others are doing. Thanks!

I eat most of my nutrition except for a periodic V8. I put protein powder in oatmeal. Now, I generally only drink protein shakes for convenience.

To add: especially when I travel.

I am almost 9 months out from gastric sleeve and I still drink protein shakes. I have 1 every morning because I can't eat solid food in the morning or I'll feel nauseated. I work 12 hour shifts and can't always stop for breaks so in a pinch, I'll drink another shake. But for the most part I eat real foods. I don't juice my veggies or fruit, I eat them whole.

Eat mine. Lots of beans & bean types, eggs. Do some cheese. Chicken and turkey but that's it. I'm several years out.

6 months post op Gastric Sleeve.

I eat all my Proteins and eat whole veggies.

I add Protein powder to my yoghurt.

Haven't used a Protein shake for months. Few months ago I had one shake for Breakfast as I was running late.

I just don't like the shakes much, had enough of them pre-op and early post op.

I don't drink juices. In the past I liked V8, but it was too acidic for me.

Tried bit of apple juice in Water, and it was still too sweet.

So, yes, I chow down

I almost have to have a Protein shake every day (at 15 months out) because if I don't average about 100 grams of protein a day, my blood protein levels tank. It's kind of a challenge to get that high without doing a shake. I suppose I could eat a Protein Bar instead, and sometimes I do, but the calories on those are higher.

Lately I've been trying to add Protein Powder to food, though (like yogurt) so I stay full longer. Protein shakes don't satisfy me as much as solid food, and I'm battling the hunger beast again :-(

I occasionally add a little frozen fruit to a protein shake to make a smoothie, but not usually. Again, I think I'm better off hunger-wise if I try to eat most of calories in solid food.

I'm a little over a year out and I drink a premier Protein shake every day, sometimes cut with fairlife milk. I have very little appetite and in the morning I simply can't eat anything solid without feeling pretty sick. I'm perfectly healthy and doing just fine, but I know that I would not be getting enough nutrition without my daily shake.

Odd you asked this question today. I was speaking with my mom earlier and she asked if I wanted her to save a lamb chop for me. My reply was "No, lamb and I aren't getting along these days, much like beef and I. I wish that I could simply drink my nutrition and skip eating whole foods".

And I meant it. I enjoy the "softer" foods- yogurt, cheeses, etc but when it comes to meats? I'm kind of over them. Which stinks because I'm sitting here CRAVING a Chicago-style hot dog! Meats have become so touchy for me in the last 2 months. Veggies- love them! Fruits are really limited to berries in my new tummy because there are too many others I don't tolerate well ( honeydew, watermelon, apples).

One food you'd THINK I couldn't tolerate would be corn on the cob. I don't have an issue with it, though. Maybe have one a week right now ( half an ear).

So, consequently I get most of my Protein via yogurt, cottage cheese, hard white cheese, ricotta cheese ( home made), and Protein drinks. I'd kill for a big juicy steak, and can eat dark meat chicken that has been stewed in juices.

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eating versus drinking your calories and nutrients

@@Alex Brecher

and the answer is.......

i prefer drinking calories/getting Protein in a shake

i will more often than not, grab a btle of pre-mixed protein shake on the run

works for me

i was sleeved almost 5 years ago (December 2011)

can't believe its been that long

life keeps getting better

kathy

Since shakes and I don't get along, I weaned myself off them as early as I could. I prefer to eat my nutrition - although I do occasionally drink a low sodium V-8 to boost my veggie intake and carry a protein bar with me to eat if I find myself in a situation that there are no healthy alternatives.

Are there any SAVOURY Protein bars?

All I have seen so far are sweet Protein Bars.

I have never tried a Protein Bar, but wouldn't mind a savoury one, like one with cheese flavour.

Do they exist?

I'm a little over a year out and I drink a premier Protein shake every day, sometimes cut with fairlife milk. I have very little appetite and in the morning I simply can't eat anything solid without feeling pretty sick. I'm perfectly healthy and doing just fine, but I know that I would not be getting enough nutrition without my daily shake.

Hi,

I'm just wondering if it's ok to use almond milk instead of regular milk when making shakes. And what about orange juice with vanilla Protein powder? I'm just kind of planning ahead

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@@Krista143

I was told it was perfectly fine, as long as there is no sugar added to the almond milk. Just make sure you add up the Protein in the milk to the protein in your powder to get an exact total.

As for OJ- there is a lot of sugar in it- I would personally avoid it- I wouldn't want the calories nor the possibility of dumping.

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I use unsweetened almond (or cashew) milk in my shakes all the time - and have since day 1. Just make sure it's the unsweetened kind.

@@Krista143

I was told it was perfectly fine, as long as there is no sugar added to the almond milk. Just make sure you add up the Protein in the milk to the protein in your powder to get an exact total.

As for OJ- there is a lot of sugar in it- I would personally avoid it- I wouldn't want the calories nor the possibility of dumping.

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Thank you, so relieved to hear that. Can't tolerate milk.

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I use unsweetened almond (or cashew) milk in my shakes all the time - and have since day 1. Just make sure it's the unsweetened kind.

Thank you for the advice

Sent from my VS985 4G using the BariatricPal App

I am wondering about eating versus drinking your calories and nutrients. When it comes to Protein, do you prefer to chow down on foods such as chicken, fish, yogurt, cheese, and protein bars? Or do you opt for Protein shakes and powders? If you are still using shakes and powders, is it because using them is the only way you can hit your protein goals, or because they are more convenient, or simply because you like them more?

With fruits and vegetables, do you throw them into smoothies and shakes and/or juice them? Or do you eat them whole? And why? A lot of people find that smoothies help them up their fruit and veggie intake, but some people prefer to eat them to get the satisfaction of chewing solid foods…and maybe avoiding the need to clean a blender when making a smoothie!

So what is your preference?

It’ll also be helpful if you post what type of weight loss surgery you had and how far out you are so other members can get an idea of what to expect or what others are doing. Thanks!

I had the sleeve about 7 months ago. Every time I eat any dense foods I have pain. I also have teeth and mouth problems so chewing is painful for me. Because of these problems a lot of my foods are soft styles. I usually have a Bariatric Pal Protein Hot chocolate for Breakfast. On Tuesdays and Thursday when I work I have a turkey and a cheese stick for lunch. The other 5 days I usually have a Atkins Protein shake. An afternoon snack is usually Seafarer fish sticks or yogurt, hummus and pork rinds. dinner is about 3 ounces of ground or real soft meat or fish,and refried Beans or a bite or 2 of vegetables. By having the two Protein drinks I usually get my 60 to 80 grams of protein.