Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

No protein shakes! Possible or no?



Recommended Posts

Hello! I have not even been scheduled for surgery yet but I've been doing lots of research and lately have been thinking a lot about my diet post-surgery. I hate Protein Shakes, powder...anything like that. I cannot overstate how much I loathe them. Is it possible to have a healthy diet without them? Would anyone be willing to share examples of daily food that doesn't include them?

Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I only used them for the 2 weeks post op but I do have a lower BMI. Those with higher BMIs would probably struggle to get in all their required Protein without them

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You can totally try different Bari-life hacks like yogurt, Protein Water, protein pudding, protein Jello, etc but the quickest way to get it all in immediately post op is liquid form. Something to consider when considering if this is the path you want to take.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The problem is that they don't allow you to have anything that's not liquid form right after the surgery.

You're sure that you don't like any? Most of them have chocolate and vanilla as options, but the Premier Protein (which my doctor recommended) have bananas and cream and caramel also as options. I've thought a few times about putting the caramel into Decaf coffee, but haven't done it yet!

If not, I know that there is flavorless Protein Powder out there, and they do allow you to have sugar free pudding and light yogurt as long as it has no chunks in it. Maybe mixing the powder with one of those might not be bad? You'll still be sick of pudding/yogurt like me by the time it's over, but I'd say that they would do well to disguise the texture of the Protein powder due to the fact that they're more dense than just pure liquid.

Hope this helps!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I hate them as well, but I have to use them in order to hit anywhere remotely close to the 90g/protein per day. I am a vegetarian though, so it's a bit more complicated for me than meat eaters (or so I'm told.) Right now I am drinking 1-2 a day still, but I want to stop drinking them asap.

I could be wrong (and feel free to correct me, anybody, if so!) but I think you only really need them for the first couple weeks post-surgery, and then you can phase them out? There are other ways of getting Protein as well besides shakes, like yogurts, quarks, even protein Water.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My nutritionist suggested milk fortified with dried skim milk powder. I use 1%. 300ml + 30mg powder is 21.6g Protein. Ultra low carb is the aim for many, which milk isn't, but for Protein, Calcium, good fats, and natural carbs to just run the engine when getting anything down is rough, I ignored everything else.

Did also have some Protein Water, but I could JUST taste the whey. I do however have very sensitive tastebuds. Got it down slowly, which pleased me...everything else was so sweet and creamy so the alternative was fab. Arla Protein yoghurt pouches (20g in 200ml) were also a very good as they had sharpness.

I struggle both because I dislike whey (seem to be able to detect it in anything no matter how strong the taste used to hide it) and because I was physically forced to eat as child (forks forced down my throat until I vomited at school), so if my brain starts feeling cornered into swallowing it's about 80% I can't physically do so. That has hobbled many diet attempts. Most, including my OH just close eyes, think of England, and get it done whether they like stuff or not, I usually can't.

Got through by getting creative with nutritonist help and like childbirth, when I got to tle goal the mental pain immediately started fading :-).

(As an asside, as a Brit, I do also wonder how production of their own protein drinks/soups/snacks, or deals with other manufacturers to supply via insurance, influences advice of some programmes).

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I stopped using shakes before I hit 3 months post-op. I can totally get all my Protein from food. I keep a few around in case I have a rough day and need to augment, but I no longer have them in regular rotation.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I usually start a weekday with 2 prosciutto and mozzarella roll ups. For an am snack I will have fruit or something less Protein rich. For lunch I will have 3 to 4 oz of a dense protein, like chicken or beef. For pm snack I will have 2 more roll ups or 2 mozz sticks. For dinner I will again have 3 to 4 oz of a dense protein. Chicken, beef, sausage, etc. Don;t usually do an evening snack. And LOTS of water!!!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×