Protein Powder

There is a liquid protein out there called pro-stat 64. You can order it online at prostat.com. It is liquid and 2 tbsp is a serving. It has 15 grams of protein, and you just knock it back like a shot of tiquilla. I up it to 3 tbsp and get about 22 grams of protein per shot. It is pretty expensive, and the taste is simialr to cough syrup. Not the best, but not the worst either. That is 66 grams of protein a day, and my surgeon says I need between 60-90 grams a day post op. Don't let anyone tell you protein is not a big deal. It is the building blocks for all muscle activity and your heart is a muscle. No sense in having the surgery and then having your health fail for lack of protein. It is very hard to get in enough protein during the day with such a small stomach pouch. Powdered shakes are good, but sometimes they leave you feeling full and bloated, and you have to choose between a shake and something else to eat that might taste a whole lot better. Believe me, shakes get old pretty fast when you have to try to squeeze in one or two every single day. But of course this is personal preference. Also, keep careful watch over your electrolytes. (Gatorade rain 2x a day keeps your electrolytes on an even keel. If your potassium level drops you can have heart problems same as if you don't get enough protein. These are just a few things to watch out for. Don't get scared or overwhelmed. Just try to be informed. This site is a godsend for bariatric patients, pre and post op. Good luck.

Thanks for the information Janet. Some of it I hadn't heard so I will keep those in mind. Thanks. Sherry

Interesting, I have Kaiser and my surgical group says no protein powder or bars as they are hard on the kidneys. And my post op diet is not based on calories, it's based on volume. Go figure!

Hi. Liz. We are also told to keep to volumes but within specific calorie ranges to maximize the weight loss. Each Kaiser program does their own thing as I have seen with differences between our program and how they do it in many places in California. Here they are concerned greatly with getting in enough protein so that your digestion is slowed down and muscle tone and growth can be maintained during the phases when eating meats and other solids is not possible. It's only for a few weeks although what I plan on using is not what you traditionally find in stores like GNC. It is medical quality for bariatric, surgery, cancer and feeding tube patients. I don't plan on eating any protein bars at this point. Sherry

Sherry, I am 20 months out from surgery and doing great. One thing I can tell you about post op care is that for every doctor and every nutritionist you're going to have two or three post op plans! I knew 8 people who had surgery before me, including a cousin. My cousin went home with instructions to eat boiled chicken and to chew each bite 60 times before swollowing. I was instructed to drink 3 8oz glasses of milk a day and then drink as much water and approved liquids as I could manage for the first ten days. I would encourage you to drink as much liquid as you can after surgery. Water, Crystal Light, Minute Maid Light (in the 12 oz cans), sugar free popsicles, etc. You want to be careful not to dehydrate. The protein will come later. I still struggle to eat enough protein now that I can eat "normally" or as normally as one can after surgery. Keep working with your doctor and nutritionist and follow their directions and go to support groups. If your doc doesn't have a support group there are plenty out there. Let me know and I'll tell you about mine. Good luck! You will be just fine! Laura

It is great if you can get the powders in, bu****er is so much more important at first, its really hard to drink that much at first