Protein shakes - revisited!

OK, now I have ANOTHER question about protein shakes. Has anyone else (besides Jackie) been told by their surgeon NOT to use protein shakes? If so, what was the rationale? I am asking because I drink one every day for breakfast, and sometimes another during the day if I can't get enough protein in. I've always wondered if we get the same benefit from a protein supplement as from fresh food. I would assume not quite, but, I hope, pretty close. I would not want to be relying on them if they're not providing much real nutrition, but it would be pretty difficult to reach my daily protein quota without them! My sister gave me one in a can from GNC that has 50g protein, 8 carbs, and no fat in it. Amazing! Doesn't taste too awfully good, but how can you beat 50g of protein in 16 oz.? Just wanted to get everyone else's thoughts on this............. Donna

Hi there Donna, I have been told to drink protein shakes, I dont digest food very well especially meat so I have order the best tasting one from a friend of mine who sells them from a catalog... I enjoy this one alot. It has 20 grms protein,and I try to get 1 in a day.... I do find most of them make me nauseas.... TAKE CARE .......LORRAINE

You may want to check out the website www.vitalady.com whose owner, Michelle Curran, posts a lot on the Q&A board, and is a long-term post-op. She is very "distal" so don't know how much of what she does pertains, but the website has a lot of info on protein, shakes, and a lot of other topics. BTW, my doc doesn't "allow" anything but meat and green veggies until goal, so since a protein shake is neither, it is not allowed. I eat enouigh food to get my protein in, but I found a great tasting drink...check my post a few days ago. Lisa G

My surgeon's PA wants us to limit our protein supplements. She claims that the supplements make it harder to lose weight. However, I also am one of those who can't seem to digest meat well. Frankly, at this point I am very willing to become a vegetarian! I buy a soy supplement since I can't tolerate the more common whey proteins. I get it from GNC & it provideds 30grams of soy protein per scoop. It's called Genusoy, I think & it tastes & smells very good. It has a light vanilla smell, not at all soy smelling. I add it to flavored soy milk or lactose free milk along with some strawberries for flavor & a teaspoon of Splenda. It is very good, not expensive & doesn't make me sick. The member who said the shakes make her sick may be lactose intolerant, like I am, and may have luck with this mixture. By the way, most nutricianists tell us that only body builders and real athletic people can use more than 30 grams of protein at a time. The rest is just wasted so if you drink the shake you mentioned, you might want to spread it out over the day instead of drinking it all in one session. Dixie

Hello Donna, I too was told by my surgeon at 6 weeks not to drink protein shakes anymore. PISHAW!!! His rational, which I totoally understand is that the protein (usually whey or soy) is not as quality a protein as we can get from our food. Animal protein like we get from meat is much healthier for us. My dietitcian does not believe in the whey shakes as the whey is not very absorbable and is again, not a quality protein. She recommends a collagen protein called PRO STAT, you take two ounces of it twice a day. It is the most horrible stuff on the face of the earth, but I do notice an increase I weight loss when I use it. I think I will crack open that yucky bottle and try it again today as my weight loss is faltering now and has been for several weeks. There is a new flavor of this PROSTAT now, the old is cherry, the new is butter pecan (or something like that) I have not tried the new yet as I cannot seem to finish that yucky first bottle of cherry. I still do the protein shakes, as I told my doctor, if I didn't I woul never get all of my protein in. He said, as long as I eat all day then have a protein shake at night if I didn't get in my protein for the day. Tracy