Protein Options????

Hi everyone...I have a dilema. I can't get my protein in. I am 6 weeks out and haven't been able to tolerate any of the protein powders. I can't stand any of them they are nasty. Does anyone have a way to disquise the flavors? That chalky nasty flavor. I have tried all of them and ugghh they are nasty. If I don't start getting the required amounts in I am afraid I am going to be loosing all my hair. Wigs are nice but I don't want to loose my hair. Can anyone help me? Thanks Kathy

Kathy, I was lucky early on. I absolutely love red grapefruit crystal lite, 16 oz, mixed with 1 scoop of unflavored unjury. I tried the Isopure bottles, pre surgery & I liked them. Post surgery they gagged me. I also loved the strawberry flavored powdered Isopure mixed with skim milk, 1/2 bananna and a couple strawberries. Also a tablespoon of peanut butter in the chocolate unjury is pretty good. I am not crazy for chocolate so that really limits my choices. I hope you find 1 you like. Keep trying. In the meantime have you tried the hot chocolate from the dr's office? It's ok and lots of folks like it. About the hair loss, I got between 100 and 120 grams of protein in within the 1st month and it didn't help in the hair loss. I also started Nioxin products pre surgery which gave me a little more to start with. About 6 months out the loss began and it lasted a couple of months. It will come back. Elissa

So hair loss and the amount of protein you get are not connected then? Gee there is so much I am learning. Thank you for your help! Kathy

Both my mother and I had Dr Voughn...we couldn't have asked for a better doctor!!!

Kathy, I am one week out and having the same problem. 1) I make jello Sugar Free/Fatt Free Pudding and add two - three scoops of the chocolate protein powdet to it. A 4 oz serving will net you 7-20 grams depending on how you make it. 2) Watery oatmeal in the morning. 1 Package is 4g and then teh cup of milk. (recipe calls for 2/3 cup) gives you 12 grams 3) Tuna Fish 1 can = 13grams,,,,add a hard boiled egg 6grams, add one scoopp unflavored powder. Then add mayo/ relish and mustard to taste. this will give you 20 more grams of protein. Portion it out and work out the math of grams/ portion. Mine is almos****er. Tuna needs to be in water too, 4) Today I actually was able to drink ione of the protein drinks. I bought it on line. If you look to the left or the top of the OH page you see profect. Each one is 25 grams of protein and only 3.5 ounces. Expensive but helps get the protein in. I diluted this with water 4 more ounces adn was able to tolerate it. Today is the first day I got my fu;; 66+ grams of protein in. 5) also remember that one small egg is 6 grams and all you need to do is scramble the thing. 6) Also, I havwen't tried this yet but that it works as well. But ht etupperware popcicle makers....Pour in the larger protein driinks....Freeze and a refreshing way to get your protein. Anyway.....best of luck... If i find anything else that works for me I will pass it along.

Hi Kathy, I found absolutely no connection bewtween protein intake and hair loss ( for myself anyway ) I consistantly got all my protein in and it still got icky, sort of spongy textured and dull and fell out. It actually fell out to the point where I was a little alarmed but sure enough, it stopped and all came back with no problems. Anesthesia affects alot of us that way, it happened after my 2 c-sections too although to a lesser degree. LOL, wouldn't ya know it, I finally get it all back where it should be and end up having general anesthesia TWICE in the last 4 weeks for two knee surgeries. I may be counting my hairs right along with you for awhile! Elissa made a good suggestion adding the unflavored Unjury to the crystal light, I tatsted it when she made it and ended up doing it myself. Also what about cottage cheese for a meal, some brands have 12 - 15 grams per half cup. Are you eating by the clock or waiting till you feel like it "should" be time to be hungry? Try getting in those 6 small meals a day, if you can shoot for 10 grams at a sitting ( for instance one string cheese has between 7 and 8 depending on the brand ) that will put you at 60 right there, plus adding in a supplement will take you right about where you need to be. Can you do tuna? One of those little 3 oz cans has 20 grams in it, maybe some chili? If homemade is still too dense for you ( hamburger bothers some ) try the canned versions. Hormel is good and the meat is softer and easier to break down. Hang in there, it will all come together if you keep on trying to find the thing that works for you. Linda

Protein shakes are like coffee...an acquired taste and when you find one you like you stick to it. That profect is not too bad. Its small enough you could get it down without you knowing you were drinking it. Cottage cheese and yogurts are still my staples of protein. 7 grams for a 1/4 cup in the beginning was big protein to me! Carbwell bars are 10 grams and they are another staple for me.....Then the power of Cheese......Cheese everything! LOL. There are some cereals that have 7 grams of protein for 1/2 cup....Milk does the body good and there is 7 grams in a cup. You don't really need protein shakes but they do help when you aren't hungry. I found if protein levels were high I didn't have problem with hair.....I am one of those people that the protein did make a difference. As soon as I bumped it up high my hair started to stay on the head...although the texture is drier these days. Take a tour of the food market and just look at foods and the protein levels.....you may be surprised at the high protein foods that you would like. Yes as Linda says...eat 6 times a day get in at least 10 grams of protein each sitting and you got your minimum requirement.

Kathy, see my reply to Sunny1, just below your post. I offered her a sample and I can do the same for you if you like if you are interested in trying any of the flavors I have on hand. My first go at protein drinks were horrid just like you. But once I found ones I liked, I find I now crave them over junk food. Protein is so very vital to your recovery, immune system, to keep muscle, to help keep your metabolism stoked, etc ... you need to find a way to start to get it in. But know at 6 weeks, I was really struggling also. My suggestion to everyone usually is to try a sample package with several different proteins to locate what works best for you. But if push comes to shove, hold your nose and drink it if you can't eat it. It is that important. IMHO

i also can not stand protein drinks, so i drink a boat load of milk each day...each oz of milk has a gram of proein as well...so i drink my 64oz of milk as my fluids each day...then i only have to come up with the other 36 or so and thats not as difficult.... good luck

Be aware that you need to get as much water in per day. Milk is not a substitute for water. Withou****er you can definitely get dehydrated which can cause you to be tired all the time. So get tha****er in... If you don't like the protein drinks, make smoothies. Rob DE ObesityHelp Chapter Lead