One of the most difficult things about committing to weight loss surgery isn’t necessarily the procedure itself, but the changes in diet. Eating smaller portions while ensuring you get all the vitamins and minerals you need can feel like a precarious balancing act. With bariatric protein shakes you can easily supplement your meals to ensure you get everything your body requires in the two weeks after surgery.
Gastric bypass, duodenal switch, and gastric sleeve are a few of the weight-loss procedure options for those looking to lose excessive weight. These surgeries alter the digestive tract of the body, either by making the stomach smaller or by altering the small intestine. Because you are limited to liquids during the two weeks after surgery, bariatric protein shakes are important.
The duodenal switch, for example, is known as a malabsorptive surgery, meaning that nutrients from food aren’t absorbed as well. So even if your new diet is full of protein and other nutrients, the need for high-quality protein drinks becomes that much more important for this surgery. But almost all bariatric procedures will call for protein shakes for two weeks after surgery.
You will need to drink 96 ounces of water a day to stay hydrated and help the healing process. But, with a smaller stomach, you won’t be able to gulp down water to meet these requirements. You’ll want to sip throughout the day–and adding the occasional protein supplement will continue to give your body the nutrients it needs.
Bariatric Protein Shakes for Weight Loss Patients
The first two weeks after surgery your body will be adapting to getting a smaller food intake as it goes through hormonal changes. You will begin to feel fuller faster and you will experience fewer hunger pains. In the weeks that follow, you will slowly be introduced to solid foods. Still, protein shakes play an important role during those first two weeks.
Low-carb protein shakes are helpful for weight loss surgery patients because they are designed to give patients the nutrients they need in the two weeks following surgery.
This is important because it can be difficult to get those levels back up after surgery. With a gastric sleeve, you will be losing about 80 percent of your stomach, so you won’t be able to eat/drink as much as you once did in a single setting. These limitations can make it difficult to “catch up” so to speak. A lack of protein in your diet can lead to fatigue, thinning hair, dry skin, and more.
Work With Experienced Bariatric Providers
For more than 15 years, WeightWise surgeons and dietitians have been working with patients to help them reach their long-term weight loss goals. While other facilities may only perform the surgery and refer you to diet experts or personal trainers, we keep all three areas of weight loss under one roof.
We find this is the best way to remove conflicting information or miscommunication and streamline the weight loss process. It also saves you from having to run all over town dealing with multiple providers. When it comes to your diet, your dietitian and surgeon are in close contact to ensure you achieve the best results.
As we stated earlier, your diet in the weeks before is designed to get your body ready for the surgery, and your diet over the years following the procedure will keep you at a healthy weight.
A Variety of Bariatric Protein Shakes
Our protein powder in a bottle is a good example of this. With 15-20 grams of protein, these quick drinks are a great way to meet your water intake and protein needs while you’re on the run. Just remember these drinks aren’t meant to replace meals, only supplement meals during the day.
We also offer shakes that use whey protein isolates, which remove much of the fat and lactose content from the protein. This protein helps with healing and building muscle. You’ll want to take the diagnosed portions though as protein is high in calories and actually helps with weight gain.
Benefits of Bariatric Surgery
Not only will you lose the excess weight after a procedure, but you’ll also improve your cardiovascular health, flexibility, and overall health. Playing with the kids (or grandkids!), going to events, or simply walking around the neighborhood won’t seem like such a chore anymore. Being overweight can also lead to a host of health problems, too.
Heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. However, it’s important to check with your primary caregiver to ensure that weight-loss surgery is right for you. We will also have a conversation with you to ensure you’re a good fit for our program.
If you or a family member would like to know more about our procedures, please don’t hesitate to reach out or watch our seminar. Or if you just need to order some more protein shakes, snacks, or treats, visit our shop and take a look around. We have many bariatric-specific products for you to look through.