For the first few days after being sleeved you can't drink a lot of protein shake at once (I felt nauseous if I drank too much at once)... I had a hard time getting all of my liquids and protein in for the first week or so because you can only drink so much at once and so it feels like you are spending your whole day drinking (which, really, you are!)  You shouldn't have a big problem getting your liquids in while on the liquid stage, and to be honest, I didn't have much of a problem getting my protein in either, but people are starting to get tired of the protein shakes & powders by this time so it gets a little more challenging by the end of the liquid diet to get the protein in...  I will say this - protein powders & shakes will be a part of your life for quite a few months if you're like me!

I found it was a LOT harder getting the liquid in when you're on mushies...  You can't drink before or after, so if you get up & have breakfast, then wait an hour, then some water, then wait, then snack, then wait, then water, wait,  then lunch... see where I'm going?  lol  Remember you can only have a couple of spoon fulls before you are filled, so this makes it a challenge to get the protein in from food only.  I had a Premier Protein shake for brekkie every morning which counts as a  cup of liquid and 30g of protein.  As a matter of fact, I STILL have one for breakfast - I'm not a breakfast person, so this does the trick quite nicely for me & I also have started the day with half of my protein in, so it's not much of a worry to get the rest in. 

I take my vitamins after my meal so they have something to slow them down when going through your system  :)

Now, at 9.5 months out, this is pretty much what I eat:
Breakfast - Premier Protein shake

Lunch - chicken or tuna salad - sometimes with crackers, sometimes without (I'm still counting my calories to try to get rid of the last few lbs & the crackers go down pretty easily & rack up the calorie count pretty fast!)  Sometimes I have a salad with tuna or chicken on top.

Supper - Meat & veggies

Snack - One of the following:  an apple or watermelon, a small green salad, cottage cheese if I don't have enough protein in, maybe some tuna or chicken if I'm in the mood...

The longer out from surgery, the more you get back to a 'normal way of living & eating, so it's important to try to keep the big picture in mind when you do get to the point that you think you can't stand one more day of liquids (maybe you won't have those days, but I sure did!  lol) 

How about everyone else?

 

I imagine both ends are equally flustered. Imagine a program with X amount of funding, and I can imagine to get that funding there is criteria to be met (not sure of exacts, but there must be some) So you have 2000 needing it and you have to choose. Makes an awful situation IMO for those who have the say who as well as for those needing it. 2 people in an office that has 2000 calling wanting answers and one is just parttime and the other 1/4??

So the solution? Id say what is being started...as in petions...awareness....getting peoples attention so that the government will give more money to improve the situation. 

As in any goverment...you have to make them see how this will help .... frankly...do they care if someone lives or dies? can't see it.... BUT make a point that obesity is on the rise and as a part of health care it CAN NOT handle it so it is benefitial to support programs such as this so to help the situation before the health care system is overrun with health conditions brought on by obesity.