question about protein and calories

I use Muscle Milk for my protein drink. This is the only one I have found that does not make me sick.   I am 4 weeks post op and have lost 37 lbs.  The take 1 scoop of Muscle Milk and mix it with 8 oz of skim milk.  It has the following: 285 calories (this includes the milk) 8 Carbs. 24 Proteins (with milk) It seems like alot of calories, but maybe because it is for whey protein it is not bad????? If I drink this twice a day that is 570 calories!!!!! How long do you use protein drinks? Any ideas?????   Thanks so much, Tamara

Muscle Milk has a higher content of fat than other protein shakes - that makes it higher in calories. It's OK, you need not count calories or fat at this point. You need to count protein. And, it has adequate protein. You will likely need to take protein shakes for 9 -12 months post operative - or until your doctor tells you that you can stop them. Keep in mind, you are not eating too much, so 570 calories is not outrageous. If your weight loss slow to less than 2 lbs per week, then re-evaluate the protien shake. For now, I would recommend keeping up the good work! Sara Nejat-Bina, RD, CNSD, CDE eNutritionCare.com