Hey all!!

Started my liquid diet on 7/23, got sleeved on 8/8. So total weight loss for now 22 lbs since liquid diet, 8 lbs since getting sleeved.

Having a hard time drinking 3 protein shakes a day. It’s not that I can’t keep it down. I would just rather eat yogurt, pudding or broth. I drink up to 2 shakes at most. I know we need the shakes for protein and all. But how bad is it that I only drink 1.5-2 shakes a day?

Visiting my dietician this Friday post-op. But what are your thoughts? I don’t eat much more than a few spoons of yogurt anyway. If I’m just not hungry is it okay to just not drink the shakes? Hate to force myself.

Right after surgery your body is in a major heal mode. Many patients find it difficult to meet their protein and fluid daily requirements during the first few weeks. Just keep trying.

Many experience problems drinking protein shakes. I hated them. But in the beginning I drank them, three 16-ounce protein shakes a day, in order to meet my protein requirements. You do not have to like protein shakes only tolerate them. There are many varieties of protein shakes available today. Experiment until you can find one you can tolerate. I used Muscle Milk Light (Vanilla Creme) powder blended with water and a half a banana. That worked for me. But on the opposite end of the spectrum, you might try premixed Isopure.

Without sufficient protein, your body will scavenge protein from other areas of your body, such as your muscles. Protein is extremely important after surgery as its job in the body is to build and maintain tissues including your body's major organs and skeletal muscles. Protein deficiency, when continued over a long period of time can cause a disease known as protein caloric malnutrition. Common symptoms are poor healing, fatigue, hair loss and muscle wasting. Immediate post op, protein promotes healing of the staple line and incisions.

Your daily protein requirement is met by a combination of the amount of protein you obtain from food combined with the amount of protein from protein supplements (protein shakes, protein bars). Right after surgery, the volume of food you consume is minuscule. But as you get further along, the meal volume increases. Therefore you have a very important option available to you. As a result, you can begin to reduce your reliance on protein shakes if you concentrate on consuming high protein meals.

You don't need to drink the shakes, but you do need to meet your protein goals. Until you can eat enough "regular" food, if you don't like the shakes, try protein water (I like Protein2O, myself). Or add unflavored protein powder to broth or soup, etc. If you don't hit your protein targets, your body will cannibalize your muscles to get the protein it needs. This really isn't negotiable. You can do yourself serious, long-term damage. (Your heart is one of the muscles than can be damaged)

/Mom-mode OFF/ Good luck!

Edited August 13, 20187 yr by Orchids&Dragons

On 08/13/2018 at 11:24, Orchids&Dragons said:

You don't need to drink the shakes, but you do need to meet your Protein goals. Until you can eat enough "regular" food, if you don't like the shakes, try protein Water (I like Protein2O, myself). Or add unflavored Protein Powder to broth or Soup, etc. If you don't hit your protein targets, you're body will cannibalize your muscles to get the protein it needs. This really isn't negotiable. You can do yourself serious, long-term damage. (Your heart is one of the muscles than can be damaged)

/Mom-mode OFF/ Good luck!

Yes. Now that you put it that way, I am going to force myself to drink those 3 shakes a day. I do force myself. But drinking 8 oz takes me 2 hours because I drink small sips not to overload my stomach or cause pain. So I guess I’ll just be drinking the shakes all day long.

On 08/13/2018 at 11:24, Orchids&Dragons said:

You don't need to drink the shakes, but you do need to meet your Protein goals. Until you can eat enough "regular" food, if you don't like the shakes, try protein Water (I like Protein2O, myself). Or add unflavored Protein Powder to broth or Soup, etc. If you don't hit your protein targets, you're body will cannibalize your muscles to get the protein it needs. This really isn't negotiable. You can do yourself serious, long-term damage. (Your heart is one of the muscles than can be damaged)

/Mom-mode OFF/ Good luck!

But also, I remember I asked my dietician if I can drink isopure and her response was “they do not have enough carbs in it and you need carbs” like WTF! I feel like she makes my life difficult.

8 minutes ago, E G said:

18 minutes ago, Orchids&Dragons said:

You don't need to drink the shakes, but you do need to meet your Protein goals. Until you can eat enough "regular" food, if you don't like the shakes, try Protein Water (I like Protein2O, myself). Or add unflavored Protein Powder to broth or Soup, etc. If you don't hit your protein targets, your body will cannibalize your muscles to get the protein it needs. This really isn't negotiable. You can do yourself serious, long-term damage. (Your heart is one of the muscles than can be damaged)

/Mom-mode OFF/ Good luck!

Yes. Now that you put it that way, I am going to force myself to drink those 3 shakes a day. I do force myself. But drinking 8 oz takes me 2 hours because I drink small sips not to overload my stomach or cause pain. So I guess I’ll just be drinking the shakes all day long.

Very soon your swelling should go down enough that you can drink much more "efficiently". So long as it doesn't cause pain, you can start drinking in larger sips. Some of us could drink almost normally after a week. You won't stretch your pouch with liquids.

Edited August 13, 20187 yr by Orchids&Dragons

You don't need to drink the shakes, but you do need to meet your protein goals. Until you can eat enough "regular" food, if you don't like the shakes, try protein water (I like Protein2O, myself). Or add unflavored protein powder to broth or soup, etc. If you don't hit your protein targets, you're body will cannibalize your muscles to get the protein it needs. This really isn't negotiable. You can do yourself serious, long-term damage. (Your heart is one of the muscles than can be damaged)
/Mom-mode OFF/ Good luck!

I have a question though.. Im new n im pre op trying to get all the info i can from these post...ok my question is can a person load up on liquid vitamins like double the requirement of biotin for the hair and B12. Iron and more that way if one doesnt get enough protein then the vitimins can do the. Trick

1 minute ago, PALOMABELLA said:

I have a question though.. Im new n im pre op trying to get all the info i can from these post...ok my question is can a person load up on liquid vitamins like double the requirement of Biotin for the hair and B12. Iron and more that way if one doesnt get enough protein then the vitimins can do the. Trick

Vitamins cannot make up for protein. They satisfy different body needs.

Do you need 3 shakes a day?

Most programs require 60 g protein. Two Premier Protein Shakes would cover that. Or one and then a combo of yogurt / fairlife milk / protein fortified soup, etc., would get you to your protein goal.

20 minutes ago, sillykitty said:

Do you need 3 shakes a day?

Most programs require 60 g Protein. Two Premier Protein Shakes would cover that. Or one and then a combo of yogurt / fairlife milk / protein fortified Soup, etc., would get you to your protein goal.

It depends on the direction from your surgeon. Mine directed me to consume 75-90 grams of protein per day.

1 minute ago, James Marusek said:

It depends on the direction from your surgeon. Mine directed me to consume 75-90 grams of protein per day.

Requirements are often higher for men

Maybe because they are bigger and tend,to have more muscles? Still don't think,its fair they tend to,make weight losses quicker and smoother. Seems like even our stalls are more jerky.