A co-worker asked me whether or not protein drinks count as meal substitutes. She is going to get a bypass surgery operation, and her doctor advised her to substitute two meals with a certain type of protein drink … she tells me that she feels very hungry afterwards, and that a sugar-free jello thing would tie her over longer than those drinks.
I told her that protein drinks are primarily used for a boost of energy and to gain muscle mass (sometimes it’s just mass 
). I drink protein drinks before working out for that purpose.
I couldn’t tell her exactly why her doctor would tell her to sub two meals w/ protein drinks … so I was wondering if y’all had any input. I assumed that her doctor was trying to get her used to small meals, since the size of her stomach is going to be drastically reduced, and that the drinks would provide nutrition she won’t be able to get after the surgery.