Thoughts about Liquid protien?

Hi Everyone and Merry Christmas!!

I am concerned about being able to get enough protein in the days following my surgery.  Has anyone had experiences with differnt types of liquid proteins?  Dr. Baker's Nutritionist recommends adding hard boiled eggs to a lot of things.....I hate eggs, so that is not going to happen here.  Pleasse give me your thoughts on liquid protien.

also, is there anything I can do to save what little hair I have left????

 

Thanks!!! 

Per the 2008 article published on the American Society of Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, it is nearly impossible to get in your protein from food intake alone in the immediate post-op phase.  (I have seen some people on here from across the country say their surgeon doesn't want them doing ANY shakes and I feel so sorry for them.  Thankfully they are few and far between.)

By liquid proteins, do you mean shakes that you mix or actual liquid protein you buy that is already liquid?

There are SOOOO many different kinds to choose from. 

(If you want to add protein to something, you could always try powdered egg whites or powdered milk.  Neither have the taste of eggs, but both have protein.) 

Some people will suggest biotin for hair loss, but I don't believe it really does any good. 

Hey Charlie,

Good question to be pondering right now.   Protein will help with healing so you need to get all you can, though it will be hard right after surgery.  Just get all you can and build up to higher levels as you are able to.  

I used some of the powdered protein supplements mixed with milk or water early on - never liked them but used some anyway.  Walmart or GNC are good sources.  I worked my way out of them as quickly as I could when I was able to eat more. 

I used a lot of greek yogurt (much higher protein and lower carbs than regular yogurt) and cottage cheese early out.  Then when meat became tolerable I ate a lot of grilled / baked fish and shrimp.  Sam's and Walmart both sell frozen filets of various kinds of fish that can be grilled or baked with just a little seasoning for a real good shot of protein and very little fat.  

I can't tell you what powdered protein to use since I didn't like any of them, but you will definitely want to use them to sip on in order to get some of the needed proteins early out.  

Protein will help prevent hair loss.  I also took biotin for a few months after surgery.  I read that it helps and I read that it doesn't help.  I took it whether it helped or not.  I never did have any hair loss, but I always made sure to keep my protein levels as high as possible.  A good indicator of proein sufficiency is your fingernails.  They will get brittle if the protein is not high enough.

Hope this helps a little.  Good luck.  You are in good hands with Dr. Baker.

Merry Christmas
Steve

A huge help Steve - Thank you so much.   I do have one questions - Where do you get Greek Yogurt???  

Wal mart usually carries some or better grocery stores do too.   I like the brand "Fage" the best.  Another brand is "Oikos".  I like to add some equal or splenda and some fresh fruit like raspberries or peaches.  You can also add any of the sugar free syrups or even cinnamon.

Thank you Steve!  I am heading out tomorrow to get my post-op food list together, I will make sure I look for some of the Greek yogurt.  I hope to meet you someday! 

Charlie, Here is something you can try...GNC carries a product called ISOPURE (ready to drink) and they have several fruit flavors. It contains only pure whey protien isolates which is what we are supposed to consume. I love the grape frost and the icy orange but like I said there are several flavors. A 20oz bottle contains 40 grams of protien which is half of what we need in a day. In the beginning you can try to get 1 of these down with some water and then just add to everyday until you can consume 2, plus water. Then when you are able to consume the other foods you can come back down to 1 a day.

The biggest help for hair loss is keeping the protien levels high!

Good luck, from the MO side!

I used the EAS liquid protein from Wal Mart.  I used the low carb one.  I liked eggs prior to surgery but since I can't tolerate them at all.  Tuna is high in protein.  For the first 6 wks after surgery I just drank the liquid protein and my water.  I also use the body fortress whey protein powder from Wal Mart.  I still put a scoop in my cup of coffee every morning to help supplement my protein.  I always kept my protein levels between 65-90 every day and at 4 months I lost a lot of hair.  It is growing back fast though.

Thank you for all of the great advice!  I really appreciate it.  I am thinking more along the lines of the liquid, drink-like protein, not so much the shakes.  I will also get some powdered milk - good suggestion.

  Happy New Year to all - 1 week to go for me!!!

Hi Charlie,


Well, here I am to put in my 2 cents worth of what ever.   First of all......HARD BOILED EGGS are WAY too hard for a new pouch. Good thing you don't like them, because even scrambled eggs cause newbies lots and lots of trouble sometimes. Just wait, I bet there will be lots of folks chiming in here about their experiences with any form of egg other than poached or soft boiled.....LOL

The Isopure liquid drinks at GNC are great, BUT only if they are ice, and I mean ICE cold. They pack a wallop of protein and I don't think they're too bad at all. I could never do the thick shake like drinks, and still,  2 1/2  years out drinkNectar " Fuzzy Navel"  made by Syntrax. You can google "protein powder samples" and find a number of e-vendors who will sell you samples for about $2 each. People will tell you not to buy a lot pre-op because your tastes will change. Personally, everything tastes the same to me now as it did before my surgery. So, you never know. I'd bet if you bought some samples that you decided you didn't want, someone here would take them off your hands.

Yes, yes, YES, you need to supplement your protein.  It is extremely important for much more than your hair....cell function, brain function, proper organ function....the list is endless. So, good for you for doing your homework! 

Let us know if you have anymore ?????

Take care!