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THProtein shakes are probably the #1 product sold to bariatric patients.
Every clinic recommends them.
Every supplement company pushes them.
Most of us leave surgery with an entire cabinet full.
But here’s the part that gets confusing.
Protein shakes are incredibly helpful early post-op.
You can’t eat enough volume yet.
Your stomach is healing.
And you still need to hit protein goals to protect muscle and support recovery.
Guidelines from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery recommend about 60–80g of protein per day, which is hard to get through food in those early weeks.
So shakes make sense in the beginning.
But they were never meant to be your forever diet.
Most shakes are ultra-processed and often contain artificial sweeteners, fillers, and highly processed protein isolates.
And research has shown liquid calories don’t create the same fullness as solid food, meaning they can leave you feeling less satisfied than real meals. Studies in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition have shown people often consume more calories later after liquid meals compared to solid ones.
That’s why long-term we focus on real, chewable food.
Eggs.
Greek yogurt.
Fish.
Chicken.
Vegetables.
Protein shakes are a tool for healing, not the foundation of maintenance.
If you’re trying to figure out the transition from shakes to real food after bariatric surgery…
Come join us in our free Facebook group, The Bariatric Rewrite Private Group.
We post daily education, recipes, and real talk about what long-term success actually looks like.
Drop the word GROUP and we’ll send you the link.
@thebariatricrewrite
