Not getting enough Protien & Water

Hi everyone - Guess it isn't as easy as it seems.... I'm having a TERRIBLE time getting my protien and water intake in. I really mean terrible. I should be getting 60 a day (protien) and if I get 20 in it's alot. I bought the Nectar Protien drinks and they have my stomach in a frenzy. Immediately after drinking I go to the bathroom. They don't taste as good as I thought they would. I'm also VERY suprised about the water intake.... I was a big water drinker before surgery. The water I'm drinking feels yucky in my tummy. Juice isn't a problem but the water just sits there..... It's terrible. I did try the unjury chocolate protien mixed with my carnation instant breakfast this am and it was tasty!!! Any suggestions? I don't want to keep feeling weak, bloated and blah.... I KNOW I must be dehydrated. Looking forward to your comments... Blessings ~ Laura

Hi Laura, It will get a little easier to take stuff in as time goes on. Try adding a pkg of splenda to the Nectar drinks - I did and it makes it a lot better! Don't worry too much for the first week, just do your best and then try to add more and more every day! Love, Julia

Yeah, it is hard, especially in the beginning. If your plan allows juice, go ahead and drink it. You might want to dilute it with water so it's not a bunch of sugar at once. Just keep trying, you will get there!! Lisa

Hi Laura, I change around what I do with the nectar. One of the things is I mix a pitcher of crystal light and add a scoop to the pitcher. Actually now I add anywhere from 1 to 3 scoops depending on my mood. But that's how I started out....adding a little extra at a time. That does dilute it some. Water: sometimes if you are headed toward being dehydrated you lose your natural thirst and taste for water. Try adding something to your water. There are so many options now besides Crystal Light. If you like Propel, there's a product on the market now called Water Sensations. Target carries it in the bottled water dept. or you can get it online. I've tried grape and berry and they taste like Propel. I like that they are sweetened with splenda. There's also sugar free koolade and the new Lipton Green Tea single servings. Take 5 to 7 small sips.....you'll figure out what works best....and then wait a few minutes. If I make a mistake and take too big a drink I feel very water logged and over full and it seems to take quite a while for that to go away. Take care! Amy

Hi Laura... sounds like you and I had the same problem. Im getting better with the protein. Im drinking Advant Edge Carb Control by EAS... I try to have a shake every morning to start my day with a boost of protein. I tried so many different proteins and just could not stomach any... this one seems to be okay. As for my water, I figured out if I have my water over ice its much better. Like you, I have always been a water drinker, but it was making me nauseous anytime I tried to drink it. I also have started to add Crystal Light to it... made all the difference for me. Good luck to you. Teri

Me too! I'm not far enough out yet that I have a protein goal, but the water thing was a shock to me. I've always been a big water drinker so I never paid much attention to people who said it was so hard. I thought that would never happen to me. I'm only 8 days out and I've made my water goal only twice. My surgeon instructions say to try to take a sip every 5 minutes, so I'm trying that and it does seem to help, but if I take a nap or something then I get way behind and it's impossible to catch up again. Oh well, as everyone says, it does get easier with time!

I am having a hard time with both too and I am a month out. Milk gives me the runs so I don't like to use it with my protein drinks and they taste gross with water. So now what? Plain water sits like a rock in my stomach and cold water makes it ache. I add any kind of sugar-free stuff to the water I can find. It goes down much easier. Not sure why though. But I just keep plugging along and do my best. I keep reading here and know I am not alone. To anyone who says this is the "easy" way out I say "no way". I am having a hard time. But from what I read it will get easier and easier. Michelle in SoCal

Try making protein popsicles. I put one or two scoops of strawberry kiwi nectar mixed with water in one ounce ice cube trays with sticks in and then freeze them. I have even made them so that they have 5g. per pop and they taste yummy! Good luck

Hi Laura, You're not alone in this struggle. I loved water before the surgery. Now, I can't drink it real cold because my stomach starts to ache. However, I can drink Crystal Light and tea cold. Water must be room temp for me to drink it. I find that I don't tollerate the lemonade flavored drinks as well as I do other flavors. I think it must be whatever they add to make it taste tart. I hate the protein shakes with the exception of Muscle Milk. I've been drinking Carnation Instant Breakfast and Protica's Profect protein drink. It's less than 3 oz, tastes pretty good, goes down fast and easy. So I get 25g protein with each one - 2 per day and you've pretty much met your goal. Best wishes to you. EW

The water will get easier. I'm about a week ahead of you and my first week was hard. I couldn't seem to get more than a few sips at a time - if I'd take 3-5, my tummy would hurt. I also couldn't stomach crystal lite. With time it got better and yesterday, I actually had 80 oz! Mostly I'm a 60 oz girl. I used to be a 120-140 oz girl presurgery. Just give your stomach time. The Protein drinks are hit or miss for me. Sometimes I just can't stomach this - like yesterday. I think I got 6 grams of protein. Some day I can. I did find a sample in my sample pack of Nectar lemonade - oh my go**** was so good to drink something non-milky non-chalky! I'm going to go order a few more.