Just a general question.... It seems that if I have protein shakes/any liquid calories they just do not fill me up... I could have chicken that equaled the same calorie amount and be fine.. but if I have the protein shake it lasts an hour and I'm hungry. Thoughts?

Just a general question.... It seems that if I have Protein shakes/any liquid calories they just do not fill me up... I could have chicken that equaled the same calorie amount and be fine.. but if I have the protein shake it lasts an hour and I'm hungry. Thoughts?

Unless you're less than 6 weeks post-op, I would say eat what fills you up. In the first 6 weeks after surgery, you need to be easy on yourself and do mostly liquids/mushies just to give your body enough time to heal. But once you're healed, I say eat what fills you up. :tongue2:

I'm nine months out so I'm good there. Just was curious if others had the same issue! :tongue2:

try mixing your protein with yogurt and sf pudding. that is how i get mine down and it keeps me full.

You're talking pre-op, right? My doctor gives his patients several choices on the pre op diet. If you are just a week or two from surgery when you start, he requires a liquid diet. I think it's because, strange to say, it is easier to cheat a bit on a low cal diet, and people like us are great at lying to themselves about what they eat. If you can just have liquids, then you darn well KNOW that the candy bar you just ate was cheating.

However, if you have three or more weeks till surgery, he recommends an Atkins induction phase diet, which is under 20 carbs a day. My husband and I knew our band date a couple months ahead, so we did this. I lost 19 lb pre op, and my DH lost 25. Our surgeon's only strict rule about the pre op diet is that you lose 5% of your body weight before surgery. How you do it isn't a big deal.

Nine months post-op, you really don't need to use liquid as a meal unless you have just had a fill. You are not getting full on them because they flow right through your band and out of your pouch pretty quickly whereas the chicken breast will stay in your pouch and keep you satisfied for a few hours (four-five for me) My doctor encourages solid protein for all three meals to keep me full longer. For me, protein shakes are only supposed to be used as supplements between my three solid meals.

Hey Jodi when I drink my shake I get soo full that I have to force myself to eat sometimes. Yesterday I ate some shredded chicken with a little chz and lettuce for lunch and for a snack I ate a half of cup of fruit, then i drank my protein shake after I got off because we went on a feild trip and I accidently left it in the fridge at school, I could not eat anything last night. I just started solid foods on Monday the 22nd and it's hard to transition to solids when you get adjusted to pureeds.

Hi NinaWoo,

My transition was the opposite. By the time I was ready for solids, I had no restriction and could eat like I had no band at all.

I am assuming you have not had a fill yet. As the swelling from surgery goes down your band will probably feel less tight and as little more weight comes off your stomach will also lose fat and the band will get a little looser. (Unless you are one of the lucky few that can get along for a long time witout a fill. )

Good Luck...it looks like you are doing great with your weight loss!

Okay, if you're nine months post op, my instructions were NO high calorie liquids anymore, for the very reason you said--they don't stay with you. So no more protein shakes after the first month after surgery.

For me, Protein shakes are only supposed to be used as supplements between my three solid meals.

happen to agree. i never treat a Protein Drink as a meal replacement; just an added source "pre workouts" (snack). my dr is not a fan of liquid calories - should be able to eat your meals, however with added exercise i felt weak & lethargic. adding the protein drink in has done wonders & really doesn't impact the caloric intake of the day when compared to calories burned.