Question:
protein shakes

How many protein shakes do we have to drink in a day post op?    — cuppaloopy (posted on November 22, 2009)

November 21, 2009
I'm not sure what or how the program works in the states but if you are in a Canadian post op program we have to drink 3 boost or Carnation instant breakfast a day..we are told 60-80gms of protein per day...
   — karenr1968

November 22, 2009
The first answer you got is a pretty good guide. According to MY surgeon, you need to have between 65 to 85 grams of protein per day, so however many shakes it takes to make up that number is what you should try to drink. You may not be able to get that much in right after surgery, though, so they say to shoot for at LEAST 45 grams. With the Iso Pure ready-to-drink, 1 1/2 to 2 bottles will more than make up that amount of protein (because each has 40 grams of protein in it). Others only have 20 grams, and still others have 25. They're all different. And once you are able to eat soft foods, you'll have to take into account how much protein is in the foods when you're figuring out how much liquid protein to drink... because the cottage cheese has protein, the refried beans have protein, the Egg Beaters have protein, and if you're lucky enough to live near a Kroger store, you can buy CarbMaster yogurt that has really high protein, or Oikos plain Greek yogurt has high protein, too (I mix it with a couple of packets of Splenda and some vanilla extract, and it's delicious....and when you get onto more solid food, you can add in a tablespoon of sugar-free jam, and it becomes positively addictive).
   — Erica Alikchihoo

November 23, 2009
One thing to remember about protein... our dietician says the body will only absorb about 23 grams at one sitting. So... those 40+ gram drinks might be a waste if consumed all at once. One lady in our group heard that if consumed over an hour period, the full 40 would be absorbed. But if you're quickly drinking a protein "bullet" or other concentrate, you're probably not absorbing anything over 23 grams.
   — Greg K.

November 23, 2009
Greetings everyone! Here is to each and every one of us having a wonderful day of great blessings, calmness and peace. How much protein should we consume? Did you have an RNY? Informed surgeons recommend your regular intake of protein be 90 grams daily minimum. A lap band surgery? Informed surgeons recommend your regular intake of protein be 60 grams daily. Please notice I said "informed." Some surgeons simply want to do the surgery to make money without any consideration for the long-term consequences of this life-changing surgery if their patients do not become knowledgeable about what they are doing. They don't care about what you do following surgery. These folks typically say that we should not consume protein shakes but should get our protein from regular animal sources. According to the research available to coaches and leaders with Obesity Help.com, our information shows that the RNY patient will need from 100 to 140 grams per day minimum. Our research shows that the RNY patient may absorb as little as 25% or less. But, it is normally agreed that even a short proximal will not absorb more than 50%. Carnation Instant Shakes? How much protein is in them? 12 or 14 grams and that is before we consider the TYPE of protein in Carnation Instant Shakes, as well as the bioavailability factor and the type of surgery we have each had! A good suggestion is Isopure products, which have 25 grams of Whey Protein Isolate Blends per scoop. This means that the protein in this is calculated to be from 100 to 159% useable protein!!! But, you could consume eggs all day long. Each egg is 100% useable. Each egg has 6 grams of protein. Then again, calculate how many eggs you would need to eat to make 100 to 140 grams of protein, or even 60 grams. Now, malabsorption enters the picture. Did you have lap band surgery? Then, you have no issues, and what is listed is what you get -- except, we do need to discuss the bioavailability of protein in the foods you eat. We'll do that later. Did you have RNY? Then, you have an egg for the size of your stomach, your remaining stomach is bypassed and approximately 80% of your small intestines were bypassed as well. On average, this means your body is at best 50% malabsorptive. So, if you consume 50 grams of protein in 30 minutes, this means your body absorbs only 25 grams. Please take this factor into consideration in determining how much protein you consume at any one sitting. But, what about the bioavailability of protein? Is what you consume beef? Then, this is 80% useable. Chicken? 79% useable. Fish? 83%. Soy? 59%. Beans? 49%. Peanuts? 43%. Remember the egg? It is 100% useable! If you are a vegetarian, I do know the protein in leafy greens-- especially the leafy greens besides fruits, and vegetables is more readily absorbed and useable in our bodies because the form is in singular amino acids which are much more easily absorbed by our bodies than in the form of complex proteins found in meat, dairy, fish, etc. (Campbell, T. Colin, PhD, The China Study, Texas Benbella Books, 2004; Boutenko, Victoria, Green for Life, Raw Family Publishing, Canada, 2005.) You just need to be flexible about what you eat, so you get ALL the amino acids because no one source contains all the amino acids necessary for healthy bones and muscles. You also cannot stretch out your consumption of protein to more than 30 minutes because protein degrades as soon as it is changed from a powder to a liquid. It is useless protein after 30 minutes. If you will go to my website www.obesityhelp.com/group/BellevueWA/blog, you will find an interesting discussion about protein, the sources, the amounts, bioavailability, etc. I am in the process of updating my resources and will be posting more information on this subject at my site. To all those who are whey-incontinent, please stay tuned, or purchase Green for Life by Victoria Boutenko. Blessings, Christine Gibson, MS, MA, Obesity Help Support Group Leader, Obesity Help Support Group Coach, Bariatric University Support Group Coach. www.ObesityHelp.com/group/BellevueWA
   — Christine Gibson

November 23, 2009
My Dr told me that I have to have at least 60 grams of protein a day. I am having a most difficult time with protein, so I supplement with protein shakes, I am using one from GNC.
   — FSUMom

November 24, 2009
We were told to intake 65g of protein. At Wal-Mart I found a protein drink called Protein Shots. They're 26g of protein in a 2.9oz drink. They look like test tubes for $1.97 each. Found them with the protein bars and otc weight loss pills.
   — bluefrogs53

November 25, 2009
To Christine Gibson, Thanks so much for your post about protein and the link to your group. Im a nurse and appreciate you citing your resources. For me its important. It satisfies the medical side of me through this journey.
   — T. Preston