No shakin required

 In speaking with surgeon and nutritionist at first meeting I was surprised to hear they do not reccommend a lot of protein drinks.  It is their experience that drinking your meals before surgery only leaves you hungry sooner.  After surgery they prefer for you to concentrate on high protein foods supplementing with milk powders as needed.  I have another meeting with each this week but have any of you come across this minimal protein shake apporoach. 

It seems to be the common thread in dietary recommendations for that reason and because shakes are often thought of as a "diet aide" whereas the idea with WLS is to get you not on a diet, but on a new way to eating forever.

Number one rule of weight loss surgery: do what your surgeon says!
There's no going rogue here or you may find yourself over on the failures board.

I know for the band that food rather than fluids is important in that the contractions of the stomach to get the food past the band stimulates the vagus nerve and makes one feel satisfied early.
I have to use a couple of shakes a day just to get the amount of protein in that I need in a day. I just am not hungry enough to eat more food. So I start my day with a low carb shake and my vitamins and then have a three egg white omelet. I'm full till lunch but only have had 200 calories and 32 grams of protein.
Then in the evening after my walk I have another.

I have always been a dessert guy - esp ice cream at night, so now, instead, I blend a scoop of protein with a half packet of sugar free pudding mix and maybe other flavors with ice to make a thick, creamy shake that satisfies the desire and another 26 grams of protein with only about 190 calories. (but it tastes like I'm cheating )

I am full all the time and getting about 130 grams of protein a day.I've lost good weight (and am starting to drop again I think!), and have great energy.
 I plan on eating like that forever.

My Doc did not push protein shakes.  He wanted me to get my protein from solids.  Liquids were seperate and for hydration.  I have only used protein shakes for when I feel shaky etc and I know my blood sugar has dropped.  A protein shake will absorb quickly hang out until my next meal.  From the start, the push has been for 3 meals and minimal snacking.  It has worked for me.

I do not like to eat right away, so I will go to the gym and have a protein bar afterwards.  Just read the label, so protein bars have alot of calories and sugar.

Good Luck

Jim