Poll: Protein Supplements

I'm doing a little unscientific research here, and I hope you all will help me out. My surgeon does not encourage protein shakes because he believes they are just liquid calories that allow us to eat again too soon. He likes us to get all our protein from food. BUT...I have a lot of trouble getting all my protein in through food, and I've seen sooooo many people here at OH who swear by protein shakes as an aid to loss and maintenance that I'm beginning to wonder. My questions are below. Please try to be honest and unbiased in your answers! I'm more interested in actual experiences and quantifiable evidence than hearsay and opinions. ? Do you use protein shakes? ? If yes, what kind and how many per day? ? On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being lousy and 10 being perfect), how would you rate your ability to lose or maintain? ? Do you attribute your success or lack of success in any way to protein supplementation? Why or why not? ? Anything else you'd like to add about your experiences with protein supplementation? Thank you so much!!! ---- Leslie

i drink nectaur icetea protein supplement in my walmart icetea or with water because it has 23 grams of protein and 90 calories. i drink this 2 times a day on my way to work and on my way home from work for a pick me up. i have noticed thru trial and error that it helps me out alot. tracey

? Do you use protein shakes? Only the first 5 weeks post op (wls) when I was on liquids and couldn't get protein any other way. I did use them post other surgery when I didn't have an appetite because I felt I needed the extra to heal properly. I also used them after I had an illeus and had lost too much weight to boost my calories since I hadn't eaten in several days. They tend to run right thru me and then I am still hungry for something solid. ? On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being lousy and 10 being perfect), how would you rate your ability to lose or maintain? 9, I lost 130 pounds in 15 months and have maintained my weight between 130-135 since jan. 2004. My ideal body weight by the charts is 118, but at 120 I looked like death warmed over, my face was sunken in. at 130 - 135 I am a size 8 petite (4'11" tall) I give my self a 9 because I am doing good so far, but can't predict if I'll screw it up somehow> ? Do you attribute your success or lack of success in any way to protein supplementation? Why or why not? well I only used shakes for a brief time and they helped me get thru the hell of the liquid diet immediately post op. As I said before they run thru my pouch too fast and liquid calories are something I usually try to avoid. I ususally get at least 100 grams of protein in my diet daily with out supps. ? Anything else you'd like to add about your experiences with protein supplementation? most of the shakes smell like baby vomit and the only brand I have been able to stomach is designer whey. If I felt they were necessary I would use them despite the smell and taste. (as I did to boost my calories when I didn't feel well after my other surgeries)

Hey, Willow-- First, thanks for your response, and congrats on your great success so far! I have a follow-up question for you. Darlene, who answered my poll after you did, said she'd be curious to see how my labs will be when I'm 4-5 years out if I only get my protein from food and do not use supplements at all as my surgeon recommends. You're three years out and the only one to respond so far as a person who gets all your protein from food. How are your labs looking, if you don't mind my asking? Are your protein levels good? I'm really not trying to make a case for either side, by the way. I am genuinely trying to get good information to help me decide what I should do. Thanks so much for taking the time to respond! I really appreciate it. ---- Leslie

I have been a little anemic, but that is now under control With weight loss came really horrendous menstrual bleeding, Had to have an endometrial ablation and my hemoglobin and hematocrit shot up, & I was able to reduce my iron supplementation as to not make my iron levels too high. As far as protein, As I watch my muscles build from exercising I know that it could not happen if I was not getting enough protein in. My arms are looking very defined since I have been weight lifting and my abs look better every day. Muscle is protein and I could not be storing it inmy muscles with out an adequate intake. Yes we have malabsorption and if I had never had wls I would lonly need about 50 grams a day. 1500 rny's when I had mine. I went thru Barix and they have a pretty big program, last I heard over 26,000 rny surgeries behind them. all of their patients get the same info ( tailored to their body weight etc on grams of protien etc) as far as followup and long term diet. They encourage their patients to come back yearly and monitor my labs as well as my pcp monitoring them and of course I am watching them like a hawk because it is my body and i might pick something up they won't. Any time I have any lab drawn for any purpose I have a copy faxed to my WLS office too. I follow the program I was given as you should follow what YOUR doc tells you as he knows you and your personal medical history. I find there are many things I find on this site that have nothing anywhere to back it up other than it has been repeated so many times that "everybody knows it's true" .Being a nurse, I say *prove it*, if it doesn't make logical sense to me I have to see evidence, studies that have been replicated, not just one Drs. experience. Other wise I am going to follow what I KNOW to be true and what my common sense tells me.

part of my post diasappeared and doesn't make sense. I was trying to say, I was never told to tke protein supplements after the initial few weeks on liquids, and my dr had done > 1500 rny'swhen I had mine.

? Do you use protein shakes? yes ? If yes, what kind and how many per day? Varies, here is a small list of what I use, Optimum Nutrition 100% Any Whey Tasteless, Elite flavors, IDS, Champion, Labrada ProPlete Gold, Real Protein, ABS, Whey Gourmet, VP2, Nectars, Protein Delight, Isopure powders, etc etc....I do 120 grams per day. ? On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being lousy and 10 being perfect), how would you rate your ability to lose or maintain? 5 ? Do you attribute your success or lack of success in any way to protein supplementation? Why or why not? Success. Number one, my surgeon reguires it, and I just follow orders. I had RNY which means I have mal-absorption and the only way I can keep my muscles and organs functioning is thru the pre-digested whey. It also helps with the carb demons. ? Anything else you'd like to add about your experiences with protein supplementation? Just do it. Find one or two you can tolerate and just do it...like it or not, your body needs it. If it wasn't necessary I don't think the ASBS would tell the surgeon to do it. You probably won't like my answers, I'm not known for sugar coating, I feel if you don't want to know the answers from us, don't set yourself up by asking.....but... On another note, I am a pretty nice person.....believe it or not... Darlene

Actually, I'm really not fishing for a predetermined answer that I'm hoping responders will give me to confirm my own ideas on this subject--my own opinion is unformed because I feel I don't have enough real data to reach a good decision. I'm actually relatively neutral and trying through this poll to come up with good data to help me decide if I should go against my surgeon's orders. As I said, my surgeon does NOT want his patients to use protein supplements. I know that some surgeons require it and others strictly forbid it, so I'm trying to find out through my independent inquiry from real people who are doing it both ways if I should try protein supplements or not. So, don't fear that I'm going to be upset about honest answers. If you recall, I stated in my email that I wanted honest answers and evidence--not opinions and hearsay. So far, I have gotten all my protein through food as my surgeon recommends. But it's a struggle, so I'm investigating protein supplements. Thanks so much for your response! ---- Leslie

I would be interested to see your labs when you are 4-5 years out if you only get protein thru food..... Darlene

That's a very good follow-up question for the grads, actually. Wonder how many longer-term post-ops have gotten their protein entirely through food and how their labs look? Willow, who answered above, is about 3 years out and gets her protein entirely from food. I'll ask her, and then I'll post the question as a separate thread to see if there are any others. Thanks! ---- Leslie