Hello everyone. I am trying to find out which is better water or protein drink? I asked my surgeon and he told me to eat veggies. I don’t think he understood my question. It’s 7pm and I don’t have 60 grams of protein or 60 ounces of water. Which is best to have? Do I concentrate on the protein or the water? Also if I have reached my daily goals and have time and appetite should I do my clear protein or regular water? I can’t seem to find an answer to this so I thought I would pose it here.

I don't understand your question. It is not a competition between protein and water you need both. How far post op are you?

My Dr says dinking the protein shake gets in your protein AND counts towards your liquid quota. I hope that helps.

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5 hours ago, Jezzabelle360 said:

My Dr says dinking the Protein Shake gets in your Protein AND counts towards your liquid quota. I hope that helps.

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Ditto. Some doctors don't want you to count protein drinks as your water but come on - its fluid. Its got to do something to help hydrate you. So when you find yourself short of both then reach for the protein drink and kill two birds with one stone. And then focus on hitting your goals better the next day.

I will see if I can dig up an article I read some time ago regarding higher protein diets and fluid consumption, from memory more fluid was required because the kidneys used more fluids in cleansing the body when higher protein was consumed. I can't remember if there was baselines for volume of fluids vs protein intake. If sufficient fluid was not consumed with high protein diets it could lead to dehydration.

If the above is correct, someone with recent WLS is probably not already consuming their normal intake of fluids coupled with a fairly high protein, I can see why doctors encourage keeping water intake up.

And if you are in the USA, Another good option is protein enhanced waters, many people like Protein2-0 but there are many more others with diverse flavors.

Elcee I am almost 6 weeks post op. If I’m getting ready to go to bed and I haven’t had my quota of water or protein, which one should I try to get in before I go to bed? Is it better to try and get all the protein in or all the water?

I hope you can dig up that article it would be great. The information that you have given me so far helps out quite a bit. I usually drink Premier clear protein which has about 20 g of protein. I wanted to try protein 2.0 but I don’t know how it tastes. I’m beginning to see that it’s more important to get the water then the proteins or both in one .

I can't find the original article I read but here a couple of others.

https://www.verywellfit.com/high-protein-diets-cause-dehydration-3120674

https://www.sharecare.com/health/water-and-the-body/why-water-high-protein-diet

There are other reasons why it is important to ensure sufficient fluid (the usual reasons for everyone), but perhaps the good old standard of the colour of urine is the best indicator of hydration/dehydration levels.

Dark yellow - drink more water/fluids

No or very little colour - could probably get away with drinking less

Pale yellow to light gold - just right

Using colour of urine as indicator may be difficult though when we are on vitamins that can change the colour of urine.

Points I bear in mind, first pee of the day can be typically darker, later on in the day - if dark and no vitamin odour drink more fluids, if dark and with vitamin odour carry on as usual with normal fluid intake.

Edited to add: It isn't clear whether you are pre or post op, but as we progress through the stages it can be critical that proper hydration is maintained.

I can't answer all your questions, and you may need to touch base with your surgeon or nutritionist again, but if you have reached your goals for the day and have a appetite you are probably best to drink small amounts of plain fluids, or do something to distract you from your appetite, do something that occupies your hands and mind.

Edited July 1, 20197 yr by Hop_Scotch

7 hours ago, traeleo said:

Elcee I am almost 6 weeks post op. If I’m getting ready to go to bed and I haven’t had my quota of Water or Protein, which one should I try to get in before I go to bed? Is it better to try and get all the protein in or all the water?

If you are getting ready to go to bed it’s a bit late to be worrying about this. It is something you need to try and be on top of throughout the day.

No 1 concern should be hydration. You do not want to dehydrate it is extremely dangerous, will leave you feeling awful and may make you end up in hospital.

Protein is important but a lack of it won’t kill you as quickly as a lack of water will.

Its probably not a good idea to have anything that resembles a meal before bed, you run the risk of reflux. You can drink water if you want but you may find yourself up and down to the bathroom all night.

Hello everyone. I am trying to find out which is better Water or Protein Drink? I asked my surgeon and he told me to eat veggies. I don’t think he understood my question. It’s 7pm and I don’t have 60 grams of Protein or 60 ounces of water. Which is best to have? Do I concentrate on the protein or the water? Also if I have reached my daily goals and have time and appetite should I do my clear protein or regular water? I can’t seem to find an answer to this so I thought I would pose it here.

Where do you find clear protein? I agree. You need both. I am 4 months out and can't stomach the protein shakes. So I'm lacking in the protein side of things.

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Sam's Club, Cosrco, General Nutrition Center, I purchase most of mine at Walmart, because I don't have all the above. If Walmart has them, and it does, then Target, Meijer, and the other Big Box store will also. Its a very profitable business, every one and their uncle has joined in. Oh also Whole Foods, the Vi in

Vitamin Shoppe, even local Health Food Stores. Do not go to Krogers of their amalgamated family, my local one has a pea-pour selection. overpriced, their only tastes seem to be Vanilla and Chocolate protein shakes. As a person on protein enriched shakes and waters, I have done many. And my current favorite is from Ensure, home based on Columbus Ohio 50 miles away. I have also done Protein 2 0, for some reason can't find Premier Protein clears, sometimes I add Minute Maid 15 juices to cut the sweetness or mask the flavors I don't like as MUCH. I suppose WM only sends what they think will move best, seldom ones I really like. There is always Wal-Mart.com, our own Bariatric Pal store is wonderful, doesn't take long to make it to Ohio, good selection and prices not bad at all. I would never order from that trecherous spider, Amazon, they work their people into early exhaustion, refuse pregnant women their bathroom breaks, got to keep that item per minute quota UP, starting at $15+ per hour does not excuse their workplace abuses, Jeff Bezos grow fatter in the wallet! When I worked at W-M, I was lucky I worked in an essential department, only times I had to help with truck unloading was when we had duplicate people who could work my area also. You hear Bad Things about WM, never was as bad as the Amazon bloated arachnid, plus I was already in my 60s, usually pulled the 50 and under people. They knew people my age have an inherent cardiac danger, besides I was a very good customer contact person, so was used on the retail areas. Hurray for Frustr8, the people pleaser!

My doc also counts protein drinks as part of our fluid goal.

But if you are about to go to sleep, I would maybe do an ounce or two of protein drink (to help keep you satiated during sleep), then get some water down. Then begin the next morning with an active plan on how you get your protein in and your water!!! Hydration is king. You gotta stay hydrated! It won't kill ya if you don't make your protein goal for the day...

So you basically answered my question. Of the two which one is more important to get in? Thanks. I’m thinking water too. Definitely don’t want to get dehydrated!