The Great Shake Debate!

I gave my standby flame retardant suit to the Goodwill, so do not flame in on this. We all have opinions and I have MINE.  Your labs at 3 years post op will tell if your doing fine or not.

Protein is initially broken down in the upper small intestine, just outside the lower stomach, using an enzyme manufactured there called trypsin. Once broken down, protein best is best absorbed in that first 12 to 18 inches out of the stomach. If the food doesn’t go by there any more, how will you break down and extract the protein from the tiny bit of food you can eat? While you can absorb some broken down (pre-digested) protein throughout the intestinal tract, the most absorption takes place right at the beginning, where ALL bypass and RNY patients are not going to get it.

Supplemented protein is already pre-digested for almost instant absorption. It’s liquid form makes it easier to get in, even into an irritated pouch, and the pre-digestion means you can count on absorbing at least most of it (unless you are very, very distal).

Each person needs a minimum of 60g of protein per day. It’s hard for any stapled stomach people to get it in their food, as the high protein foods are so dense, we simply can’t get enough IN to ever reach 60g. Also, since many foods must be combined with bread or grains to be complete, what happens if you can’t eat bread yet?

Protein is best absorbed in amounts of no more than 30g at one time. Professional athletes can do a little better, but for weight loss surgery patients, 30g would be a good try. More protein won’t hurt, but is just wasted. Unless you are very distal, two drinks of 30g each is an excellent start toward a healthy protein intake.

Protein is the main foundation of our health. If the supply becomes depleted, malnutrition will result. But before that, we’d experience deficiencies in many other vitamins or minerals that show themselves more vividly, such as calcium.

Another benefit to supplemented protein is that it satisfies cravings. While we are losing, the sugar cravings can drive us nuts. Part of it is sugar’s hold on us. Part of it is low protein, very common for any of us and part of it is lack of general nutrition. By being well nourished, don’t’ ever go into starvation mode. It keeps the body thinking everything is fine and it is relaxed about allowing us to lose. Let it go into starvation mode, and it retaliates by hoarding even more calories than before surgery.

Many of us become lactose intolerant after surgery. Milk is quite high in sugars, and low in protein in comparison. For the pouch space spent, the proteins shakes give much more brain satisfaction and more nutrition than milk or any FOOD type of protein and are more “available” to us for absorption.

No one really can absorb more than 30g (or so) at one time, except professional athletes.  Recommend is a 30g “dose” for breakfast and during your mid-afternoon “sleepies” to get the most benefit if you are trying to get 60g per day. If you are a distal, 30g every 2 or 3 hours will get the required amount for you. You can mix up more grams and drink at one time, but you are merely buying the protein, not really getting the benefit of it. It is not advisable to mix it up in advance, as we know it loses its protein integrity (but how much?), and it begins to gather bacteria after as little as 30 minutes. Even refrigerated in a tightly sealed container is no guarantee that you’ll be getting the full safe dose you hope for.

Wow!! That sure helps me! I printed that one out and saved a copy... thanks!

I hope in a good way. I am Pro shakes for life.

Darlene, I totally agree with you.  I am 3 years out from surgery and I still drink 3 protein shakes every day.  I love my shakes.  I really believe that the people that drink the shakes are the one's that don't gain back the weight years later.  I have 3 meals a day and 3 shakes.  My protein levels are within normal range but I am trying to get them to 7 so I might start drinking 4 shakes every day.

Hi Marc, my doctor says no protein shakes. He says to get protein from the food we eat. Always protein first. But sometimes when I don't feel like eating, I will go ahead and have a protein shake. I love frappuccinos so I blend one up and add my protein powder. I also enjoy these as a treat without the protein powder. Hope this helps and if you like coffee you might like my recipes. Enjoy! Frappuccino: 3/4 cup double-strength coffee, cold  Splenda to taste 1 cup low-fat milk  2 cups ice  Make double-strength coffee by brewing with twice the coffee required by your coffee maker: That should be 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per each cup of coffee. Chill before using.  To make drink, combine all ingredients in a blender and blend on high speed until ice is crushed and drink is smooth. Pour into two 16-ounce glasses, add a little cool whip and a little drizzle of sugar free Smucker's Caramal topping and serve with a straw.  The Caramel one is my favorite: Caramel  For this version, add 3 tablespoons of caramel topping (or DaVinvi Carmel Syrup) to the original recipe and prepare as described. Top each glass with whipped cream and drizzle additional caramel over the whipped cream.

Thanks Judy... I am going to try that Frappuccino today! ... sounds like a great treat...

Yes, very good treat. Let me know if you like it. I love it and make them often

Hi Marc I'm going to throw my 2 cents in here I AM ALMOST 2 1/2 years out. I was going on the NO SHAKES premise and eating my protein first.. My lab work was all normal My hair started thinning out, BIG TIME, clumps in the sink daily. was tired and brittle hair., didn't feel right. Went to the Drs and they said It had to be the protein and the biotin. They still didn't know what I was the cause because all my labs were normal. I never imagined that I would go thru the hair loss again 2 years later. SO here I am back on daily shakes again in between my meals and 3000 grms of biotin SO it really depends on the person and your lab work.  Do what makes you feel "right" Take Care E T