Protein shakes

I am considering a DS revision from lap-band. When I got my lap band everyone was like you have to have to have to drink protein shakes. Well, I have tried lots and hated them all and I honestly never had any issue getting in my protein the regular way. Any DS'ers out there not do the protein shake thing or am I gonna have to suck it up?

Post op you need to suck it up until you gain the capacity to eat enough food to make up the difference. You will not get enough protein through food alone at first. 

Protein shakes/drinks are part of the deal during the first week or two while you're still healing.  I still drink them when I need to add protein, as my doctor recommends (for me) at least 90-100g a day.  Only so much Greek yogurt I can stand in one day!  

I'm not into the powder do-it-yourself shakes either, but I like the pre-made chocolate Premier Protein drinks.  I get them at Costco, and I think they're sold at Sam's Club as well.  

Best of luck whatever you decide!

 

Some of this depends on how much room you end up with in your stomach. At the start, while you are healing, it would be good to find a protein shake that you can use while you transition to regular food. You could also try things like Boost and Atkins shakes although whey isolate protein powders will give you more protein and protein that is better absorbed than those have.

Then you have to see just how much room you are going to have in your stomach. When you can only take in meals of 2 or 3 oz early on you might need to rely on the protein shakes to make up the difference.

At 5 months I can do 6 or 7 oz of meat for a meal so I could get all my protein in without a shake. I just find it easier to do breakfast as a shake (24gm protein). 

Some people do find themselves using shakes exclusively but that seems pretty rare. Most often people do shakes only if they have trouble meeting their protein goals. Since I am early on I shoot for 110 - 130 a day.

I'm actually a distal RNY, so I have a pouch but the intestinal arrangement of a DS, as performed by Dr. Rabkin, for example. 100cm common channel.

We were started on protein drinks, not optional but back in the 90's, they thought we'd reacquire the ability to absorb. i was never able to welcome that idea, because if my body would return to pre-op, why was I risking my life on the table? Just to have a scar to brag about? I WANTED malabsorption.

I also never much cared for "flesh", EVER. Not all the way vegetarian, but bordering. However, during a weight gain from falling into the Stupid Pit, I used a strictly protein plan to undo it. So, often say my protein is chocolate. I did 180-240g of protein shakes (I LIKE them), but ate only protein foods. That was Rockin' Roll bars (2 carb)4-5 times per day and 1 flesh meal. I lost the weight, had more energy, lost cravings for carbs, and many other good side benefits. My protein level went up only .1 in 6 months. When I added back in carbs labs at 1 yr had only added .1 more in protein levels.

Since I never ATE a lot of protein, I was curious to see exactly what change there would be when replacing my veggies and fruits with protein bars or flesh, in addition to all the shakes.

An average lab range is 6.0 to 8.0, which varies a bit lab to lab. But using that, my average was 6.3. (wasn't much better pre-op). After 6 months, it was 6.4 and a full year was 6.5. If I was trying to survive on that, well, no. I wouldn't have.

BUT I'm kinda lazy, do not wish to be force fed anything, so drinking my protein and diving naked into a huge salad bowl works for me.

My hematologist (genetic disorder, I'm 2nd gen) had a BBQ last week, and one of the other docs was freaking at the gob of butter on my plate. The corn wasn't hot yet. LOL I've finally learned that in social settings, better not to say "I don't absorb any fats or oils", so I just said my cholesterol runs very low.

I asked him later if she was their dietary person, nope a doc, too. He said he wished he could fix his 10# and lower his cholesterol. I offered to fix it for him. We've been thru a lot with my dad, and then my issues, so stuff like that always surprises him. I'd just have him put 30g protein drink before every meal. It helps turn off your "wanter", so when confronted with food choices, you are back in the driver's seat. YOU choose what you want, rather than being victimized by cravings.

So you ask "must I?" and HOw long and how bad?

My answer is that I personally MUST but given a choice to maintain levels with fewer drinks is that I wouldn't because it's another tool in my tool box. I don't WANT to be on a diet. I don't want to be deprived. If I'm not making the choices, the food is pushing me around.

Given a few seconds to pause, I'll look a little further down the buffet line and go, "O M G! There's those THINGS I love!" rather than stuffing a coupla cookies in my face and calling it good enough.,

Some people came and went, so sorry if I wandered a bit. Hope it makes sense.

You may need to suck it up a bit until you can eat 100g of protein.  I vehemently hate whey protein, so I found egg protein powder that doesn't suck.  It's no milkshake, but I can mix in something yummy and some ice cubes and almost convince myself.  I keep it handy in case I haven't eaten enough, but most days anymore, I can eat my required protein with real food.

(I'm 8yrs post op, btw)