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Tired of Protein Shakes - Water fasting?



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I'm on day 3 of my 2 week liquid pre-op diet before the sleeve. Hunger hasn't been too bad though it's been emotionally much rougher than I realized. But, I am so done with Protein Shakes, I feel like if I drink another one I'll puke. So my question is, how important is the Protein at this stage if it's just to shrink my liver? Wouldn't just eating nothing also work? Because at this point that sounds like a better alternative.

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The liver shrinks by lack of sugar/fats.

The Protein is to help you keep your muscle mass.. If you lose muscle (alongside fat), then your metabolic rate decreases, and you lose less and less weight.

Another goal of the liquid diet is to get your body (and you) prepared for what comes after surgery (clear liquids, full liquids, puree, etc)..

Try switching the shakes you are drinking. At first I liked the Peanut Butter from Permier Protein, but after 2 days I couldn't stand it. End up with plain vanilla. Tried the oens from Fairlife.. too sweet for me..

Search in the forums, there are lots of ideas on how to deal with this (add whey protein to broth, etc), depends on what your diet allows.

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Ask your team if you can just mix Protein Powder on Soup or something else you can eat.

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I'm on day 3 of my 2 week liquid pre-op diet before the sleeve. Hunger hasn't been too bad though it's been emotionally much rougher than I realized. But, I am so done with Protein Shakes, I feel like if I drink another one I'll puke. So my question is, how important is the Protein at this stage if it's just to shrink my liver? Wouldn't just eating nothing also work? Because at this point that sounds like a better alternative.

I had my RYN on Nov 1st. I cheated on my liquid diet everyday. I had soda crackers, burger patty, etc. But no other drink besides Water and ate once a day, and made it, and lost 10lbs in the one week liquid diet. My surgeon said my surgery was great no issues. And now that i depend on Protein Drinks, its a new thing and like it. Yes, your hungry flies out the window, so have to keep on top of your liquids. Yesterday i had "fairlife straberry and bannas" shake, and i fell so deep in love. It tastes just like a milkshake and drank the whole thing under an hour. And tolerated well. You will know when you are "full" because when you feel like something is stuck in your throat, then you stop and wait for it to pass. Since my surgery date today, lost 7lbs.
Good luck!

Sent from my SM-G973U using BariatricPal mobile app

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Thanks for the advice, I'll try to find some different Protein Shakes to try and I am allowed pureed Soups so I might look for a couple of those

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1 minute ago, lydiaire said:

Thanks for the advice, I'll try to find some different Protein Shakes to try and I am allowed pureed Soups so I might look for a couple of those

Yea. You just add unflavored Protein powder to the Soups.

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Protein is important for the rest of your life. Everyone should be eating protein regardless if they are bariatric patients or not. Your body needs it for healing, muscle & bone health, digestion, … https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/functions-of-protein#TOC_TITLE_HDR_9 The daily recommended amount is 0.8g per kilogram for a non bariatric patient. (I’m required to reach 1.2g of protein per kg of weight in maintenance.)

My surgeon was ok if I didn’t meet my protein goals each day to begin as long as I was making an effort to be close. It gets easier when you can eat more.

If you can’t tolerate the shakes try Bone Broth, well strained cream Soups or consumes, wonton Soup broth (no wontons or vegetables of course). I struggled with shakes too so would dilute them & just rode out one a day for the two weeks.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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