and btw, how often now do you use protein shakes/bars?

Annual lab tests, baby.  I have been a protein pusher from the beginning and my lab scores show my protein was 1 point below normal, which ought not be with as much protein as I was eating.  Course by my year labs I had by far stopped consuming shakes because I figured it was not necessary.

MacMadame and another human (who Mac knows, she said "there are three of us") also malabsorb protein. 

Course, I only malabsorb the nutrients - I absorb the calories just fine! 

I only use the bars as a last resort.  I think they are nothing more than glorified candy bars...but they do have their place at times.  Like when I know I have no access to food.  As far as shakes, I must still rely on them and have found one that I really love and have a double scoop every morning.  My protein requirements are higher than most because I bodybuild and putting on muscle is difficult for me.  I like to have a MINIMUM of 125gms per day and there is no way I could do that with food alone.  I use the Max protein that eggface recommends and use many of her smoothie recipes as well. 

Laura

I ussually do about two bars a day to hit my protein quota. I got addicted to those power crunch bars. A bit High on fat but it doesn't seem to hurt me too much.

 I still have issues getting all my protein from food so I have 3-4 shakes per day.  I like the EAS vanilla whey and found if I mix it with espresso shots and a little creamer you can't even tell there is protein powder involved.  

I easily get my protein in with food but I still to a protein shake in the morning. I used the ready to drink shakes in the can. I have never been a food in the morning person and I like to start the day off with protein so I use the shakes. I have never minded the taste/consistency of the ready to drink shakes though I never did like the powdered ones. I am just strange way I guess.
I am intrigued by the folks that malabsorb protein. I am trying to understand how this happens since the basic mechanisms of our bodies have not changed only the capacity. If we were not malabsorbing it before how could be be malabsorbing it now? It is entirely possible that I am just dense and not getting it so if someone can help me out here I would appreciate it.

I love my protien drinks. I drink one per day. There are many that I really like a lot . I'd rather drink
them than eat sometimes, but then I do get hungry so I force the solid protein.

ok. so which ones do you like? D

For vanilla I *really* only have found that I like the AboutTime Birthday Cake!  The other vanillas seem to taste to pretendy to me, or something!  I like the About Time peach too!

Other than protein added to my starbux, I do not do any protein supplementation. I just eat lots of meat, nuts, and cheese..

Although I do have a protein shake in the morning I do think after our initial liquid diet right after surgery we should be getting most of our protein from regular food. I had this particular procedure because it gave me the best shot (in my opinion) of eating/living like a normal person and existing on primarily protein shakes would not work for me. I like my food too much.