Hello! My surgery was September 9th, 2024, and I am still currently drinking one protein shake per day (Fairlife - 30 grams). I am wondering when I should give this up? It's not like I can't stand the drink, I actually like it still after all this time surprisingly. It's just that they are so darn expensive and kind of a pain in the rear to get (my mom orders from Sam's for me to save some $). I feel it's become a part of my normal daily routine but when did everyone else give them up?? It's been almost 5 months now.

If you can hit your protein goals (as given to you by your surgical team), without the drinks, there's no real reason to continue them. If, on the other hand, you need the extra protein from the drinks to hit your goals, there's nothing wrong with using them indefinitely. Said differently, there is no specific time when you need to "give them up" post surgery. I'm over two years out and still use them. That said, I'm also shooting for 150g of protein per day, which I just can't get close to without some whey protein or a fairlife drink.

If you find the premade shakes to be prohibitively expensive, you could always get powdered whey protein isolate. That's generally considered the highest quality protein powder. Other even cheaper protein powders are available, such as whey protein concentrate, but those will have more fat and lactose.

I think in terms of grams of protein per dollar, it would be hard to find things as cheap as powdered whey protein. Beans would probably be about the only thing I can think of, though it's hard for most of us to eat a ton of beans since while they are protein rich, beans are not particularly protein dense. Most all meat is generally a lot more expensive than whey on a gram for gram dasis. At one time, I might have put eggs in the less expensive category, but I'm not so sure anymore without running the numbers.

Edited January 24, 20251 yr by SpartanMaker
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You may want to just keep them around and have them at night if there’s a day that you realize that you aren’t going to meet your protein goal. I also take them in a cooler. If I know I’m going to be having some kind of a crazy day where I may end up tempted to eat something less than ideal for lunch or whatever I’ll have that instead. And if I don’t use it, I just put it back in the fridge for the next time. They are quite tasty though, and I for a long time was having one for breakfast with coffee as an iced coffee for quite some time actually. Most doctors will agree that if you can get your protein from real food that’s preferred over something artificial, but it’s most important that you get your protein and if you need it, you need it I mean, that’s what my doctor said anyway

Generally, the closer you can get to a natural, whole food diet, the better. The goal is to get your protein from real food and to learn recipes and choices that will work for you forever. Having said this, it all depends what you like and what you can tolerate. Personally, I hated protein drinks but I did find a powdered one I liked and ended up having one per day at breakfast until I hit about 8 months post-op, but that was because I pre-bought a ton of the stuff on a big sale and wanted to use it up instead of wasting it. Once you can manage a Greek yogurt, a couple eggs, and 3-6 oz of meat over the course of a day, you probably don't need protein supplements.

I agree if you’re meeting your protein goals you don’t need to continue with them. You can keep some on hand for emergencies if you want.

Personally, I stopped them as soon as week 3 & purées began. They were disgusting! I added a high protein yoghurt to my diet which was more palatable to me. I wasn’t hitting my protein goal yet but I was close and my surgeon & dietician were okay with it. I had never intended to rely on protein shakes or powders. My plan was to get all I needed nutritionally from real food.

PS: You can also make a smoothie with the yoghurt by blending a tub with milk and you can add a powdered flavour or even protein powder for additional protein if you want.

never LOL I drink one everyday. Its my afternoon pick me up. I add it to a cold brew, Jordans skinny caramel syrup in a big mason jar. Its delish and takes me a long time to finish.

Some programs want their patients to avoid them as soon as possible - within the first few months - on the premise that they don't want their patients drinking calories and would rather they work with solid food instead. Most programs don't care, but there is some merit to the liquid vs. solid argument, at least for a time. Many, OTOH, as we see above, still use them long term, often as a convenience. I still use them - my own blend, as with most things - as an exercise recovery drink after the gym. My wife uses some of the powder in the regular smoothie that she makes (20 years post op) in which she also includes some of the added supplements that she still needs (for her DS,)

So, if you can get away without them and still get the requisite protein, and object to drinking them, then great - you can do away with them. If you like them and they still provide some benefit or convenience, there's little reason not to continue using them.

I am another fan of eating mostly food made from scratch as soon as you can post op, but honestly if you can't meet your protein goals that way then shakes are one convenient way to do it that doesn't require much mindwork or second guessing!

I never* used them. My plan called for 3 meals per day, each containing 20+ grams of protein through meat (usually). Days 1 - 30 post-op were the same plan pureed. Day 31 forward not pureed any longer.

How much protein, of what sort, and how often, is very much a personal decision in consultation with your medical team.

Good luck,

Tek

* Never in normal times. However, when I was binge running, ramping up for marathons, my plan increased from 3 meals per day, to 4, then 5, then 6, then 6 + a protein drink. I fealt like I was eating all day long. I hated it.

On 1/24/2025 at 2:19 PM, AnV1986 said:

Hello! My surgery was September 9th, 2024, and I am still currently drinking one Protein Shake per day (Fairlife - 30 grams). I am wondering when I should give this up? It's not like I can't stand the drink, I actually like it still after all this time surprisingly. It's just that they are so darn expensive and kind of a pain in the rear to get (my mom orders from Sam's for me to save some $). I feel it's become a part of my normal daily routine but when did everyone else give them up?? It's been almost 5 months now.

I still drink them at 17 months post-op - 1 a day. That being said you can give them up at anytime as long as you can get your protein in other ways. I personally find it easier to assure I'm getting my daily protein in by including Fairlife, but I'm still only eating 800 calories a day which makes it difficult getting 80grams of protein so they help.

Yes, they're a pain to get and $$. I finally just decided Amazon auto ship subscription works best for me. You can just add protein powder to every thing you eat if you want.. ?

Edited January 26, 20251 yr by BlondePatriotInCDA

I admittedly switched to protein water! I find that the shakes are just odd tasting ??

As others have said, they aren't really necessary unless you are struggling to hit your protein goals (which happens!). I mostly only drink my protein water when I am working out, or if I have forgotten breakfast (which unfortunately happens more than I care to admit).