Advisable to return to protein shakes?

 Some of you might know that I've been having serious fatigue issues with my sleeve.  I had blood drawn Friday, and I'll be going down to see my surgeon a week from tomorrow.  I did speak to my surgeon's office and the lady thought it might be protein deficiency.  I am curious if it'd be problematic to return to protein shakes, maybe exlusively, for a little while.  The support group I go to (not my surgeon) does not think we should take in liquid food (including protein) after the first month or so, but I'm wondering if it might be a worthy experiment.  It might also help me drop some weight quickly again.  Any ill side affects?  

I don't know how the body reacts to a few weeks on liquid protein but I was on a feeding tube for 4 months and trying to get my body to accept anything other than liquids was a major chore.  Your body was not made to function purely on liquid protein. I would suggest getting protein from foods whether it be soft foods, purees, etc. Just not liquid protein. Of course, if it is a life or death situation then liquid protein it is.

I have cancer and am losing weight at an unhealthy rate yet none of my doctors will allow me to revert back to liquid protein. They are pushing for me to get protein from foods. Even as low as 109 pounds the Oncologist just keeps suggesting to up my protein foods.

Maybe a 50/50 compromise would work. Eat 2 meals a day and supplement one meal or even a snack with a protein shake.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!

Congrats on your WL! You are doing GREAT!! I stopped the protein shakes as soon as I could eat regular food. However, I have now added 1 or 2 a day back in as meal replacements. My nut wants us to have 60-80 grams of protein a day and I was finding I just couldnt do it most days. He doesnt have a problem with 1 or 2 at the max but he highly recommends getting as much protein as possible from food. Hope this helps!!

I love my Costco protein drinks. 30g protein, 1g sugar

Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. 

So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet.

As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a saber tooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. 

So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored.

Do not eat carbs before bedtime as it triggers insulin and initiates fat storage. 

I am curious how much protein you average per day for them to think it may be a protein deficiency?

Anyway, I still can't get all my protein from food. I mean, I *could* but I'd be eating alll day and never get in my fluids because of the 30 minute rule. So I still do a shake a day...and am even upping it to two a day now that I'm lifting weights (I want to build muscle).

I'm wondering if this is their default answer to things, because the lady even told me that at like 2 weeks out--at which point I'd think it's nearly impossible to already have protein deficiency.  I am able to eat somewhat well, so I think I get in AT LEAST 40 grams daily, probably closer to 60, which from what I've read would not throw me into a deficiency.  I am just eager to solve this fatigue.

do you take b12 and b1?
 

Hi bb,

I'm a year out and still have a protein shake in the morning and I sometimes have a half of protein bar at night for a "desert".

I think the blood work will reveal what's going on.

Till you figure this out..... be careful!

frisco

yeah i had a double protein shake today, i'm going to start drinking them more often, its so much easier .

 I am over 6 mos out and I dont see how anyone with a sleeve within the first year or so could possibly get enough (70-90grams) protein a day by JUST eating 3 solid meals a day.  I sure can't.... I have a protein shake and/or a carb master yogurt to up my protein EVERY DAY.