Question:
Which is better for you, liquid protein or solid food protein?

I've been drinking 60 grams of protein daily to enusre that I get all my protein in. Lately I've been reading that food protein, like cheese and meat, is a better way to get protein in our bodies. Any opinion would be appreciated.    — Catherine A. (posted on August 13, 2003)

August 13, 2003
I might me different with everyone else, but my doctor informed me that food protein like meat and cheese are so much better than liquid. He said a shake is fine, but with our malabsorbtion of the surgery we may only "get" half of the protein from a shake because it is a liquid and goes right through us. He said with food, it stays longer and therefore we absorb more. I hope I helped some.
   — Paige S.

August 13, 2003
My surgeon doent like us using a lot of liquid protein, because it doesnt provide saiety since our pouches never feel physically full from liquids. Too much reliance on these can result in excess calorie consumption and weight regain. As a siupplement they are a good idea espically early on.
   — bob-haller

August 13, 2003
Let me differ slightly with the other posters who offer very good guidance on this issue. First, you need to evaluate what will be your lifetime approach to maintaining high protein intake. For me, I realize that I will always be able to slug down an Atkins shake or whip up some sort of protein powder shake in a blender so I have decided that that will be my lifetime method. Secondly, depending upon the size of your pouch, you may not be able to consume enough food in a day to hit 60 grams of protein; for me, I have found that at 10 months out, I still can not consume such great quantities of meats, eggs and cheeses to get in enough protein. Because I want to discipline myself to keep meal times to less than 30 minutes (and I also want to discipline myself to have 3 meals a day with a morning and afternoon snack), I just can't consume enough food; consequently, the shakes make better sense for me to maintain my weight loss. Lastly, with respect to the malabsorption issue, it really all depends upon who much of your intestine was bypassed; as long as you have about 3 feet left, you will probably not experience significant interference with absorption of protein, vitamins and minerals. But, because all of our surgeries have some differences, you might want to ask your surgeon about the amount bypassed. Good luck.
   — SteveColarossi

August 13, 2003
I was told by a nutritionist that not only is solid protein better, but that animal protein is better than say peanut butter or beans. But she was not that familiar with WLS so she doesn't understand that not everyone can tolerate a variety of foods. The important thing is to get in your protein which ever way you can.
   — Sarahlicious

August 13, 2003
Steve, It is not real difficult to get to 60 grams of protein in foods once you are able to eat at least 3 ounces for 3 meals. I was doing it consistently by 4+ months. Now that I eat typically 5 ounces it's no problem and there is still some room left for veggies and fruits. <p>A 3 oz pouch of Albacore white tuna is 23 grans of protein. 3 egg whites (no yolks so there is enough room for the whites) is 18 grams. 3 pieces of string cheese is 24 grams. 1/2 cup shredded BBQ turkey by The Turkey Store is 20 grams (very low carbs and fat). 10 medium shrimp is about 25 grams etc. 1/2 of a Carb Solutions protein bar 13 grams and could be used as a snack. <p>One of the reasons you may have difficulty getting in enough is because of the protein drinks. You did not learn to eat real food from the start. That's my complaint with people who are put on liquid diets for 4-8 weeks after surgey. They are many times complaining they are hungry, because the liquid moves on through. They also tend to have a more difficult time moving to solids and tend to give up easily and go back to the liquid protein. Hence they have set a like long habit they must live with now. <p>I am not saying you are doing anything wrong and you have found what works for you, but it is quite possible to get in enough protein from foods it just requires careful food choices and a committment to 99% protein until such a time your food quantity is increasd to allow room for other things. I'm at a level now that I can keep the protein where it is and use the more food that I can eat as other things, but still keeping the protein as the highest portion of my food. <p>My surgeon does things this way for all the reasons the previous posters have mentioned - full feeling, learning to deal with real food etc. It has worked for his patients and I'm happy to say no protein drink has ever crossed my lips. I'm a real food person.
   — zoedogcbr

August 13, 2003
Solid protein is probably best because it also has vitamins, iron, etc. But drinks are good because up to 30 grams will be completely absorbed. It has to do with your body making peptides for the solids. With less intestine there is less time for peptides to be made, thus less absorption. The powders have a type of protein with the peptides built in. All according to my nutritionist. :)
   — mrsmyranow

August 13, 2003
Protein drink (Pure Whey Protein Isolate) EVERY morning here, and I feel really satiated and engerized afterwards. I am totally satiated until lunch time. Great way to go! Won't start my morning without the protein shake. Provides me with 30 grams of protein. I couldn't eat enough solid protein to get 30 grams in.
   — Ginger M.

August 13, 2003
I think the best thing to do is to actually GET the protein in regardless of its form. This question always causes arguments and brings out the "experts". I see a nutritionist weekly and she is very supportive of my shake every morning. I drink Real Meals or Pure Protein. I do this mainly because otherwise I will wait until far too late in the day (I have never been a breakfast eater and it is a bad habit)to begin eating which is a prescription for weight gain. I average 80-100 grams per day and am 20 pounds from goal at 7 months post op without ever hitting a plateau. I agree with Steve here, because I have had to radically change my views on how to eat to A) lose the weight and 2) keep it off. Also the shakes are not confusing to me, I know that when I have one I am not doing anything wrong. Perhaps I am just a sicker puppy than most but I have had to be completely anally retentive in my approach to WLS. Good Luck! Bottom line is it does not matter as long as you are getting what you need.
   — Carol S.

August 13, 2003

   — SteveColarossi

August 13, 2003
Great information here. Great comments. Everyone's ideas of how to supplement our protein intake is always a hot topic (and I always try to stay away from those). For me personally, even though I would love to be able to get my protein from only food... its just not realistic for me. I would love to be able to eat 10 medium shrimp, would love to be able to eat 3 pieces of string cheese... but the lovely pouch that the good doctor crafted for me just won't allow it. At three months out, I cannot eat more than 3 pieces of the tiny shrimp and maybe (If on a good day) maybe 1 piece of string cheese. So until the day that I can eat more of these protein rich foods... I must supplement with protein. I agree with Carol when she said that the important thing is that you get the protein in, no matter what the form. But I would love to try some of that BBQ turkey... but maybe not 1/2 cup just yet.
   — Kimberly B.

August 14, 2003
I've tried it both ways. I now get in about 120g/protein a day thru shakes. Some days I try having just food. At 6 months out, the truth is that I FEEL better when I have the liquid protein.
   — cfpowers

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