The dietician said that I should have 2 protein shakes a day plus my meals but my doctor said no only have the protein shakes for meal replacments. I was thinking if I have two protein shakes plus meals that would be alot of calories and I would gain weight. How are people using protein shakes. Also I am so hungry I was banded on 9-29 and did not realize how hungry I would be. I have lost 20 pounds but it has been on sheer willpower alone. i mean I could have lost 20 pounds without the lap band just doing what I have been doing. I can not wait to have some restriction because this is torture

I suggest going to the "search" tool above and search by "bandster hell"...cuz that's where you are. This is what the posters and bloggers have dubbed the period after surgery where you have no/little fill or restriction.

Good luck on your journey.

The dietician said that I should have 2 Protein shakes a day plus my meals but my doctor said no only have the protein shakes for meal replacments. I was thinking if I have two protein shakes plus meals that would be alot of calories and I would gain weight. How are people using protein shakes. Also I am so hungry I was banded on 9-29 and did not realize how hungry I would be. I have lost 20 pounds but it has been on sheer willpower alone. i mean I could have lost 20 pounds without the LAP-BAND® just doing what I have been doing. I can not wait to have some restriction because this is torture

From my understanding, protein shakes should be instead of the meal. Personally, once I was on mushies, I didn't drink another Protein Drink. I get my protein from food and skim milk. I HATE Protein drinks, but I like food.:thumbup:

As I've gone in for more fills and have gotten tighter, I can no longer eat food first thing in the morning so that is when I have a protein drink for breakfast. For now, I would keep eating food - with each fill you will see your restriction change more & more. I wouldn't eat them as well as solids UNLESS you found yourself only able to eat a few bites with each meal - then suppliment it with a protein drink.

As I've gone in for more fills and have gotten tighter, I can no longer eat food first thing in the morning so that is when I have a Protein drink for breakfast. For now, I would keep eating food - with each fill you will see your restriction change more & more. I wouldn't eat them as well as solids UNLESS you found yourself only able to eat a few bites with each meal - then suppliment it with a protein drink.

I have to completly agree with this. Meals AND shakes together are not a good thing. I only have my shakes when I am so tight I cant really eat my calories.

Right now I have swelling issues due to other issues and I even get stuck on Water. So I sip protein shakes all day to get my calories and protein in. annoying but knowing the swelling will go down helps lol

I am 7 months out. My doc says no to the shakes unless it is a Meal Replacement, and he doesn't really want it at all. I am not a breakfast person and work part time. On those days I start with a SlimFast. I try not to snack at all and eat only when I have gotten hungry or it has been more than 4 hours. I feel full most mornings (tight) and just don't want anything.

Getting in my fluids seems to help me with the hunger because I feel full. sugar free popcicles and Crystal lite were the lifesaver for me in the early stage. My problem is that I get the urge to chew something. Sometimes my mind says I didn't eat (soup) because I didn't chew.:scared2:

My lifestyle has me in the poolhall several nights a week from about 6 to midnight and somebody is always having hot wings, pizza or nachos. If I get the day timed right I eat dinner at home and have a shake in the travel mug for backup, a yogurt or banana. Egg Drop Soup is a major for me because of the proten. coffee also chases off the hungries me. I have only had 2 fills so a small salad saves me.

Don't forget that will power is a big part of all of this no matter what.

Hi Suz1.

The Protein drinks are for me, a 'breakfast' but only if I don't have my real one. I never used the protein drinks you buy though, I thought they tasted vile! I just bought unflavored protein poweder and would make a smoothie in the mornings with it - it was like having a milkshake - and that I could do!!!:scared2: (Blend a scoop of the powder, with some ice, some fruit, some fruit yogurt, maybe a tablespoon of cream cheese, and there you go). The combination of protein drinks plus meals will really increase your calorie intake, so unless you are really low in your calories, I would not do this.

As a previous poster mentioned, you are in the place known as bandster hell - hungry, wanting to chew, but not yet able to. DO NOT push this phase, get through it (without chewing off your arm or someone's head) and then you will start the fill process. It won't happen 'all of a sudden'; it may take multiple fills over time. But with each fill it should get a little easier to be satisfied.

Good luck

I'm NOT ALLOWED to have protein drinks. That was only allowed the first three weeks after surgery. Now ONLY after a fill for 24 hours. Outside of that I'm to eat real solid food only. My doctor says this curbs the appetite better, and that he want's me to learn to live like a normal person, not a hospital patient. So I don't drink them. I do occasionally add protein powder to other kinds of foods like oatmeal, soup, cream of wheat, or stew. I eat all kinds of meat and fish for protein and CHEW, CHEW, CHEW.