Question:
Does anyone have alternate ways of getting the necessary protein?
I am eight weeks out at at five wks I could no longer tolerate the protein shakes (they make me gag and sick to my stomach) I have wasted so much money over the past three weeks trying to find somethig I can tolerate with no luck. Does anyone have any suggestions for alternate means of protein? (I have tried to look at my diet and it can help to a point-there is no way I can eat enough food to get the 60 grams I need) At this point I am desperate! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! — Lisa D. (posted on November 9, 2003)
November 9, 2003
I had a terrible time finding a shake I liked. They made me sick too. I
finally found Pure Protein by Worlwide. It is premade in a can and tastes
pretty good as far as protein shakes go. They have chocolate, strawberry,
banana, cappuccino, and vanilla. There is 35 grams of protein in one 11 oz
can and only 2 grams of sugar. I figure I get half my protein intake for
the day for breakfast(they are filling too).
— [Deactivated Member]
November 9, 2003
Lisa~I sympathize completely. I could not drink the milky-type protein
shakes, either. I found three alternatives that work well for me. Early
on, my dietitan suggested that I use "double protein" milk in
place of shakes. Get some milk powder, and make it according to the
package directions, but use skim milk instead of water--double the protein
of regular milk! I also was somehat successful with Nectar protein. It's
a fruit-flavored protein powder. There are several flavors, but I liked
the Apple Ecstasy and the Very Berry Cherry. The Very Berry Cherry was
even better mixed in with a red Crystal Light flavor (fruit punch,
raspberry, strawberry, etc.). I then found a warm drink, Rocamojo
(rocamojo.com). It's made from roasted soy beans and has 13 grams of
protein per cup. It's sold as a coffee substitute, but I don't think it
takes too much like coffee. It's also s little strong for me made as
directed, so I use one scoop to 20 ounces of water, instead of the 16 the
package says. My pouch seems to prefer warm liquids, especially in the
morning, so I have a small pot each morning as I get ready for work. 26
grams of protein with no effort. Try some or all of these until you can
get all your protein from food. Best wishes
— Vespa R.
November 9, 2003
I also had a terrible time finding the right protein drink for myself.
I've now got two that work well for me. I use a scoop of Unflavored UNJURY
in a glass of skim milk and I add to it a teaspoon of No Sugar Added
Nesquick. The Nesquick is used to cover the flavor of the whey. It isn't
too bad. The other thing I've found is a bottled drink called Isopure. It
is a 20 ounce bottle with 40 grams of protein. It is clear and not milky
or chalky. The flavors are mild, not over-sweet, and the whey taste isn't
distracting. I have tried the Rocamojo, but was never much of a coffee
drinker pre-op, and haven't developed the desire as a post-op. It may be a
good choice for you if you are okay with the strong soy flavor. I wish you
well on your protein search.
— Rachel T.
November 9, 2003
Like the other poster, I found the clear Isopure Zero Carb drinks to be
helpful in boosting protein intake. Also, although at 8 weeks I had
trouble with the protein shakes, when I tried them again at 8 months out, I
found the Atkins powder and the Isopure powder (both chocolate flavor) to
be good choices. For higher protein foods, I used cottage cheese; for
liquids, I would sip broths as they had some protein (particularly compared
to water or Crystal Lite).
Lastly, you might want to consider using a protein bar-- although I found
them a tad too dense during the first few months and couldn't hold them
down. Good luck.
— SteveColarossi
November 9, 2003
I found Sci-Fit's Amino Infusion 5000. I get it online. They have 3 flavors
that I know of. Grape, banana, and fruit punch. I have only used the grape.
I mix as many or as few tablespoons as I need into my water and dont have
to worry about protein. It contains 5 grams of protein in each tablespoon.
It is a clear liquid. I could not stand all the different protein shakes I
tried. To think and too gaggy. Hope you like. Teri
— Teri C.
November 9, 2003
Which ones have you tried? How did you make them up? How much what with how
much what?
— vitalady
November 9, 2003
I take a piece of string cheese,1 gram carbs,8 grams of protein,I wrap it
in three thin slices of 96%fat free boiled ham.The ham has less than 1 gram
carbs and has 10 grams protein.That makes 18 grams of protein,this is a
great snack and tastes a lot better than those shakes!!
— Gussie
November 9, 2003
I had the same problem, so my dietician had me eat cottage cheese, string
cheese, yogurt, beans, and I did that until I could stomach protein bars,
about 3 months out. My favorite are Zone Perfect bars in the fudge grahm
flavor. Tastes like a $100,000 bar.
— joeandteri
November 9, 2003
My surgeon told me that there was no way I could possibly get 60 g of
protein in the first two months and not to worry about it. I didn't start
supplementing protein til I was 3 months post-op. Before that I ate
Wendy's chili, cottage cheese, string cheese, eggs, canned salmon, canned
tuna. Cottage cheese and salmon are very high in protein and go down
easily. I don't know what your doc has you eating but these are good
sources of protein. So is hot and sour soup from chinese restauratns and
split pea soup. I couldn't stand the protein drinks at all early out and
when I did start supplementing, I used PureProtein bars. Now, I make
shakes from CarbSolutions, Lactose Free Slim Fast (my surgeon's suggestion
and I use it a lot because it's inexpensive and I have a strict budget),
Detour Bars, JoyRide Bars and OneWay Bars. The Lactose Free Slim Fast
doesn't have as much sugar as the regular and that is why my surgeon allows
it.
I hope you find something to help you. You might go to bariatriceating.com
and order some samples of ProPlete protein from Susan Maria if you haven't.
Everyone raves about this and the samples are $1.75 each - at least you
don't have to put out a lot of money to try them.
— Patty_Butler
November 9, 2003
If you add chocolate or vanilla protein powder to chocolate or vanilla SF
pudding, it ends up tasting like chocolate cake mix. Protein drinks made
me gag at first too. Drink a tiny bit less of it and it should take the
gagging edge off.
— mrsmyranow
November 9, 2003
I am a two and a half year post op and I NEVER drank a protein shake... I
just ate all the protein I could, including, Roasted Soy Nuts, they have
twice the protein that regular nuts have... Add these to all the other
protein snacks that people have already told you about... I lost some hair
from no protein, but it grows back...
— Holly S.
November 9, 2003
I never drank a protein shake till just recently, and I am nearly 2.5 years
out and attempting to loose some weight I regained. Our surgeon discourages
them. I find they upset my stomach, I could of never used them as a new
post op. I ate lots of lorraoine swiss instead. BTW you CAN still loose
fast at over 2 years out. From september 14th till now I went from 201 to
191 not bad at all for being at or near goal. I am motivated to NOT
regain.....
— bob-haller
November 10, 2003
Canned tuna (in spring water)! It has a ton of protein in it! A dab of mayo
and you're good to go! Give it a try!
— Ann B.
November 10, 2003
First off- you don't need to get in 60 grms of protein at 8 weeks out.
This is a goal not a manditory number. Your dietician didn't actually tell
you to sit there and eat all day to get in 60 grams, did she/he? I know
sometimes the programs aren't exactly clear. There is no way to get it all
in at your stage. You should not have to gag down disgusting protein
shakes, ever. As you go along and get further out, you will be able to get
more protein in and the 60 grms will become more doable. For now,
concentrate ALL of yur eating on protein rich FOOD, skip all carbs and
minimize the veggies to a few bites. You'll be well on your way to
success! BTW- I'm one year out- I've lost 140 lbs (20 more than my Dr's
goal for me) NEVER drank those disgusting powdered drinks (in fact- my
surgeon discourages them anyway)and only eat 'real' food. I STILL have
days when I can't eat 60 grams of protein. I just do the best I can.
— LMCLILLY
November 10, 2003
3 cups of skim milk a day with carnation in it and your already more than
1/2 way to your daily needed protein. This is according to my dietician.
BEST OF LUCK! Hang in there!
— gina L.
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