Question:
has anyone not drank protein drinks and done o-k

i am having a hard time with protein drinks and have not found one that i can drink and was wondering if there was anyone that didnt drink them and was ok?    — [Anonymous] (posted on August 11, 2000)

August 11, 2000
I do not use any protein suppliments or drinks. I'm 18 months post op, at goal weight, and my labs are all in the normal range. Of course, your mileage may vary. If your doc encourages the use of protein suppliments then that's what you should do. Check with www.vitalady.com to try to find something palatable.
   — Roseann M.

August 11, 2000
Hi there! Actually I am pre-op, but I wanted to let you know that not everyone drinks protein drinks. I connected up with a girl from my surgeons office before my first consultation. She was nice enough to let me come and visit her in her home for a day with my daughter. We talked the whole day about WLS, and she answered all my questions and let me observe her lifestyle after WLS, which was quite normal and average. Anyway, I noticed that she didn't drink any protein drinks, and when I asked her why, she told me that her surgeon doesn't recommend it. I thought that was kind of odd, so when I went in for my consultation, I raised this question. He told me that he would like to see me get all my proteins from food, and only use protein drinks if absolutely necessary. The reason for this, he said, was because he wants a patients post op life to be as close to normal as possible, and normal people (those who haven't had WLS) do not drink protein drinks. I liked this concept, but again, I haven't had surgery yet, so I may feel it is necessary to take the drinks afterwards. I wish you good luck.
   — enjo4

August 11, 2000
Hi: I too couldn't tolerate protein drinks. I'm 10 months postop from the DS and have cans and packages of the stuff all over the kitchen, but the smell makes me gag. Luckily my bloodwork has always come back excellent. Some of my buds have not been able to keep up their protein levels w/o supplementing. So be sure to keep up with the regular workups and follow your doctor's orders when needed.
   — Jill L.

August 11, 2000
Yep me. I dont drink the protein drinks YUCK!!!!!!! I tried a few but just could not take the taste. The only problem I have had is losing my hair. But at 6 1/2 months post op now it has slowed down. It started about two months ago. I have loss 84lbs and feel great. Good luck
   — Lee Ann B.

August 11, 2000
I had trouble with the protien drinks too until I found one called "Shake of Life" at GNC. It says to mix two scoops with water but if you mix one scoop with Gatorade am and pm it is drinkable and will get you your protien. Hope this helps and good luck!
   — Andrea P.

August 11, 2000
I do not take in any other protien than from my food. I also could not stand the taste. I used to try to drink a Boost once per day, but I don't even have that now. Because I was worried about this, I have my labs test done monthly and I am in normal range in everything, including protien levels. I am only 14 weeks post-op from open RNY, and have not expierenced any hair loss, or other side effects, so far from it. I have lost 70 lbs and feel great.
   — rosemary I.

August 11, 2000
My surgeon also has a very simplistic approach to this subject. He requires protein supplements in his dietary regimen only through the 3rd to 4th post-op week, then they are discontinued completely. He desires that protein intake be obtained solely through the patient's diet. He also advocates for the use of simple, economical protein supplementation, such as SlimFast or "no sugar-added" Carnation Instant Breakfast (certainly more palatable than any of the other supplements that I tried). My daughter had her lap RNY in January, and mine was in March. Our comprehensive chemistry profiles have remained completely satisfactory for all values, especially serum protein levels, and we have experienced no hair loss to date. Dietary regimens and opinions re: protein supplementation will vary widely from surgeon to surgeon, or nutritionist to nutritionist, depending on their training and years of experience, as well as the type of procedure done. Distal procedures which involve malabsorption as the primary mechanism in achieving weight loss will probably require more supplementation across the board than proximal procedures.
   — Diana T.