Weening off protein shakes....

[mandyjdc]

I have a question. I'm a year out, and I'm still getting the majority of my protein from protein shakes. I drink two a day, one for breakfast and one in the afternoon (sometimes I'm not hungry for dinner and the afternoon protein shake is my dinner).

Part of my problem is

1) Since surgery, I've had a strong aversion to most meat and still have trouble digesting anything other than very moist chicken breast or tuna.

2) I still can't eat very much - I can only eat food about the size of an egg before getting very full. I get free lunch everyday at the hospital and they always have a meat and green vegetable, so I usually eat about 1 oz of meat and a bite of green veggie.
Dinner is usually a hard boiled egg, or 1 oz shredded rotisserie chicken, or 1/3 can of tuna.

Should I cut out one of the protein shakes and just try to find protein snacks to supplement what I can't fit in at meals? I tried doing a triple zero yogurt in the afternoon and a string cheese in the morning for a snack but felt too full. Is this normal a year out?

I'm trying to get in to see my doctor but their office hours are shorter than my work day and I'm not allowed to make Dr. appointments during work hours.

I guess I'm just wondering what 1 year out diet should look like?

[AnnieG]

I had same issue, and talked to doc and dietician. They said its fine to continue the shakes as long as you need to. So one less pressure!

[OlRachel]

Heres my two cents: from food is best, but if you're not getting it from food, supplement. But find a really high quality, as natural as possible version of the shakes. Few chemicals and extra stuff. That way you're truly nourishing your body.

[Katrina]

I'm 4 years out and still drink 2 protein shakes most days, and at the very least have one for breakfast. I love them. They are an easy way to get in a lot of protein, and I still have trouble with meat, too. I know with the shakes that I'm going to be able to keep the protein I ingest whereas it's a crapshoot with meat, and it's most likely going to come back out. My cosmetic surgeon actually wants me on 3 shakes a day, but I'm good with two.

[mandyjdc]

Thank you all for your responses! I feel about a lot better now

[Ann2]

I'm 4 years out and have a Lean Shake 25 (GNC) for breakfast most mornings.

However, I don't have (and after a few months) have never had any serious bad reactions to eating chicken, fish or meat. And I sure as heck can eat a lot more than an egg before feeling full. That's pretty stringent restriction your sleeve is giving you there! I'm sorry you're having those difficulties.

Have you had your surgeon do any tests to find out if your sleeve has a stricture?

[sraebaer]

I'm 5 years out and still have one shake a day. I went for years without them, and then realized they made great coffee creamer. You should still try to get as much protein as you can from food, but shakes do the trick too.

I swear by seafood, it's so much easier on my tummy, even after 5 years. Salmon, scallops, shrimp, halibut, whatever. Tuna or ceviche are my "go to" at good restaurants, typically offered as an appetizer. In fact I'm so into tuna we frequent the new poke bowl restaurants, sort of like Chipolte but with fish, and then you choose all the veggies, avocado, etc to top it with. I always have mine on lettuce but the norm is rice.

[KiwiGal]

As with the others, I'm over a year out and still have a protein shake for breakfast most days. I have breakfast at work and it is just really convenient.
My nurse and nutritionist have no problem with me doing this. In the weekend I might have an egg and toast or some oatmeal but usually it's just the protein shake. I'm a creature of habit and I also usually have the same lunch every day of Cottage cheese/cruskits (low fat crackers), tomato and cucumber. Dinner is mostly chicken of fish with occasional beef or lamb.

So in answer to your question my food for a day looks like this:
Breakfast: Protein shake made with 200ml low fat calcium enriched milk
Snack: 1/2 carrot, 1 stick celery, mini babybel low fat cheese
Lunch: 125g cottage cheese (with chives), 3 low fat crackers, 1 tomato, 4 slices cucumber
Snack: 1/2 orange
Dinner 100g protein (chicken/fish) or 60-80g beef or lamb - can't eat as much red as white.
Snack: cup of tea, 1/2 cup watermelon or some fresh fruit salad - homemade.

This averages out to about 900-1000 calories a day according to the app that I use. I am still losing very slowly but am happy with where I am weight wise.

Maybe an appointment with your surgeon to discuss your concerns might be in order?

[Katrina]

I'm so jealous of all of you that enjoy seafood. I cannot eat it, even the sight and smell makes me sick. It's very disappointing that I cannot tolerate any meat very well. Just made a fantastic meatloaf for dinner, and less than two minutes after a few bites, it was back. Undoubtedly I'll be downing carbs here shortly to fill my tummy back up. Those stay down easily.

[Christie13]

I am almost 2 years out and still drink a shake almost every day. I try to get my protein from foods but the shake just helps me ensure I am getting enough. You should start to eat more soon. Sounds like you eat a very small amount to me but time really is a blur.

[Stacey03]

I'm really similar to you Mandy... my restriction is good! So yup I have protein shakes too. I did get really fed up of them so didn't bother for a while but started to feel a bit gahhhhhh. So I do try to! I also hit the seafood hard because I love it! I think we are fairly normal :-)

[AnnieG]

I'm really similar to you Mandy... my restriction is good! So yup I have protein shakes too. I did get really fed up of them so didn't bother for a while but started to feel a bit gahhhhhh. So I do try to! I also hit the seafood hard because I love it! I think we are fairly normal :-)

Oh Stacey, for sure you and I are not fairly normal, lol!

[jerzeygirl]

I'm actually 7 years out and enjoy the shakes more now than in the beginning. I choose to have an Ensure Max Café Mocha, 100 mg caffeine most mornings. This morning I had some scrambled eggs w/2 slices of bacon in the hospital cafeteria and now feel bloated. I still have a tight restriction and it's my opinion that some people who "misuse" the foods initially, i.e., begin the stages too quickly or introduce carbs early on, don't feel the same restriction as those who take it slow and steady.

[Katrina]

I'm actually 7 years out and enjoy the shakes more now than in the beginning. I choose to have an Ensure Max Café Mocha, 100 mg caffeine most mornings. This morning I had some scrambled eggs w/2 slices of bacon in the hospital cafeteria and now feel bloated. I still have a tight restriction and it's my opinion that some people who "misuse" the foods initially, i.e., begin the stages too quickly or introduce carbs early on, don't feel the same restriction as those who take it slow and steady.

I don't find this to be true at all. I could only eat carbs in the beginning, and this is mostly true now 4 years out. I have great restriction. In fact, I firmly believe that not restricting carbs was beneficial for me. My body never got used to going without them, and learned how to lose weight with them. I find that people who restrict carbs end up gaining weight back because it's awfully difficult to go low, no carb forever. Then the body isn't used to them, and goes nuts gaining weight when they are introduced again. Obviously this is only what I have observed, and in no way scientific.

[Stacey03]

oh stacey, for sure you and i are not fairly normal, lol!

hahahahaha xx