Quick Question

After my surgery my nutritionist recommended I stay away from Protein shakes. I have yet to have one. You guys that have had RNY like myself mention them all the time. Do you have any idea why the nut would have said this?  I honestly can't remember. What are the upsides and downsides. I had bought some Unjury samples, and still have them.

Comments please

My doctor & nut said you need them right after surgery because you can't physically eat enough protein and you drink shakes to suppliment the protein intake. Upside is it helps get your requirement and gives you the enerygy you want. Down side they said long term you don't want to depend on them because they are liquid calories and you should get your protein from foods. They told me I might need them for up to a year to make sure I get my proper ammount. I plan on getting back to weight lifting so I can see myself using them longer. I used them before my surgery while lifting for that extra protein boost which helped because I saw big increases in the ammount of weight I could handle.
How did you get all your protein in right after surgery? If you got it in without shakes it makes you wonder about taking them. I'd like to hear what others say about this to.

As per my surgeon...Many many years ago.  Most protein shakes have whey protein isolate in them.  People in the know (nutritionist) say that this is the best for your body post op.  It is an easy form to digest (drink)...It's hard to put solids on an area that has just been cut (pouch).  The first month or two you need to think of your stomach as that of a babies stomach...Very boring stuff goes in there, it's still healing.  The isolate has a huge amount of protein, the body digests it quicker (quicker uptake).  You need it to prevent loss of muscle mass.  The first month or two you are putting your body into almost starvation mode.  If food isn't there, it will draw on muscle for the energy (not good).  Since your new stomach is the size of a walnut or your thumb...not much can go in there.  If some problems arise (stomach flu, stricture, cold) and you can't keep foods down you will have been glad there was the protein there for reserve.  I stayed on my shake for about a year...Then slowly reduced the use till I'm near none after a few years.
Each doctor is different about their approach to shakes...There is still a learning process going on.  They are reviewing the data with studies and changing the requirements as needed.  There are WLS surgeon's conferences that new data is reported and changes are made.  When I had my surgery I had to trust my surgeon concerning the lenth of cut to be made on my small intenstine (proximal or distal).  Now they have found the sweet spots for the surgery...Not too much for too much malabsorption...Not too little for not enough weightloss.  I remember my doctor walking into the local WLS support group meeting a few years ago and said they just found 2 RNY patients who had Beriberi...Lack of B-1.  All RNY surgeons now want to see a B-complex added to the other pills (calcium, iron, miltivitamin, B-12).  New discoveries every day...

 Hi,

At day 21 I will be off shakes for good (and I won't miss them one bit). All my protein is to come from real food at that point, I will count to make sure I get all I need and hopefully avoid the downside.

cup of Ice, cup of water, big scoop of low carb whey protein powder (chocolate) and a third pack of chocolate sugar free, fat free jello pudding mix
blend until smooth

I have one of these any night that I work out

a reward if you will

35 grams protein, 2 carbs, 230 calories

feels like cheating with a milk shake.

nutritionists try to say .5 to .75 grams of carbs per kilo of lean body weight is enough, but I have never bought that

I go to 1.5 to 1.75 grams / kilo per day.

 My nutrtionist also stays away from them as part of the overall program.  Their reasons are they can be expensive, some contain lots of sugars, some are high in calories.  The recommended alternative is milk powder. I asked her if I can drink them and I was told yes but choose wisely and incorporate the calories into overall consumption which I have been, although overall caloric intake is a little vague anyway.   Bottom line I would rather drink a chocolate protein drink that has half of my recommended proteins then a glass of milk infused with more milk.  You are the only person that I have encountered other than myself that has a nutritionist/program that recommends this practice on no protein powders.  Check the sugars, check the price if you care, and check caloric amount as well as fats etc. and then share it with your nutritionist.  They are there to help not punish. 

Body Fortress at Walmart

cheap (about a buck to replace a meal) tastes good and the nutrition is solid

http://www.bodyfortress.com/

You and I share the same nutritionist. I was told to avoid the protein shakes because they don't give you that long-lasting feeling of being full. There is a tendency for you to overeat if you try to use them as a meal substitute.

I avoided the protein shakes as a meal and strictly followed the "blue bible" diet until I was about 6 months post-op. But, I found that a protein shake when exercising or as a snack was a real help.

I also try to get 80 grams of protein per day. That's pretty hard if you don't supplement with protein drinks or bars.

I really like the Premier brand of shakes and bars. You can find them at your local Costco or Sam's Club. Both the shakes and bars have 30 g of protein. One a day really helps you reach your daily protein goal. And, I've found that the protein bars make me feel much more full than the shakes.

A less expensive option is to make your own protein shake. I make mine with water, crushed ice, a scoop of Morning Moo milk, a scoop of sugar-free jello pudding (for flavor), and a scoop of whey protein (27 g per scoop).  I've also found that the Magic Bullet blender does a better job of making the shake than a traditional blender. The Magic Bullet seems to do a better job of blending the ice and protein.

There are some studies that indicate you should have about 20 g of protein within 30 minutes of waking up. It seems to stimulate the body.

My morning routine is to have a protein shake while getting ready for work (at about 5:00 a.m.). At about 7:00 I have a light breakfast at work (either eggs or oatmeal). My lunch and dinner meals are "normal". But I always make sure I start the day with a protein shake. I still supplement my workouts with a protein source such as a shake, bar, nuts, etc.

RMAP has a great program. Follow their guidelines but consider some protein snacks - especially in the morning or when exercising.

I have avoided shakes as they generally make me nauseous. But I was thinking about trying to add a protein powder to coffee. Is there a non-flavored powder than I might try for this? And, god knows I don't want to ruin the flavor of my coffee!

Shakes don't give you the full feeling that lasts so you will think you are hungry sooner. Remember right after surgery your pouch is swollen so it is actually smaller than it will ultimately be same for your stoma. Think of your pouch as a funnel you have nothing to control the rate at which it empties so eventually liquids will flow right out.

Also remember the goal of this surgery is to get to a healthy lifestyle and face it healthy people it food. Now in my opinion some people go to far with the protein aspect in their beliefs that you should only eat protein or eat über high amounts with out reason.

Just to clarify on Whey isolate it isn't that it is absorbed more easily or completely that whey concentrate, but rather that it has a larger amount of protein by weight so you will get more protein for isolate than concentrate for the exact same amount.

That being said most isolates have a nasty after taste. I have done mainly concentrate and have never had any issues with my protein levels.

Also main people begintomuse supplements as a crutch, where they don't feel like they should eat or are afraid to eat they say "Hey I'll just live on shakes" yes people actually ask this question on the other forums.

Protein shakes and bars are supplements and should be used as just that. If you can't meet your goals without supplementing then supplement but don't replace.

Also quality is an issue not all protein supplements are quality product.

In the early months after surgery your are betterq off following your surgeon and nut until you are closer to a happy weight. Then when you get there find what works for you.

If you hit the fitness aspect hard core like some of us then you may have no choice but to supplement at some point.