Protein shakes for meal replacement pre-op... good idea? Or bad idea?

I ordered protein samples from 3 diff places like I posted last week. I got them and was curious to try them. When I was doing the Biggest Loser diet I started drinking protein supplements to help bulid muscle mass. Those were not especially tasty or filling. So I was curious how the ones I'd soon be living on would taste.

So for the last two days I have drank protein meal replacements for breakfast. And yesterday I had them for breakfast and lunch.

Honestly they tasted pretty good... I added fruit to one one day. And I added just ice the next. The first day I was starving. The second day wasn't so bad. I don't know if it's because I drank different kinds. The first day I drank bariatric advantage for breakfast. Bariatric Fusion for lunch. I was starving.

Today I drank Chicke for breakfast and wasn't hungry until lunch. I actually was pretty full.

And I've been eating normal dinners. Actually I ate crap for dinner today. But I figured it helped that I ate very low cal the rest of the day.

So... is it safe? Advisible? 

A good idea? Or a bad idea to drink these for meals sometimes pre-op?

Especially for breakfast it's nice not to have to worry about what I'm going to eat. Just drink it in the car on the way to work.

I'm not sure what the actual question is -- but there is no reason you can't drink protein shakes before surgery -- it's not a bad habit to get into.  Just realize that what you like now, you may not like AFTER surgery so I  wouldn't stock up too much. 

I wouldnt see where it would hurt, although your taste may change post op.  One thing may be great one day and turn your stomach the next.  I am 3 months post op, I have a shake about every morning m-f it's just easier, i'm always running late for work, so it's easy to grad a cold shake and drink on the way! I like the oh yeah chocolate shake... it is wonderful, little pricey at 3.19 but if you were going to mcdonalds it would be more (lol) I save my eggs and sausage for the weekend sometimes even bacon!! I'm gonna have to try the Chicke, but really the most I like is chocolate, or something with coffee flavor to it!!

Yes I guess I rambled.

Question is... is it a good idea?

And is it safe?

Yes, I think its a good idea to get inthe habit -- you'll need those shakes for awhile to get enouhg protein in.

Yes, its perfectly healthy -- people hwo never had WLS drink them all the time!  In fact, my 13 year old nephew LOVED the nasty syntrax nectar I had -- so I gave it to him and he drinks it after soccer games.

I starting "training" for my eventual surgery in August of last year.  One of the things I did was drink protein shakes for b'fast.  I drank Adkins shakes.  I liked them and you can get them cheap at WalMart.  For lunch and dinner I ate high protien, low carb stuff.  I lost 31 lbs between August and Thanksgiving.  After the post-op liquid diet my surgeon wants me to stay away from protien shakes.  I say, go ahead and try different protein shakes if it helps you lose weight before your surgery.  The more you lose pre-op, the easier your surgery will be for your surgeon and the quicker your recovery will be.

Hello...I had to do a 10 day liquid diet pre op & drank 3 protein shakes & all the SF jello, broth, SF ice pops & water I wanted. Your decision to have a shake for B & L is like doing "the slimfast" diet...with 2 shakes & a "healthy" dinner. Like the other posters said...it won't hurt you & will prepare you for post op...plus you will most likely drop some wt pre op. Also agree not to buy lots of shakes or powders as your taste will most likely change post op
Good Luck!

Yes, it's safe.Yes, it's advisable.....very!  If you'll do that and cut out white carbs and fried foods, you'll be in much better shape for your surgery......many surgeons require that you do that before surgery so your liver will be less fatty and easier to manipulate during the surgery. Detoxing from carbs will also help keep your glucose levels stable and keep you from having false hunger pangs and being tempted to eat when you really don't need to. ....it takes a couple of weeks for most people. 

You also need to be practicing drinking lots of water/tea.....minimum 64 oz/day.  And if you have
any 'addictions' like nicotine and/or caffeine, this is the time to be getting rid of them.....many surgeons won't operate on a smoker......and after surgery you should not drink carbonated drinks again...ever! 

Just these simple steps will greatly increase your chances of success after surgery. You're on the right track.......keep up the good work!

I started replacing  breakfast (adding rather since I did not eat breakfast) with a protein shake, then I replace lunch as well.  I lost 20 pound pre-op just replaing those two meals AND completely cutting sugar out on month before surgery...I was major cranky about the sugar though

My doctor has all his patients go on an all liquid diet at least two weeks prior to surgery.  I felt ok with the low carb stuff I used, but in my diet history, slim fast type diets always gave me headaches and other bad things, even when having the reasonable meal.  I really like the Syntrax Nectar protien powders, but you need to be aware that what you like pre-op may be different than what you like post-op.  Many people change their tastes, so don't buy alot of one thing in case you don't like it later.  My son loves the Syntrax Nectar too.  I make smoothies, put it in sf pudding, add it to decaff coffee, make protien ice cream...the possibilities are endless.  I prefer to use vanilla and add other flavers like DaVinci sf syrup, but the other flavors are good too.