Am I doing something wrong?

I have noticed that many folks who are WAY out from surgery post about protein shakes. I am only 2 months out, but have planned my meals and a protein shot (mixed with my crystal lite) so that my days average out to about 700 calories, 90-100 g protein, in 4 mini-meals a day. I am not hungry and have tons of energy. What have your nuts said about keeping a shake in your diet vs. if you have a healthy way of getting the protein grams in with small solid meals? I am losing, not as fast as I'd like, but am still pleased ( 55 since Jan, 36 of it since my March 6th surgery, even with the exercise set back of 2 weeks from a 2nd surgery). I figure a shake is the same in calories and protein as the meal I'm eating in its place, but would I lose faster if I had 1 shake a day?

Every doctor has a different idea on how his/her patients should eat post op. For me, my doc dictates two protein shakes/day for LIFE. I'm over 3 years out and while I am not totally compliant with the 2 shakes every day, most days I get at least one. Hugs, Mo

My doc says as long as I get 50g of protein a day, he doesn't care where I get it from, I prefer food to the protein shakes

I believe the protien in shakes/suppliments is broken down so we absorbed 100% so if we drink a 30 protein gram shake we absorb the entire 30 grams but if we were to eat 30 protien grams of meat (just for the point) we would only absorb maybe 19 grams. That is my understanding Diana RNY 9/17/03 Dr. Roe 360/200/still aiming for 180

Hi Caryn, I am supposed to be doing at least one protein shake a day but haven't been a good girl about it for the last month. I do eat the Pure Protein bars which have 20g protein per bar so I know that helps but my surgeon wants me to have the shakes every day. Each doc and nut is different and the way I look at it is that I follow to the best I can what they tell me and do everything in my power to get in the 75g protein I am supposed to get in every day. Yes, I have slipped up on the shakes lately but since I am getting the bars in I'm not slapping myself too hard! Keep up the good work! ~Heather

Thanks for all of the replies. I guess I will pose the question to my nut now! LOL

Hi Caryn, I am having my surgery in two weeks and just finished the NUT pre-op class. She advised us as to how important it is to get in at least 60 grams of protein per day and to keep tabs on calorie intake. She didn't say you HAD to get the protein via shakes. I think a lot of folks just do that because it's easier. Kerry

Thanks for all of the feedback. Yesterday my sister in law reminded me of a time on WW that I swore I had better losses if I drank a glass of milk at night. Last night I had a protein shake as my 4th mini-meal of the day and had a 4 # drop from yesterday morning til this morning. Of course, that could be my body catching up to 600-750 calories a day for the past 8 weeks too!