So as I get closer to the date. I am wanting to start incorporating a protein shake as a meal replacement. Any pointers or ideas on what meal you guys recommend I replace with the shake? I am just trying to prepare for when my diet becomes nothing but liquids. Any other ideas are more than welcome. Thanks again for all your help friends.

I find it is easiest at breakfast... for several reason. Right now with the colder weather if I don't get past it first...I won't have it later. :) Second after surgery I found it hard to eat solid food in the morning... and once I had solid food, it was harder to get my fluids in. So I would usually try and have 8-16 oz water or tea, then 16oz protein drink and then 16 oz water, tea or coffee before I actually ate anything. Even though it isn't as hard to get the fluids in anymore, I still do that most days.

It is very funny after surgery, certain protein drinks will agree with you, then not agree with you and then you will be fine with them again. I found that with the premier.... Very convenient because it is easy to drink and has good stats but for a couple months I couldn't stomach it. Now I have it all the time. I also discovered it is good hot, like hot chocolate.

You could replace any meal with a shake. But most people seem to replace breakfast with a shake.

i have my shake after i go to the gym, which would be my lunch. I have 0 appetite / cant really stomach food after working out, so drinking the protein shake keeps me full til dinner without making me feel gross from eating.

There are differences to be aware of.

Pre-op - I liked got the ones that had 10-15 gms of protein per 8oz servings - powders that I mixed with water and SF Soda. Like vanilla powder and diet orange soda - a protein creamsicle.  Volume was not an issue before WLS. (Chocolate powder with diet chocolate soda.)

Post-op - Hated the powders - get Pure Protein in cans or Isopure protein clear.  Lots of protein per fluid ox.  Pure Protein in cans is 35gms protein per 12 oz, ISOPURE is 40gm of protein per 16 oz.  Post-op, all I had to do was drink 2 cans and I had my 70 gms of proteins and alrady 24 oz fluid.  It made my life easier for those first few weeks.  At 10 months out, I have more options and so will you.  Just follow instructions exactly at first.

Advice:  Buy a bottle or individual pack or two of different things so you can test them.  Your tastes may change post-up.  I wish I didn't buy these big jars of protein powder - they cost $20-40 each and I gave them all away.    

Do you have a surgery date yet?

For me the easiest meal to replace initially would have been breakfast and dinner would have been the hardest. By dinner time I was ready for that crunchy salad and probably more bulk. That holds true for me even after surgery though I crave less in quantity. Good luck trying shakes. I hope you find some that you enjoy.

Thanks for the suggestions. Im leaning towards breakfast also. It seems easiest right now

Make sure that whatever protein shake you get that it is 100% whey protein isolate.  That is the highest quality and most easily absorbed form of protein for us immediately post-op.  

Another poster on here or the VSG forum just posted today that she's been drinking Premier Protein RTD shakes and is protein-deficient.  Her doc told her it's because that shake has a protein concentrate or blend, and isn't 100% whey protein isolate.  

The good stuff is going to cost you more -- but it's totally worth it.  Do your research; post-op it's going to be your primary source of nutrition - get the best. 

^^^ This.  Best advice ever.  I only used Premier, for example, when traveling for ease -- but Syntrax Nectar and other pure whey protein isolates were my mainstays.  

Any recommendations on which to try?