Protein Shakes???

Hi Everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with your families and Santa brought you what you wanted!!

I've heard your taste buds change after surgery so I'd like to ask what kind of Protein Drinks you all are taking and what you think tastes the best after surgery?   Also, if any of you liked a certain shake prior to surgery that you just can't stand now.

Thanks!!!
viki

I can't remember all of the ones that I tried pre-op, but I can tell you that I currently use the Isopure Strawberry and the GNC Vanilla. If you don't like what you get at GNC, keep the receipt and you can return it! Keep that in mind. I couldn't find a chocolate that I really liked, so I use the Vanilla and add some SF Chocolate syrup to the mix. Much better flavor than what I could find off the shelf. If I had to recommend a chocolate one it would be the GNC Chocolate-Caramel. I have also mixed the Strawberry powder with the Vanilla powder to make a more flavorful shake.



Some people just can't stand the shakes. As for me, while they aren't the greatest tasting things in the world (and certainly are NOT the kind of milk shakes I used to enjoy) they are a part of my life and a survival food for getting in protein on days I fall short or want to bump up my loss by sticking to liquids or if I'm in a hurry and don't have time or don't feel like eating.



My tastes didn't really change post-op... as in I liked something before but didn't like it afterward... or vice versa. I actually enjoy spicy foods more now, but that is more do to the fact that my hiatal hernia was repaired during surgery and I think that allows me to enjoy the spices more now.



My advise would be not to stock up on too much of anything unless you absolutely KNOW you're going to be using it for a long time. My preferences changed more than my tastes... does that make sense? I went through a spell when I didn't want ANYTHING sweet for a while. It seemed like EVERYTHING was either chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, fruit punch or other fruity flavors and I couldn't understand why! I was trying to break away from all the (what I consider) TREAT flavors and wanted something healthy flavored! Like VEGGIES or something! I felt I was catering to and forced to eat the dessert-side of life and that is what I wanted to break away from! It didn't make sense to me that everything available was like a dessert! Puddings, shakes... ARGH! Give me something healthy!!



Well, that's my take on things! Some of the mixes are really yucky tasting, I agree, but you know.... it is what it is! We do what we have to do to succeed!

Thanks Makena!
I think mixing it with the syrup is a great idea.  Also good to know is that GNC will take it back if I don't like it.  That's a seller for me.  I don't want to be stuck with a huge tub of something I don't like.

I tried the Body Fortress Whey protein bullets (frm wal mart) and the Myoplex (frm wal mart) and i HATED IT!!  Puke!  I also tried the Isopure fruit punch and hated that too...i guess im picky..anyways I make my own now and they are pretty good..I mean, I can drink it without gagging! so thats good...I went and bought the Body Fortress Whey protein (chocloate flavor) POWDER and i blend it with skim milk and some small pieces of banana and also add a small drop of Smuckers SF syrup!!  Tastes just like a chocolate banana shake!  Try that and hopefully you will like it...my tastes havent really changed yet..i sill LOVE skim milk!! anyways good luck

I was wondering how those bullets taste.  I wonder if it would be any better if you mixed it with cystal light? 
I will definitely try your recipe.  I could never do skim milk alone so maybe mixing it in the shake would be better.
Thanks!

Ok... chiming back in here...

Regarding the bullets. I use the New Whey by IDS daily. I could never eat first thing in the AM and still can't and don't have time anyway, so I mix a 42g bullet with some SF Kool Aid to make a 20 oz. bottle that lasts me through the morning until lunch time. My husband orders them online for the best price.

I tend to stay away from milk to keep my carbs and sugars down, so be aware when mixing your own and not using water alone. Fruit is also adds sugar, so again, when optimizing diet for weightloss, be mindful of that. I kept things really strict for myself early on. For some, they seem to lose any way, but I wasn't taking chances and kept a lot of sugar, carbs, and fats out of my diet... way down at the lowest acceptable levels. I didn't totally eliminate any of them, just kept them extremely low.

There is another product that I have onhand called Any Whey Protein. It is as tasteless as any product I've tried like this and can be added to a variety of foods and beverages and even used for baking. GNC carries it or can order it for you. They sell out of it quickly.

I've become a habitual label reader. I used to be able to run in the store and come out in 5 minutes... 4 of them waiting in line! Now, I read, read, read!!!! My shopping trips can often last an hour or more because I get so side-tracked reading labels!! They really are important and will amaze and even shock you!! Read that fine print!

i dont use much skim milk when blending my protein drinks so it;s not that much..also i read labels on the baby food too before i buy them.. alot of them are less than 2 grams per serving and i never eat a full serving....i have to eat the applesauce to take the Nexium cause it is sooo nasty..so yes i read and watch my sugar intake..thanks though

There is a site called vitalady.com where you can order samples.  I ordered about 15 different samples to try and am still working my way through them. 

I found that mixing with either water, crystal light, or skim milk really helped the taste of the protein shakes and my routine has been to have a chocolate shake in the morning (23 gms. protein) and then a "juice" shake mid-morning 24 grams, so I get a good start on my protein by mid-day.  My current favorite is Nectar Strawberry-Kiwi. 

One thing -- I developed lactose intolerance after surgery so my wonderful concoction of chocolate with skim milk didn't work.  I was glad I took a bunch of the samples to SF with me so I had different things post surgery to try (not that I could drink much!)

Keala

I've heard about those samples from vitalady.com.  How long did it take to come in?  I think I'll put in an order today. 

I was also thinking of getting a "creamier" (choc, strawberry, or cookies& cream)  kind of powder and a clearer juice type powder.  Hopefully to mix things up a little for variety.

I'm definitely going to look into the unflavored powder also at GNC.

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions!

Oh! Just remembered when you mentioned the Cookies 'n Cream.... I really didn't care for the GNC Cookies 'n Cream Protein Shake mix.... was yucky to me. We all have different tastes though, so just remember to keep your receipts!

Pomaika`i