Protein

okay, so I am on the 2 week liquid pre-op diet, and I am not having luck finding protein that I can deal with. So, what have you guys had luck with? I know that there is no "great-tasting" protein shake/powder, but i want to know what you guys have the most luck with and how you prepare it. I will take any suggestions that you can give! Thanks, Michelle

Michelle, I use a protein powder that I get at Walmart for pre-op diet it only has 1 gram of sugar and 23 grams of protein. It is only 13 bucks and doesn't taste to bad for a protein drink. It's from Body Fortress and is called Whey Protein powder. I can only attest to the vanilla, I haven't tried the Chocolate as I am not a big fan of Chocolate. I have got tons of samples that I bought online that I will try after since I hear that tastes change after. I also have some vials of profect. If you want to you can get samplers of 4. That's what I did just in case I can't handle the powdered protein drinks. If your interested go to my profile and at the bottom of my story I have a link that offers a 15% discount. Good luck and I hope you find something that works for you. Anna

I am VERY picky, but here's what I've found. I like SlimFast low carb shakes (vanilla cream only, chocolate is not good!). They only come in cans of 11 oz. each, and each can is 20 grams of protein and 1 gram of sugar. That's not really high in protein for the volume, but since I like the taste, I think post-op I will try and doctor it up with a scoop of Unjury flavorless protein powder. Here's a link: http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=100983&navAction=jump&navCount=1&id=prod1 098931 Optisource by Walgreens (caramel) is good too. It has 12 grams of protein in 4 oz. However it is a bit pricey, in my opinion. Here is a link: http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=301120&navAction=jump&navCount=1&id=prod1 344738 (Any post-ops that can share experiences or knowledge about either of these products, please do!)

I like the unflavored Unjury. No nasty aftertaste. 1 packet/ scoopful is 20g of protein in it. I just sprinkle a little into everything and I can't taste it. Hope it helps. -Pam

Hi Michelle, all the post ops I know tell me that "Nectar" whey protien isolate is the best tasting of all. You buy it at the vitamin shoppe. Maybe gnc has it too, not sure. But they say the Roadside lemonade flavor and twisted cherry are really good. And another one, I forget. They are 23 gms of protien per serving. I am on medi-fast wihich is 5 shakes and a lean and green meal per day. That started out at 2 weeks but turned into 5 b/c my doc checked out the size of my abdomen and wants me to loose fat there to make surgery easier on both of us....it has been difficult but all the results will be well worth it. Good luck to you, and God bless. Cissy

Either I am not picky about the taste or I have been lucky, but I truely love the scitech ones! I have the myoplex gainer in vanilla but I only take one of them a day..they have a bit more calories, they have protein delite which is out of this world ( it has chocolate pieces in it...so for after the surgery I won't be able to drink that one, they have it in great flavors. I buy mine on ebay...

Another thing I learned in our Nutrition classcis that we are not supposed to use premixed protein shakes, as they are harder to digest, just because they are stabilized and take longer to break down. I don't know if anyone else has been told that, but I know my doc is alot stricter than most. We are on a low carb diet right away and then 10 days before on a Sugar Free Clear Liquids Diet ( which really sucks lemons!) I think the main thing is afterwards, to get the most nutrition out of the little pouch we have without overstretching it. But I know everyone gets taught differently from their doc, just look at the different diets we have. Some are on clear liquids for weeks and weeks after surgery, some are eating solids within 3 weeks. It's confusing how different it is.

I was on A two week liquid diet and was told by the nutritionist to drink slim fast(chocolate optima)was the best.cream soup ie:tomato soup w/skim milk.or any cream soups that had no chuncks just add skim milk. ensure.Those really worked for me. Teona