Poll re: protein shakes
Do you use protein shakes regularly?
Most days I have 2. One in the morning for breakfast (it seems to keep things moving, if you know what I mean) and then I will make one to drink throughout the day.
Is that what your surgeon and dietician recommended or did you decide to do something different?
They recommended them at first; now they would like me to concentrate on getting protein just from food.
Why do you use protein shakes, if you use them?
I can't seem to get enough protein from food. Dense proteins make me feel nauseous. Plus, I have been getting dizzy/lightheaded a lot recently and I wonder if is from low calories, so drinking a protein shake helps insure I keep the calories up a little. Plus, I like them. If I hated them as much as others, I would definitely try harder to get my protein from food, but I don't really see the need, since I do enjoy them.
Are you satisfied with the results of your WLS? Were you able to reach your goal and maintain your desired weight using protein shakes (or not using them, as the case may be)?
I am almost 7months out and have lost over 100lbs. At my last surgical appt. I was exactly at the average weight-loss point of most patients. I'm still a long way away from goal.
~Jen
RNY, 8/1/2011
HW: 348 SW: 306 CW:-fighting regain GW: 140
He who endures, conquers. ~Persius
Do you use protein shakes regularly? That doesn't have to mean every day, but fairly often.
No. I tend to use them more often in the summer when I don't feel like eating, but other than that I don't touch them normally. I do use protein bars maybe once or twice a month if my schedule is way crazy.
Is that what your surgeon and dietician recommended or did you decide to do something different?
My Dr's program wants us to get our protein from regular food, not supplements all the time.
Why do you use protein shakes, if you use them?
I only use them usually during summer if it's really hot, as I don't seem to like to actually eat at those times.
Are you satisfied with the results of your WLS? Were you able to reach your goal and maintain your desired weight using protein shakes (or not using them, as the case may be)?
I am satisfied with the results of my WLS. I am still under my Original goal of 150, within a few pounds of my lowest weight and not really having any trouble maintaining at this point (2 1/2 years out).
Have you had any problems from not getting enough protein, particularly if you don't use protein shakes?
I don't usually have problems, but if I notice a day or two of very little protein I might grab a protein bar. I find them more filling that the shakes and enjoy the taste more.
No. I tend to use them more often in the summer when I don't feel like eating, but other than that I don't touch them normally. I do use protein bars maybe once or twice a month if my schedule is way crazy.
Is that what your surgeon and dietician recommended or did you decide to do something different?
My Dr's program wants us to get our protein from regular food, not supplements all the time.
Why do you use protein shakes, if you use them?
I only use them usually during summer if it's really hot, as I don't seem to like to actually eat at those times.
Are you satisfied with the results of your WLS? Were you able to reach your goal and maintain your desired weight using protein shakes (or not using them, as the case may be)?
I am satisfied with the results of my WLS. I am still under my Original goal of 150, within a few pounds of my lowest weight and not really having any trouble maintaining at this point (2 1/2 years out).
Have you had any problems from not getting enough protein, particularly if you don't use protein shakes?
I don't usually have problems, but if I notice a day or two of very little protein I might grab a protein bar. I find them more filling that the shakes and enjoy the taste more.
Katie
Ht. 5'2 HW 234/GW 150/LW 128/CW 132 Size 18/20 to a size 4 in 9 months!

Ht. 5'2 HW 234/GW 150/LW 128/CW 132 Size 18/20 to a size 4 in 9 months!

YES! Not every day anymore although almost.
My surgeon didn't instruct me to drink them nor did he prohibit me from drinking them. I didn't get a lot of guidance what to eat/not to eat.
These days to ensure I am protein forward in my eating AND to satisfy my sweet tooth.
Let's not go there.
Nope.
My surgeon didn't instruct me to drink them nor did he prohibit me from drinking them. I didn't get a lot of guidance what to eat/not to eat.
These days to ensure I am protein forward in my eating AND to satisfy my sweet tooth.
Let's not go there.
Nope.
RNY Gastric Bypass 1-8-08 350/327/200 (HW/SW/CW). I spend most of my time playing with my food over at Bariatric Foodie - check me out!
Mary Catherine
on 2/25/12 2:36 am, edited 2/25/12 2:36 am
on 2/25/12 2:36 am, edited 2/25/12 2:36 am
Do you use protein shakes regularly? That doesn't have to mean every day, but fairly often.
Is that what your surgeon and dietician recommended or did you decide to do something different?
My dietician sees no reason to use protein shakes at this point
Why do you use protein shakes, if you use them?
n/a
Are you satisfied with the results of your WLS? Were you able to reach your goal and maintain your desired weight using protein shakes (or not using them, as the case may be)?
At four and a half years after surgery, I am thrilled with the results of my surgery. I am at goal, full of energy, healthy and happy.
Have you had any problems from not getting enough protein, particularly if you don't use protein shakes?
No problems at all. I do like the Questbars and get some extra protein from that. I don’t track my protein and eat a lot of vegetables and a small amount of meat or seafood. I eat very little high carb foods.
I am never hungry. I do drink about 100 ounces of water every day and get in about two hours of exercise every day. I have been through surgery, weight loss, rebound weight gain, emotional eating. I worked through them all and came out intact.
No
Is that what your surgeon and dietician recommended or did you decide to do something different?
My dietician sees no reason to use protein shakes at this point
Why do you use protein shakes, if you use them?
n/a
Are you satisfied with the results of your WLS? Were you able to reach your goal and maintain your desired weight using protein shakes (or not using them, as the case may be)?
At four and a half years after surgery, I am thrilled with the results of my surgery. I am at goal, full of energy, healthy and happy.
Have you had any problems from not getting enough protein, particularly if you don't use protein shakes?
No problems at all. I do like the Questbars and get some extra protein from that. I don’t track my protein and eat a lot of vegetables and a small amount of meat or seafood. I eat very little high carb foods.
I am never hungry. I do drink about 100 ounces of water every day and get in about two hours of exercise every day. I have been through surgery, weight loss, rebound weight gain, emotional eating. I worked through them all and came out intact.
I go thru spells of using them and then not using them. When my protein intake gets too low for a while I start to feel the effects and then go back to the protein, especially protein coffee.
My surgeon recommends them in the beginning and then as needed afterwards.
I use them because it's an easy convenient way of getting good quality protein in when I can't get enough in from eating food.
I am very satisfied with my WLS even though I have not reached goal. I was 7 lbs away from goal but since Thanksgiving I had regained about 8-9 lbs. That is my fault for letting bad carbs creep back in. For the last week or so I have gone back to high protein and low carb. It's been going very well, little or no appetite, easily satisfied, and no more late night snack attacks. But I have torn or pulled my hip flexor and yesterday was put on prednisone. I'm worried about what effect that will have on my weight and my appetite, but I need to get the pain down so I can get back to work.
I can get enough protein in from eating if I stay on top of it, preplan, and count my grams carefully. But I don't always do those things, so when I realize that I am not getting what I need I always go back to the protein powder shakes or protein coffee.
My surgeon recommends them in the beginning and then as needed afterwards.
I use them because it's an easy convenient way of getting good quality protein in when I can't get enough in from eating food.
I am very satisfied with my WLS even though I have not reached goal. I was 7 lbs away from goal but since Thanksgiving I had regained about 8-9 lbs. That is my fault for letting bad carbs creep back in. For the last week or so I have gone back to high protein and low carb. It's been going very well, little or no appetite, easily satisfied, and no more late night snack attacks. But I have torn or pulled my hip flexor and yesterday was put on prednisone. I'm worried about what effect that will have on my weight and my appetite, but I need to get the pain down so I can get back to work.
I can get enough protein in from eating if I stay on top of it, preplan, and count my grams carefully. But I don't always do those things, so when I realize that I am not getting what I need I always go back to the protein powder shakes or protein coffee.
HW- 297 SW- 280 GW- 178 LW- 184 CW- 190
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference...
WE CAN DO HARD THINGS!!!
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference...
WE CAN DO HARD THINGS!!!
At 4.5 years out, unless I am ill and unable to eat, the only protein supplements I use are protein powder mixed into my SF hot chocolate most mornings of the week except in the heat of summer. Occasionally in the summer I will have a nectar drive k (lemonade or cherry). I drink them only to be sure that I exceed my protein goal and therefore don't have to worry much about actually counting my protein each day.
My surgeon suggested protein drinks only until we could get in enough protein through food.
Happy with my results...? Well, mostly. I met my goal but I would have liked to have lost another 5-10 lbs. I have been happy with being able to maintain at 5-7 lbs above my lowest weight. Would prefer to be maintaining at that lowest weight, but my body has other ideas.
No problems not getting almost enough protein from day 1 (thanks to a G-tube for the first 2.5 weeks). I only got about 50g the first month but it was up to 60 by he second month.
Lora
My surgeon suggested protein drinks only until we could get in enough protein through food.
Happy with my results...? Well, mostly. I met my goal but I would have liked to have lost another 5-10 lbs. I have been happy with being able to maintain at 5-7 lbs above my lowest weight. Would prefer to be maintaining at that lowest weight, but my body has other ideas.
No problems not getting almost enough protein from day 1 (thanks to a G-tube for the first 2.5 weeks). I only got about 50g the first month but it was up to 60 by he second month.
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
Thank you for posting this.ni was curious about using the shakes long term.
Michelle
Did the happy dance onto the Loser's Bench March 18, 2013!
Visit my blog at http://skinnyundermyfat.blogspot.com/
I know different doctors and dieticians have different recommendations regarding the use of protein shakes, from recommended patients never use them, not even in the first few weeks after surgery when they are supposed to be on all liquids and have no other way to get any protein, to recommending that patients use them regularly for life, even if they are able to get all their protein from food (neither of which makes sense to me, but there you have it).
So here is what I'm wondering.
Do you use protein shakes regularly? That doesn't have to mean every day, but fairly often.
Yes, everyday. I make protein coffee every morning and have a huge shake for dinner almost every night.
Is that what your surgeon and dietician recommended or did you decide to do something different?
My surgeon didn't say not to continue to use them - as long as I am getting my protein in he doesn't care how.
Why do you use protein shakes, if you use them?
Easy way to know I am getting lots of protein, easy to prepare and I love them! I still prefer drinking my calories and protein to eating them.
Are you satisfied with the results of your WLS? Were you able to reach your goal and maintain your desired weight using protein shakes (or not using them, as the case may be)?
I never got as low as I would have liked, but I have been able to maintain a 100 pound loss and am happy to be where I am now vs 4 years ago.
Have you had any problems from not getting enough protein, particularly if you don't use protein shakes?
My labs have always been great - low iron in Dec because I stopped taking an additional iron supplement, but have started back on the iron and the levels are back up.
So here is what I'm wondering.
Do you use protein shakes regularly? That doesn't have to mean every day, but fairly often.
Yes, everyday. I make protein coffee every morning and have a huge shake for dinner almost every night.
Is that what your surgeon and dietician recommended or did you decide to do something different?
My surgeon didn't say not to continue to use them - as long as I am getting my protein in he doesn't care how.
Why do you use protein shakes, if you use them?
Easy way to know I am getting lots of protein, easy to prepare and I love them! I still prefer drinking my calories and protein to eating them.
Are you satisfied with the results of your WLS? Were you able to reach your goal and maintain your desired weight using protein shakes (or not using them, as the case may be)?
I never got as low as I would have liked, but I have been able to maintain a 100 pound loss and am happy to be where I am now vs 4 years ago.
Have you had any problems from not getting enough protein, particularly if you don't use protein shakes?
My labs have always been great - low iron in Dec because I stopped taking an additional iron supplement, but have started back on the iron and the levels are back up.
Highest/Surgery/Current/Goal
250/241/139.5/125
I have a new philosophy, I'm only going to dread one day at a time. Charlie Brown
Interesting questions.
My surgeon's plan had no real strong opinion on protein shakes other than highly recommending them in the beginning.
YES I use them every day, some days only two, some days five, six or seven.
Water makes me vomit. In the last few months it's gotten slightly better (finally) but since 3 oz of water taken over less than 15 minutes makes me throw up, and so I would NEVER get my liquids in. I'm up to six or seven ounces in a single sitting so I've started drinking slightly more water but overall 90% of my liquids come in the form of protein shakes. I used to "light" fruit juices, but those set off my reactive hypoglycemia too much, and in AZ hot beverages (cocoa and hot teas) are just not all that attractive when it's 115 degrees out. For some reason the liquid I tolerate best is my protein shakes (20 oz water, 23.5 g of protein, 120 calories).
I am satisfied with the results of my WLS. Wish I could drop about 5 lbs, but I think that most Americans wish that. I got to goal, and even 8 lbs below goal. But I knew AT goal that I was a walking skeleton, and at 8 lbs below goal I was very very sickly looking (this following on a year of eating WAY TOO LITTLE). When I had my ****yx surgery I jumped up 9 lbs immediately, and over the next year I gained back to the optimum weight for me (about 10 lbs above goal) and then a little more than that now. Aside from wanting to drop 5 lbs in general I am very satisfied with where I'm at. My weight is extremely stable (hard to lose, also not gaining). I honestly don't know if my protein shakes helped with the weight loss or hindered. In general I try to think of the calories they carry as being "unimportant".... or rather "free calories" that won't make me fat.
If I didn't do protein shakes, I'm absolutely convinced I'd have far too few grams of protein a day. Other medical issues I'm currently fighting include meds that make my mouth a mess, so I don't eat much meat since it causes my mouth and teeth to hurt. I probably get 25 g of protein from food a day, and 69+ g from protein shakes a day.
My surgeon's plan had no real strong opinion on protein shakes other than highly recommending them in the beginning.
YES I use them every day, some days only two, some days five, six or seven.
Water makes me vomit. In the last few months it's gotten slightly better (finally) but since 3 oz of water taken over less than 15 minutes makes me throw up, and so I would NEVER get my liquids in. I'm up to six or seven ounces in a single sitting so I've started drinking slightly more water but overall 90% of my liquids come in the form of protein shakes. I used to "light" fruit juices, but those set off my reactive hypoglycemia too much, and in AZ hot beverages (cocoa and hot teas) are just not all that attractive when it's 115 degrees out. For some reason the liquid I tolerate best is my protein shakes (20 oz water, 23.5 g of protein, 120 calories).
I am satisfied with the results of my WLS. Wish I could drop about 5 lbs, but I think that most Americans wish that. I got to goal, and even 8 lbs below goal. But I knew AT goal that I was a walking skeleton, and at 8 lbs below goal I was very very sickly looking (this following on a year of eating WAY TOO LITTLE). When I had my ****yx surgery I jumped up 9 lbs immediately, and over the next year I gained back to the optimum weight for me (about 10 lbs above goal) and then a little more than that now. Aside from wanting to drop 5 lbs in general I am very satisfied with where I'm at. My weight is extremely stable (hard to lose, also not gaining). I honestly don't know if my protein shakes helped with the weight loss or hindered. In general I try to think of the calories they carry as being "unimportant".... or rather "free calories" that won't make me fat.
If I didn't do protein shakes, I'm absolutely convinced I'd have far too few grams of protein a day. Other medical issues I'm currently fighting include meds that make my mouth a mess, so I don't eat much meat since it causes my mouth and teeth to hurt. I probably get 25 g of protein from food a day, and 69+ g from protein shakes a day.
~Lady Lithia~ 200 lbs lost!
March 9, 2011 - Coccygectomy!
I chased my dreams, and my dreams, they caught me!