Ok, you've answered my protein questions...BUT NOW....

How on earth do you substitute one (or possibly 2) of your meals with a protein shake?  For gods sake people, we only get 3 meals a day and I'm supposed to take away from that to drink a protein shake which I probably won't really enjoy?????  What's up with that????

And most of these shakes in order to get the max protein you need to have an 8oz serving...well I can only have 4 ozs at a time as a meal.  So that automatically makes my shake a 2 meal serving!!!!  So now I get no lunch OR breakfast?????  UGH!!!!

Is this normal????  I need some help here.  This hole thing is totally freaking me out.

Danielle

When I first got out, I did not really worry about the protein shakes until about 1 month out.  I would try to stick to soft foods that was protein.  Something like fish, eggs, or cheese.  Know that I am almost a year out I do my three meals with mostly protein and then have two shakes as snacks.  Like between breakfast and lunch and then one between lunch and dinner.  Some days I only have one.  The 8 oz protein does go down like water so I usually drink it in 1/2 hour span. 

Good luck!

Early out it is difficult.  Do not stress about it.  Once I went back to work it became easier for me.  I drink a protein shake on my way to work. (around 7:30)  I found the iced tea Nectar worked best for me.  I would put 2 scoops in a 16 oz water bottle in the beginning and now I only put one scoop in.  Then around 8:30 or so I eat breakfast and work my other meals in after that.  I found the shakes mixed with milk too thick and they took me too long to drink so I switched to the Nectar which went down a lot easier for me.  

You crack me up.  i find that with shakes...I can get the 8 oz shake down in about 1 hour, hour and 1/2 of sipping.  It is a slider type food.  My surgeon said not to worry about amount of shakes at one time.  does that make sense?  He said to really measure and monitor food, but drink the shakes as well as you can. I can now eat 1/2 cup of yogurt or cottage cheese.  But no where near 1/2 cup of dense food like tuna or eggs or chicken.
For a while I drank one for breakfast.  I am moving away from them a bit becasue I find with eating 700-800 calories if i really stick to good protien sources I get 80-90 g protien.   I also like the nectar iced tea.  Danielle, if you want to get together I will measure out someof all the protiens i have so you can try them.
Laura

also someone suggested on the main board they need to be really cold
i blend them with ice cubes and frozen fruit(wait a few weeks for fruit)

I'm 5 weeks out and I've been using the 2 1/2 oz "bullets" my nut recommended those. (Called Profect, online get them from protica.com, they have a sample pack that's like 11 bucks.  I've also seen a different brand of them at Wal-Mart, those are $2-$3 each but I've only used Profect)
They're not as "heavy" as the shakes, plus you get 25 gms of good quality protein in less than 3 oz.  Other vitamins are included too, so that's a bonus.

early out don't worry  :)   i drink a 50 gram slam from GNC in the morning while i read my email and that is my breakfast -- ross doesnt' drink protein shakes at all -- mind you he is 2 yrs out now and i'm 22 months out now -- but we have always got enough protein from food -- eggs, cheese, tuna, chicken, cheeseburgers, yogurt, milk -- there are plenty of ways to get in enough protein without the shakes :)

try to get samples of protein at GNC or buy the cheap ready to drink shakes at walmart  -- everyone is different with their taste before and after surgery

drink your shakes between meals -- it is considered a liquid :)

good luck
roberta

I don't do protein shakes... Dr. Ballantyne tells us NOT to... but I would think shake = liquid... so it's not in PLACE of a meal, but a supplement to your food intake and counts as liquids.

~wendy

While each Doctor is different, my Doctor told me that I should have 2 protein drinks, in addition to my 3 meals (so it's like having 5 small meals).

For me, I have my shakes 3 - 4  after breakfast and/or lunch -I think of it as my "snack".  While, some other folks have one during the day, and one before bedtime (to give them that full feeling).

Experiment, and see what works for you.

I will be quite honest with you. 
I have done ALOT OF READING AND RESEARCHING about protien in the last year since my surgery.  My nut said about 50g a protein a day so that is what I tried to get in.  By the time I was 6 months out I was so weak and unhealthy.
I drink 2-3 shakes, my favorite, and it tastes so good is Lean Dessert Whipped Vanilla.  Its like 19.99 a jar and you can get it at GNC or find a place online to order it.  If you make it with 8oz ff milk and ice it is just like a vanilla milkshake.
I then eat one to two high protien low carb meals only because it is so important, atleast for my body, to get the protein in first because w/o it my hair falls out, I am so weak and miserable.
All in all I get in 110-120g protein a day and that is at 1000-1100 calories a day a year out of surgery.
Thats just my 2 cents for what its worth I feel increadible.
Love
Trish