How long were you on supplemental protein after surgery? I'm tired of it. It's expensive. And I'm at a loss on how to get extra protein in. Currently, I'm having two protein shots a day, each of which are 25 g. Fifty grams of protein is a lot to make up in food, plus make your fluid goals. How do you do it?

Once you're able to get all your protein from solid food, you really need to stop with the supplements. It might be a few months before you're able to eat that much.

As we lose weight, our protein requirements - like our calorie requirements - drop as well. My protein goal is 60 grams per day.

I never did protein drinks. 3 meals with 3oz protein is about 60g protein. This was my plan from day 1, though the first 6 weeks were pureed and I rarely managed the whole thing.

Good luck,

Tek

I am almost a year out and I still have a protein shake in the morning. I can't hit my goals without it.

27 minutes ago, The Greater Fool said:

I never did Protein Drinks. 3 meals with 3oz Protein is about 60g protein. This was my plan from day 1, though the first 6 weeks were pureed and I rarely managed the whole thing.

Good luck,

Tek

Right now, I can MAYBE get in 2oz of protein per meal. I'm required 70+g per day.

19 minutes ago, SuziDavis said:

I am almost a year out and I still have a Protein Shake in the morning. I can't hit my goals without it.

I definitely do a protein supplement in the morning. I've tried eating a few time in the AM, but it upsets my stomach.

32 minutes ago, Jeanniebug said:

Once you're able to get all your Protein from solid food, you really need to stop with the supplements. It might be a few months before you're able to eat that much.

As we lose weight, our protein requirements - like our calorie requirements - drop as well. My protein goal is 60 grams per day.

I definitely don't make it with regular food. Yesterday, I even ate 2 snacks and I would have never made my protein goal without supplementing it.

I still have to in order to meet my protein goals and I'm 21 months out. My capacity is quite a bit lower than most people at the stage I'm at. I also quite frankly don't really like meat all that much, so I supplement in order to be able to eat more salads/veggies. I do usually have a bar/shake/some other protein infused item (I really like the Legendary pastries, 180 calories and 20g of protein!).

Edited June 22, 20233 yr by pintsizedmallrat

month 1-2 post op: aimed for 2 protein shakes a day (rarely made it, esp in month 1)

months 3-7: 1 shake a day

months 7+: none

i probably had a diff experience than u cuz i actually LIKED drinking my protein shakes (dutch chocolate low-carb ISOPURE w/ water,2 tsps benefibre, 1 tsp decaf instant coffee crystals, and LOTS of ice. #yum)

note that even when i was on them i still didn't reach my protein goals 100% of the time. even now, at 4.5+ yrs post op, there are still days that i don't.

18+ months and I still opt for protein bars or protein shakes at times. Though majority of the time, I get enough protein through the consumption of milk, cheese (string cheese, ricotta cheese) and yogurt (skyr). These are my go to maintain my protein requirements. And I get more than 60+ grams of protein which I think is enough when I am not indulging in heavy duty work out!

2 hours ago, LindsayT said:

Right now, I can MAYBE get in 2oz of protein per meal. I'm required 70+g per day.

Im in the same boat Lindsay, and having very similar thoughts. I think I am starting to get a little more room for solid foods, so I was hoping to drop to 1 shake a day soon. Although I have also been ignoring veggies at meals, just because I was barely able to eat anything (so focused on protein). I will probably add more veggies in, so that my protein says around the same for the next few weeks and shoot for dropping to 1 @ 3 months. ms.sss's timeline looked pretty doable to me.

Just now, Lipman said:

Im in the same boat Lindsay, and having very similar thoughts. I think I am starting to get a little more room for solid foods, so I was hoping to drop to 1 shake a day soon. Although I have also been ignoring veggies at meals, just because I was barely able to eat anything (so focused on protein). I will probably add more veggies in, so that my protein says around the same for the next few weeks and shoot for dropping to 1 @ 3 months. ms.sss's timeline looked pretty doable to me.

It's hard because I want to get my fiber/fruits and veggies in too. I think those are also important. Being only 2 months out, it seems impossible to get in all the nutrients. I'm thinking I'll give it a couple more months and start phasing out 1 of the protein supplements.

4 hours ago, LindsayT said:

I definitely do a Protein supplement in the morning. I've tried eating a few time in the AM, but it upsets my stomach.

Same, I have my morning Iced coffee mixed with protein powder.

I always have a high protein yogurt for breakfast, it gives me a instant 25 grams of protein. One milky latte containing 300grams of skim milk, contains 11 grams of protein

I can eat a 175 gram packet of small prawns and thats another 30 grams of protein. Anything after that is a bonus

You will get used to finding foods for the new you. Its easier than it looks

Weightlifters with full-sized stomachs usually take protein supplements, so I don't expect I'll ever be totally through with them.

Maybe I'll go on vacations without bringing powders or shakes, but long-term, it's supplements or spending hours of every day slowly digesting chicken.

I do envy the guys who can choke down the nasty flavors in a few gulps though. I miss that.

like others have said, as soon as you can meet your protein requirements through regular food, you can kiss the shakes goodbye. I still have one every day at eight years out, though (although unlike many others, I'm not a protein shake hater, fortunately...). I have higher-than-normal protein requirements because if I average less than 100 g a day, my prealbumin level tanks (although this is not very common). I can do it through food if I really focus on it, but I'd just rather have a shake every day and not have to be constantly thinking about whether or not I'll meet my goal. I know I'll make it if I have a shake every morning.