Protien Oh My

Okay Vets I am SUPER overwhelmed and confused by protein shakes... My surgery team says I need low sugar/carb shakes that have at least 25 grams of protein and are whey protein isolates,  then they tell me that Herbalife is great...and I can have muscle milk...and those are not isolates...am I missing something...I feel like a deer in the head lights and I research but I just get confused. I am having a DS/BPD. I did order some samples of Syntrax nectar. Oh and another thing...they told me that I need to consume 120 grams of protein in addition to my meals and there is a difference between meal replacement and protein shakes...HELP!

Meal replacement shakes have electrolytes and are essentially a real complete meal.  Protein supplements are just that supplements.  Meant to be an addition to your regular diet.

You are not going to wake up from surgery and slam down 120gr of protein.  It just won't happen.  You most likely won't get your vites in either.  Immediately postop your job is to drink and heal.  Doesn't really matter what you drink, just drink.  After you get that down, try a protein shake or whatever else they allow you to have.  When that is going well, start adding vites.  Begin with multis and calcium and progress from there.  Something is always better than nothing!

120gr protein per day is totally adequate unless you are training for Iron Man or something like that.  It's not 120 grams PLUS meals.  The general rule on protein is 30 gr at 30 days, 60 at 60, and so on.

After you are around all this for a while you will figure out most docs are great cutters but their aftercare leaves much to be desired.  Most of the NUTS out there just give out standard RNY guidelines.  They don't understand your surgery is different.  The best way to learn is to read here and a couple other boards.  I bet they told you low fat too.

One step at a time.

Drink

Heal

Protein

Vites

After you get these things, it's time to put the hammer down, cut out all carbs and lose as much weight as you can, as fast as possible.  Because the window does close!

Patty,

when does the window close?  Thanks.

There's no way to say for sure.  That's why I said lose as fast as possible!

There are a few people who only had 6 months.  And several are still losing 2 years out.  The 'average' that's talked about all the time is 18 months.

Then there's the bounceback.  Don't worry about getting too thin.  Most everyone gains a little back.  So go lower than you think you need to.

I love Syntrax Nectar. It's a great whey protein isolate and you can't go wrong with it. Herbalife and Muscle Milk, avoid like the plague.
I do get 120 grams of protein in with shakes and protein coffee. My meals are small and protein based with a veggie many times but they are just kind of whatever for me.  I count the protein in the shakes and don't worry about counting protein in food because I know my system can absorb whey protein isolate. I've never been convinced I could absorb the protein easily in dense food and I've seen enough folks go into protein malnutrition trying to do it all with food to even risk it. That's just me though. I have a 100cm common channel and that may make a difference. Folks with longer common channels may be able to absorb more. Keep reading and asking questions.

--gina

There are some days THat I just cannot get in enough food to get all my protein. ON those days I drink three shakes. Usually I drink one in the morning and one at night and eat in between as well. I get roughly 100-150 grams of protein a day doing that. I drink Syntrax Nectar. The Cappuccino allows me to have a hot coffee type drink and it is easier to stomach...quite tasty actually. Makes me feel like I am just drinking a fancy coffee drink rather than a shake. I do the Chocolate Truffle the same way. Mix them in about a third coffee cup of milk (Lactaid milk, and you have to mix the protein in cold stuff first or it gets messy) then I add ho****er. 

Also, you being  just out of surgery do like Patty says. 

I use Optimum nutrition 100% whey. 24 gm protein pre scoop. I like syntrax nectar as a a change of pace. I find it a little sweet for every day use ( currently using the cherry ).

I have mixed thoughts about the 120 grams of protein plus food. After about 3 months I was able to get up to between 100 and 120 grams of protein a day (24 from one shake a day). This kept my weight loss moving along at an acceptable pace.
I developed a foot infection at 6 months where they had to cut off a lot of skin and I added 3 more shakes to help with regrowing the skin ( actually I do two double scoop shakes a day for 96 gram boost). If anything this added to my weight loss for the past month so it might not hurt your weight loss. Most people stop the 30,60,90 progression at month 4 and hover around 120.

I generally count on an 18 month window for the weight loss but people that do low carb, high protein can lose much further out that that. You can get more samples from the vitalady web site. Most of those meet the criteria your team laid out. Personally, the cookies and cream sample pack sounded and tasted great but gave me gas. 

First liquids, then the protein and vites. You can do it.