When and if I should be off protein shakes?

Hello all!

i am almost 3 months out and down almost 40 pounds since surgery, feeling great.  My question is about the protein shakes.  The article on the home page about the 14 things to know about VSG says eat "real food."  I know others on here have said that their surgeon doesn't want them on shakes long term.  Right now I have a total protein goal of 60 grams daily per my nutritionist.  I drink a 35g shake every morning for breakfast.  I think some days it would be tough for me to get above 60 without that big jump start.  When and how did all of you experienced VSGers manage to get off the shakes and still make protein goals?

thanks in advance!

There was absolutely no way I could have made my protein goal during the first six months, maybe a year, without a shake a day.

My shakes are 20 grams of protein. My surgeon initially wanted me off shakes as soon as possible, too, but I talked with him about my need to stay on them, why I believed that and how going off the shake would force me to eat very frequently to get adequate protein each day. I said something like "I'll have to graze on protein all day long to get 80 grams per day..." I think the grazing idea was worse than a shake, so I got to keep my shake. At almost 4 years out I still start each day with a 20 gram protein shake! Besides, my morning shake is fewer calories than a Starbuck's Latte and I know a lot of WLS folks who drink those every day! 

Most people do not abuse protein shakes the way they did soda or high calorie coffee drinks. I personally don't worry about drinking those protein packed 120 calories per day. 

I still have a protein shake a day because it's a great breakfast for me.  Easy, gets a bunch of protein in, etc.  I could get all of my protein with solid food, but I'd rather not.  

I still drink a shake every morning for breakfast, even though my surgeon's plan suggested getting away from protein supplements as fast as possible. I am almost 8 months out and still have issues tolerating solid food in the morning, so a shake is the best way for me to get fuel into my body in the morning without making myself uncomfortable. My only other option would be to skip the meal, which is obviously way worse than 'breaking the rules' by using protein powder or RTD shakes. 

I'd suggest eating as much protein as you can from real food, and then add a shake if you are falling short of goal.  Phase out the shakes when you can make your goal without them.

I couldn't tolerate shakes after surgery, so I'd drink chicken broth with protein powder, so I didn't count it as a meal.  I was probably over 6 months post op when I was able to eliminate the protein powder all together.

good luck,

Carol

I was advised to get off shakes as fast as possible, and to try to hit my 60g+ protein goal from food alone. It took me about 3-4 weeks post-op to stop drinking protein powder in any form. I haven't gone back since.

For me, I'd much rather use the carbs and calories on a more filling form of food like a scrambled egg with a slice of bacon.

At 2-1/2 years out I still drink a protein shake every day (Unjury Chocolate Splendor, 10 oz. almond milk, 2 tsp Benefiber, 1 tsp instant espresso).  

I'll give it up when someone pries it out of my cold, dead hands. 

I have a protein drink most mornings for breakfast.  I'm not really interested in food in the morning, but don't want to go all morning without anything but coffee.  I enjoy it, if gives me a big boost on my protein, and I don't get hungry any sooner just because all I've had is liquids - and that's most doctors' concern.