Protein Drinks

I've got to up my protein somehow. I don't calculate how much I get from food - far to complicated for me, but I don't think it's very much. Now I know some peoples docs say no protein drinks, but mine didn't say anything about them, so I've been having them. So, my question is, my protein drink gives 25g protein per scoop, is it worth putting in 2 scoops to get more protein even though I won't absorb all of it. Or is it OK to have 3 protein drinks each day to get 75g in? I've got to kick start my body into loosing lbs somehow

3 drinks a day is fine. Many people mix their protein powder with crystal light if you are not a milk drinker. I average around 75 grams a day and usually have no problem getting that in without protein drinks. I would suggest you try tracking your food intake on fitday.com for a week or so to see how much you really are getting in. Its free and reasonably accurate. The first week of logging in your food is the hardest, once you start having foods repeat its a simple matter of clicking on recent foods and entering the amount. As has been stated before, the body can only absorb 30-35 grams of protein at a time. I have heard but havent been able to confirm that mixing large batches of protein drinks causes the protein to weaken over several hours so I would recommend mixing only one drink at a time till someone can find proof either way. Enough rambling, enjoy the protein drinks. They do not taste that bad. Hawkeye Mike

I love Profect. 2.9 oz 100 calories and 25 grams of protein. Like you said each surgeon is different. Mine recommended 2 shakes a day up to 3 months then wanted us to TRY to cut back to one. BUT they said to be sure I got my protein in. My surgeon's nutrionalist told us that 1 oz of protein = approx. 7 grams of protein. So if you eat 2 oz of tuna that would be approx 14 grams and so on. When I don't have time to pull up fitday or use my little pocket notebook thats how I "guesstimate" how much protein I've taken in. I can usually get about 50 grams of protein in w/o supplements. So drinking a profect a day keeps me at or above 70 grams a day. Mandy

I have a fridge full of profect shots, do you want them Mandy? I spent a fortune on them before trying them - and they are horrible tasting to me.

Ruth, Try using Spark People.com if you don't want to use fitday. It is easy too. I use that one and it does not take long at all and is worth the time. Otherwise - do you have a boolet that gives protein, and calories in? Just keep track of whatever hits your mouth and use that to figure it all out. You will be surprised how fast it adds up. I can't remember if you eating much meat but that REALLY adds the protein higher fast!!! I am only drinking shakes now once in awhile. I have been starting each day with a protein hot choc (15 gr) and adding a package of Carnation Instant breakfast (4 grams) so I figure 19gr of protein is a good way to start each day! And it tastes good! Especially because the mornings in Michigan are getting cooler I am not ready for this! I HATE WINTER!!! Love, Hugs and Prayers, Darlene

Ruth, I'm in the same boat you are. I need to get much more protein in a day, but it's so hard. I heard about how using 2 scoops doesn't do you much good since your body can only absorb so much protein at a time. So I always stick to one scoop for 23 grams of protein, and try to get in 2 shakes a day. It doesn't taste that great, but I try to get them in. The only protein shake I have found I really like is to go to Smoothie King and get a Gladiator protein shake. It tastes great, and granted a 20 oz. size has 46 grams of protein in it. But whenever I go they ALWAYS make it so that there's extra inthe blender, so I figure I"m only getting about 30-35 grams anyway since they leave so much in the blender once they fill the cup up. The only downside is it's expensive to pay $5 for a smoothie when you need to have it 1-2 times a day, lol. So I "treat" myselft to these at lunch time about 2-3 times a week, and tolerate the shakes I make at home the rest of the time. I'm REALLY trying to get in my protein with shakes the past few days, because I know if I up the protein this way, I'll break this dang blasted plateau much faster. My doctors last week told me I needed to up the protein, eat more, and I should see things start moving again pretty quickly. Hang in there!!

I was really freaking on this myself. since I am in the 'no' category. I got a simple blood test and found out that I have more protein now than when I was eating as much as I wanted before surgery. so instead of 'guesstimating' which is what I was doing, I am glad I got the blood test. now I know that I do not need more than what I am already consuming and I am not adding in extra calories that would make it even harder for me to reach my goal. (november 30, 2006)

Hi Kat What was the blood test you had done? Did your PCP do it?

the test that I had was part of my normal CBC, my total list of tests: 90593 ( CBC, Chem Panel, GGT, C-Reactive Protein, Sed Rate, Lipid Panel, TIBC, Vitamin B12, Folate) 90600 (Vitamin B1) T-Protein should be between 6.1-7.9 G/DL on 10/05/05 my T Protein was 7.5 on 01/09/06 my T Protein was 6.0 on 02/28/06 my T Protein was 6.5 on 08/18/06 my T Protein was 6.8 but giggles part for me was the Triglycerides (fat molecules around your blood cells) that should be between 0-149 on 10/05/05 my triglycerides was 239 on 08/18/06 my triglycerides was 97