Protein bars VS. Protein Shakes

Is it better to have one or the other? I've heard solid protein is better because it feels you up and you get your protein. I like the bars better, but they have 14g of protein and the shakes have 21g plus the ff milk is like 6g more. Thanks

I use both for variety.  When I talk about solid protein, I am thinking more of fish and chicken, etc...

Crystal,  I know there are people on here who will have a different view here but I never drink shakes. Mainly because they just go straight through  my stoma and I get hungry again too quickly. I get my protein from normal foods but if I am in a hurry or can't get a proper meal for some reason, I eat nuts which are high in protein (OK in calories too but I only need a few). I have not had a shake since the immediate post-op phase and the bars are for "emergencies" only. I get the 60+ gms protein recommended by my medical team from my ordinary meals. This is purely what works for ME and the advice of my own medical team. You will get many other answers! Kate

Hijack....Holy smokes Kate....is that you???? I didn't recognize you...you've changed so much...and you look absolutely FABULOUS!!!!!!

Shakes are liquid calories that are best to avoid, and the protein bars ar soft calories and little more than candy bars - also not the best.  Solid protein (meat fibers) are what make the band work best, for several reasons. they stay in the pouch longer to keep us full.  They take longere to digest, whivch also keeps us satisfied longer.  But most importantly, they make the body WORK to digest them - and this means burning calories! fluids that run right through do not do this. Burning the calories to digest solids revs up our metabolism for several hours, and this, over a year's time, can account for 10-15# or more extra lost (or not lost). The Inamed guidelines about no liquid calories are really made for a proven reason. A good quick snack of solid protein is the "steak nugget" kiind of Tillamook Beef jerky. Easy to store and take with you for a good snack.. It's really not hard at all to get the 50-60 gm of protein women need, from real, solid foods. And we don't need any more - more is simply excess calories that sabotage our loss.  I see Dr Curry is your doc - he was very clear about all this in the chat last week - no liquid calories, and no excess protein needed. Check with him or Erin, his banded nutritionist,  if you're still unsure. Sandy R at goal

That wasn't what Dr. Curry said.  He said there was nothing wrong with a shake once in a while or when a person is too tight to eat in the morning.  He said it was always better to get protein from solid sources but that he felt it was better to drink a shake if having NOTHING was the alternative.  I read the chat transcript.  It's there in black and white.  Please refer to it if you don't believe me. 

I GO FOR SHAKE BECAUSE THE ARE GERNALLY LOWER IN CALS. AND HIGHER IN PROTEIN

I agree with Sandy and Kate. My surgeon says NO protein shakes after the healing phase. Maybe you could check with your surgeon. 

Oh goodness, will I ever understand all of this. This is just an assumption on my part, I thought we'd need shakes forever. I have to call Erin on Tuesday. Thank everyone!!!!!!!!!

However, just to offer another point of view...Dr. Curry said in the chat he was kind enough to share with us that protein shakes were fine for those of us too tight to eat in the a.m.  Even beyond the healing phase.  Not having shakes may be what SOME surgeons suggest, but Dr. C said that he'd much rather someone have a shake than nothing as this plays hell with one's metabolism.  So, I'd say that is a YMMV....your mileage may vary.  IF the shakes work for you, fine.  As with Kate...they don't stay long enough to keep her satiated.  As with me....they keep me hunger-free from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m.