Protein supplement question from recent post-op

Hello~

I'm 16 weeks out (RNY). I am curious to know from people who are much further out from surgery than I am about protein supplementation.

How long did you use protein powders? How did you "know" when it was the right time to stop using them?

Thanks,

Sab

I'll be 14 yrs tomorrow.

I'll let you know when that time might be. I do 180g or more. they help me hold my wt where *I* want it to be. It's not just about getting protein on the labs, it's about appetite, volume, cravings and so on.

I don't envision a time in the near future when I'd be willing to toss mt wt loss or health to not use them.

I think it's too late, anyway, since I am an addict by now. LOL

3 years out and still use protein supplements.  I always begin my day with a protein shake and have at least one other protein supplement during the day - protein pudding, a low cal/carb protein bar or another protein shake.  I think they are important to my success.

Perhaps one of you WLS grads (or anothe grad reading this thread)  would elaborate and help me understand--for someone like me who can happily tolerate most foods (including protein foods) easily, and can get in enough protein with real foods--why one might choose to continue using the protein powders?

If it isn't already obvious, I have a strong preference for real foods over protein powders. (Though I still have a few experiments to do with the powders--like trying vanilla in my chai tea.)

TIA!

ok this is a matter of individual choice and also your doctors preferences.

many doctors feel that once you can take in enough protein from food, that then is the time to stop the supplements

that is how my doctor felt.

now 2 1/2 years out, i find myself going back to a protein shake several days of the week as a supplement with a controlled amount of calories and a good boost to my days protein totals.

i also keep protein bars in the house, for a quick breakfast or snack on a day im running late for work or too busy/tired to cook or make a proper snack.

so, the answer is, you are an individual and you will have to find your own way with this as you progress along.  just remember, that no matter how far out you go, you need that protein every day to stay healthy. 

good luck, jacki

Thanks Jacki for your reply. Glad to hear about your doctors opinion on this, it is nice to know the advice I heard is shared by other health professionals.

A gal with a lap band asked me on another thread I had started about my struggles w/protein shakes, why--since I had said I didn't much care for the protein shakes-- did I get an RNY since RNY meant having to take protein supplements forever. She then had gone on to say that this is one of the reasons why she had choosen to get banded instead--because after the short recovery period in which shakes are needed, that she could go back to real food.

That was a bit of a head-scratcher for me because I had told her I had never heard before (certainly not from etther of my surgeon's offices--I changed doctors mid-stream) that protein in shake/supplement form as opposed to real food, were a REQUIRED part of life RNY post-op life.

So your message had helped me...thank you.

It will be interesting to see, when I am as far out as you are, if I choose to go back to using protein supplements as you have choosen to do.

thanks for your reply.

its funny that you posted at this time.  yesterday i went to a OH conference in Philly.  so naturally there was a lot of talk about what people do.

some never go back to protein supplements.  others do. it really seems to be a very individual choice.

as i said before, i find that sometimes it just makes me stick closer to what i want to do calorie and nutrition wise.

the important thing is to stay healthy, drink your water, and overall very important is to take those vitamins.

by the way, i dont know your budget but as i moved further and further out, i have chosen to use ready to drink (RTD) protein shakes.  they are so much easier to take to work or throw in a cooler bag if im away from home.  some are pricey, but overall i find the atkins advantage shakes are tolerable to drink.  sometimes i add a little sf syrup to enhance the taste,  especially nice with the vanilla choice.

stay in touch and soon you will be a grad too

hugzzzz, jacki

Oh, you went to Philly! Cool. The OH conference is coming to Los Angeles at the end of this month and I have already bought my ticket. I'm really looking forward to it!

I'm smiling at your comment that you "especially" have to doctor up the taste of the vanilla flavored protein drinks. I've had the same experience. I try to avoid Splenda because I don't like the taste of it (it tastes "off" to me), which means that the protein powder that I have the most experience with is Jay Robb Whey Protein since he doesn't use artificial sweeteners. And I definitely think his chocolate version tastes better than his vanilla one (or the strawberry one, for that matter.)

I'm one of those,who, given the choice, would rather eat cottage cheese or greek yogurt than have a protein shake--even if it means I need to consume more volume in order to get in my protein. Or just drink some regular, unadulterated milk. Fortunately with the cottage cheese, it doesn't hurt my tummy--it's an easy food to eat.

I am 4 years out and have never stopped protein shakes.  I still drink 3 every day.

Hi,

I am a 15 months out from my RNY surgery. I still have at least one protein drink a day. In the beginning I thought I would not continue with them. But once I could "create" my own, I found I really like the one I make. I am hooked and it is a convenient for me to eat on the way to work. I buy the EAS powder at Costco. 2 scoops is 27grams protein. With the 1/2 Cup Soy milk that gives me 30 grams total. I add frozen fruit/ice and ground flaxseed. It is really thick and yummy.

I also supplement with protein bars. I keep them on hand if I forget to eat or forget to bring something. That way I have something instead of grabbing for some food I shouldn't.

But like other posters said. It is an individual thing. So we all settle into what works best for us.

Good luck with your weight loss journey and finding your way..

Kelli