Question:
Should I be counting protein shakes as meals since the cals
are high, are you supposed to eat less if you have the protein shake I mean I know that I am not getting enough protein from just meals and at first I could not tolerate the protein shake but today seems to be okay, so should I eat less during the rest of the day I only eat like 2 meals a day now and that is it-or should I be exercising to burn off the cals from the protein shake-4 1/2 weeks open RNY...Tori — TotallyTori (posted on April 12, 2003)
April 12, 2003
Tori...yes, the protein shakes should replace a meal. Our nutritionist
was just talking about this at our monthly support group meeting today.
She said the bad thing about the shakes is that they don't fill people up
like the food does because they are liquidy and people (especially later on
post-op) are able to eat very soon after drinking the shake...JR
— John Rushton
April 12, 2003
Absolutely not! You need to learn to eat healthy and utilize your new
tool. The protein and nutrition shakes will replace the protein and
nutrition you are missing by eating such small amounts of food and then
malabsobing a large portion of the vitamins and minerals. I do two half
Real Meals shakes a day which gives me 60 grams of protein plus over 40
other vitamins in addition to all of my food. I average about 1600
calories total a day. I still eat three healthy meals plus snacks in
addition to the shakes. I have done this since about 4 weeks post op. I
hit goal in under 6 months and went from a 24 to a 4 in the first six
months so I must be doing something right. Read my profile for more
information. Or go to www.protein-solution.com and read through the FAQ
page on protein and nutrition.
— Linda A.
April 12, 2003
I have to say I do not and I am 20 months post op. I know that it is just
as many cal as a meal, but I need the protien. I do not skip out on meals,
you need to learn to eat as much protien as possible. The shake should only
come into play when you know your protien intake is low for the day. I am
not a dr, but it has worked for me. Start 284, now 135! Been at 135 since
Aug!!
— hklang70
April 12, 2003
Tori...as far as I know, Linda Almonte is not a nutritionist. The
information that I provided to you in my first response comes direct from
the nutritionist at HUP as of today. Linda may be taking in 1600 calories
a day, but she is at goal and on maintenance. At 4 1/2 weeks, you should
not be taking anything near that caloric amount (probably more on the order
of 400-600 calories a day). Even at 6 months post-op, you should be only
at 1000 calories a day. To take in the Real Meals - or any protein
shakes - *along* with your meals would result in too many calories for you
at this stage. There is a reason that the shakes are called meal
replacements - they are used to replace meals, not be consumed in addition
to eating 3 meals a day. Also keep in mind that Real Meals - as with all
dietary supplements - is not regulated by the Food & Drug
Administration. So you need to be aware that the nutritional information
may not necessarily be accurate. This was most recently demonstrated with
the Detour Bars - which the manufacturer recently changed the nutritional
information on.
<p>
So...before taking Linda information - or mine - as gospel, I suggest that
you talk to the nutritionist on staff at Temple...JR
— John Rushton
April 12, 2003
I would not skip a meal for a shake. I would eat my 3 meals plus have 2
protein shakes in between to up your protein. Don't forget if you don't eat
enough calories your body will go into starvation mode and then you won't
lose either. You need to eat enough to lose weight. Just my opinion.
— Kelly* P.
April 12, 2003
Tori, I know all nutrionists/doctors vary, so any thing I tell you will
just be what my nutrionist suggests and that is not to count protein shakes
as meals or water. I had two shakes a day (30 grams each) which was
approximately 300 to 400 calories, plus meals and I would think I averaged
between 600 to 900 calories a day very early postop. Also, at 4 1/2 weeks
postop you should exercise. (I'm not saying I always did, but it was
suggested!) Good luck!
— Lisa N M.
April 12, 2003
I'm going to agree with John on this one. Most protein shakes
are meant to be meal replacements for when you're too busy to
make a good, high protein meal. They have a considerable amount
of calories and if you don't count them as a meal, you may be
consuming more calories than you need. I would be pretty careful
until you're farther out from surgery.
— Brittany C.
April 12, 2003
I eat 5 small meals a day and one or two of those meals are usually protein
shakes. I track my calories, protein and carbs on fitday.com and try to
stay in the same range whether I'm eating all food or substituting a shake
or two a day.
— susanje
April 12, 2003
Interesting debate -- as you can see, many of the "usual
suspects" here who post a lot tend to break into "pro" and
"con" camps when it comes to protein shakes. I'm squarely in the
"pro" camp and have used protein shakes from the time I was a
fairly new post-op, all the way through to goal, and still continuing with
them in this strange new world of "maintenance." I've always
counted them in my daily calorie totals.<P>If you find that your
shakes are high in calories, maybe the shake isn't the best one you can
find? IMHO, a good protein shake should:<P>(1) Be something that's
reasonably appealing to you and of course tolerable to your pouch. Stuff
that has to be loaded up with fruits and milk just to be palatable isn't
the best choice -- that's just a "smoothie" with some protein
thrown into it, IMHO.<P>(2) Have as close to 30 grams of protein per
serving as possible. Any more, and you won't absorb the extra grams per
serving; much less, and it could be better,<P>(3) Be low in carbs and
sugars, otherwise it's ... just a shake that just happens to have some
protein thrown into it, not a protein shake. :~)
— Suzy C.
April 12, 2003
What kind of protein shakes? Are you using MRP's? If so, you'd have to
count them as a full Meal RePlacement. If you're using a regular protein
powder with water, low sugar, under 200 cal, I personally don't count it
"against" me. I've been doing 6 shakes, 4 small meals for many
years, still weigh about 110. I am distal, however, it only takes a few g
of sugar to make me gain. I'm certainly not immune to calories, but the
more protein shake I get in, the lower my wt holds.
— vitalady
April 14, 2003
I am 10+ weeks out and have often wondered the same thing. But for me, I
found that without the shakes my three meals a day only added up to about
200-300 calories a day (400 on a really good day). By drinking two shakes
a day, I can actually make it into the 500-600 calorie range...which I
really need (I walk, 45 min, 5 days and weight train 3 days days a week).
I guess it all depends on what kind of shakes you use, how many meals you
eat, and how many calories/protein are in each meal and, of course, how
much you exercise.
— eaamc
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