Still taking protein at 17 months?

How many of you guys are still doing a protein shake? At 17 months out should I still be doing protein? I stopped about 3 months ago because I had plateaued. I dropped 10 lbs over the last three months but now I'm plateauing again and I'm MUCH hungrier and unfortunately can eat much more. Any suggestions pro or con the protein? I had been doing the liquid protein in Crystal Light every morning. I was getting about 36 grams of protein a day. I guess I could just start it again and see. I've lost 150 lbs so far but I'd like to lose at least another 80 lbs. Appreciate any insight.

Drinking extra protien will help a little with the hunger and it WILL help with the weight loss as long as you are doing everything else you need to be doing. My advice would be to continue the shakes and continue your healthier lifestyle. Good luck Teresa. Waayne

Teresa... I am still supplementing protein ..in fact I am doing more of it since I am really hitting the gym bigtime.... I also eat alot of yogurt and yogurt smoothies (high in protein) along with grilled meats.... I do at LEAST two protein drinks a day... either Designer Whey Strawberry protein powder 18 grams protein 90 calories 2 grams carbs 2 grams sugar OR ISOPURE low carb dutch chocolate powder... 105 calories 25 grams protein 1.5 carbs 0 sugar... The isopure I put in either skim milk or 2%...the strawberry I mix with water.... Hope this helps! Elizabeth~

Protein is always going to be an issue. How we get the protein is an individualized thing.If you can get 60gm of protein in a day from regular food. Great. If not I think protein shakes are the answer. I still use them and I am 19 months post op. I actually start with the protein shake which is about 30 gms and if at the end of the day I have not had 60 gms I have another. I also have found when I have hit a plateau and reevaluate. I have not been eating enough or I have been picking/grazing instead of actually eating good food.(Meat,Veggies ,Fruit,and WATER) I could not have made it without my protein shakes. I use zerocarb isopure and 1/2 banana with ice water and walmart brand crystle light orange drink mix.(I use the ones they market to go in a bottle of water)they are just the right size and easy. I love it. Hope it helps. Jean E.

Teresa, How much protein are you consuming in an average day now? Remember that the bioavailability of protein sources are important. You could eat 100 g. of chicken or beef (who does that though?) and due to the malabsorption issues of RNY, you would be absorbing much less than those 100 grams. Doctors' protocols are different. Some surgeons take patients off protein drinks after a certain period of time and want them to obtain their protein from dense protein sources for satiety. You might try to replace a meal with a good protein drink for a period of time and see what happens. Just a thought to consider.......If you are plateauing, you might think about temporarily adding 20 grams of a protein drink to your diet. You might not be consuming enough and the few additional grams might kickstart your body from "starvation hoarding mode" and start your weight loss again. Of course, even at 17 months post-op, you should still check with your doctor and follow his/her recommended protocol and dietary program. Congratulations on your 150 pound loss. That is incredible. You deserve to feel very proud of that accomplishment! Whenever I see the scale creep up a little bit or my clothes mysteriously seem to have shrunk in the dryer, I return to what worked for me to lose 147 pounds and maintain that weight. With your obvious 150 pound success, you know your body and should go back to what has worked for you for the past 150 pounds!! Way to go! Cathy ObesityHelp Support Group Specialist

Yep I still do the protien here to. At 13 months out I was keeping track of my protien intake in food a day and still only making about 30-45 gs. So I havent been able to let up on it. Have to admit though I have gotten kinda used to the taste of it by now and it has become habit I get hungry and reach for a protien bar. LOL Darn things are so chewy that they fill me up for hours and even if they dont my jaw is to tired to chew anything else! sharl

Thanks for all your help. I started back on my GNC liquid protein in Crystal Light this morning. I don't see a whole lot of difference in my hunger level but we'll see how it helps with the weight loss over the next few weeks. Thanks for all your help. It's good to hear how others are handling the protein issue. Thanks again.