gained weight

 and many bodybuilders don't use the same types of shakes we do. they use high carb ones to help sustain their intense workouts, and to bulk up rather than slim down.

 Exactly.  Neither of my friends who are bodybuilders would even take the protein powders that I bought and didn't like or got tired of because they didn't have the nutritional profile they needed.

Lora

First off, I didn't say I was planning having two shakes a day for the rest of my life anywhere in my any of my posts, so I'm not sure where that came from.  What I did say was: " I don't see that two shakes a day is a problem."  I still don't see why that's a problem, for the original poster or for anyone else. Maybe she enjoys the shakes.  Maybe they're a treat for her.  Maybe it's the only way she can get enough protein in every day.  Maybe her doctor or dietician wants her on those two shakes a day. Whatever the reason, is it really so horrible that she's drinking two protein shakes a day?

I don't drink two shakes a day, I drink three.  I am one month out, and right now they are the basis of my protein intake.  I am slowly introducing foods back into my diet, just like I should be, and as recommended by my physician.   So at this point in time, I'm supplementing with food and getting the majority of my protein via shakes.  I ate two three-ounce meals yesterday (I could have four ounces, but I'm finding myself full at three ounces) and I had three protein drinks. I got 98 grams of protein in yesterday, and I feel great.  I don't know how many other folks have gotten/are getting that much protein at one month out, but I'm pretty happy with it.

However, if I need to use shakes to supplement my protein in the future, for whatever reason, I don't see a problem with it.  I don't understand why anyone would have a problem with it.  One serving of the protein shake I prefer is 100 calories, 3 grams of sugar, and 21 grams of protein, and if I'm tracking low on protein for whatever reason, I will supplement.  It's really as simple as that.

And yes, bodybuilders don't use the exact same kinds of shakes to supplement, but they do supplement.  Should they only get their protein from food?  If not, why not?  And, if yes, then why is it okay for them to supplement but not okay for RNYers to supplement?

Also, I never said that you personally were anti-protein shake so I'm not sure why you took it personally.  There are a lot of posters here who seem to be surprised and a bit annoyed at times when other RNYers supplement their diets with the shakes. I don't see anything wrong with people drinking protein shakes, no matter how far out they are.

 

I can see there may have been some confusion when I said the supplement is my food and the food is my supplement, so I apologize if that caused any confusion.  I am a month out.  That is what I am supposed to be doing.

That being said, I still don't see why some people get worked up if someone a year our or more is supplementing with protein shakes.  Yes, we should get as much protein via food as possible, but if you aren't for whatever reason, or maybe can't, why is it so bad to drink protein shakes?

Yes, my response was based on your comment about the shakes being your food and your food being supplements.  If people NEED shakes in order to get their protein needs met (whether a month out or a year out or five years out), then that's what they need to do.  As I said, 5 years out and I still have one supplement serving almost every day and have no plans to chnage that anytime soon.

Too many people, however, go into WLS still having a diet mentality and eventually -- as with every diet in the past -- they tire of the "diet" and go back to eating much like they did before surgery and then regain weight.  That was MY concern about what sounded like you intended to continue shakes indefinitely.

Lora

No, that's not my intent.  After I read it again, I could see why you took it like that, so I'm sorry that we had the mix up. 

I do see a lot of people on here who are very anti-protein shakes, and the point that I was trying to make (unsuccessfully at first) was that I don't think it's a big deal if people are taking protein shakes.

Agreed. Like almost everything else post-op, it is about each person finding what will work for them long-term.

Lora

Drinking protein drinks is ok. I drank them for a few years after surgery. I had low protein trying to eat enough so I just had a couple of shakes a day.
I would mix up my exercise routine, and change my calories. I would eat 1,300 cals a day for a couple of days then drop back to your usual 800. Really 800 is low for a year out.  So try upping it a few days, then drop back.
This sometimes shakes things up and gets a few pounds off.

At a year out, 2 shakes a day COULD be a problem Shelly.  Lora had her surgery a long time ago, and I believe she knows better than most of us how this might be a problem when REAL food is added.
Jane