Help with Protein Drinks

Hello Everyone, I have a question... I am having my surgery in June so I have started my protein drinks to see which ones I like best. I like the Carnation Instant Breakfast but it's kinda gritty. Does anyone know if you can mix it with ice and make it more like a shake? Im also wondering if I do the strawberry and mix it with fruit? Also I feel super full just from drinking one glass, is that normal? I am wondering how in the world I am going to get 8 of these in a day??? Especially after my surgery??? Has anyone used Unjury? I noticed they have one that has no flavor and you mix it with water. Guess I will have to try that one next.... Thanks in advance for any advice!!! Kathy

Hi Kathy, Try all of the drinks you want, but just about everyone on this board will tell you that for some reason, after surgery, you will swear they operated on your taste buds. Nothing tastes the same. Stuff you loved and wondered how you would live without, becomes the most horrid tasting gunk. You can mix fruit with a shake, but remember you are adding carbs not just flavor...and carbs crave more carbs. If you are surprised at feeling full after a glass now, after surgery, at first you will feel full after a couple of sips!! I love Unjury. I mix the chocolate with hot tap water and have hot cocoa every morning. The unflavored can be put in anything warm or cold...add it to soup or oatmeal or yogurt. The vanilla can be mixed with orange soda (let it stand open overnight so it goes flat - no bubbles) and you have a creamsicle flavored drink. Try what you like for now, but don't stock up on it because your tastes will probably change...this goes for your food as well. I used to live/love chicken and now have a problem getting it down...same for tuna from a can. It is weird, but we knew going in that things would change...they even change from time to time AFTER the WLS...what you can eat one day, you can't the next. It is a journey. Welcome to it, and enjoy the ride!! Diane

Hi Diane! Thanks so much for the great advice!! I will have to try the creamsicle flavored drink. That sounds good. Thanks again!! Kathy

Diane speaketh the truth! Wendy

AMEN!!!! Wendy!!!!

Kathy, Diane is right, your tastes will change. I do recommend that you try to find something that gets you the most protein per ounce. You are correct that in the first few weeks it is a challenge to get enough of anything down...protein or water...so its important to make those ounces count!! That is why (not too mention it was too sweet once post-op) that I ditched the Carnation Instant Breakfast. I use Whey Vantage, and have daily for 2 1/2 years. Early post-op I was able to mix it with just 4 oz. of skim milk, and could get 30 gr. of protein in before 8 am....a major fete the first month or so!! I buy it at GNC (chocolate, vanilla and berry are all good) here, but not all GNC's carry it. My best advice is to have a few things on hand at home so that you don't need to go shopping, and see what works for you! Actually, if you'd like, I'd be happy to mail you a sampling of mine to try...it's a large container and $30, so it's good to know if you like it before you buy!! Our support group has "taste testings" and "protein exchanges" fairly regularly, which is really helpful. Email me if you want! Kathy

Mornin Kathy, Congrats on the upcoming date... #1 - Your tastes will change so its hard to see which ones you will like in advanced.. I used the unflavoed protein in the beginning, and I put it in everything, If I had jello I put some in it, if i had soup I dumped some unflavored in.. In the beginning sweet things tasted horribly sweet.. and I never thought I would get enough protein, but eventually I did. I got so much that my nut told me to back up on it. my favorite protein in the Designer whey, Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry, I added fruit to them all and blend them with ice and fruit and they are wonderful... in the beginning you will most likley need to make small ones instead of eight a day, cut them in half and have 16 small ones sounds like alot but if you make out a plan with times it makes it easier... Buckle up and enjoy the ride... (((HUGS))) Dori

Where can you get the Designer Whey? I'm having a heckuva time getting any type of protein drink down - I'm up for anything! thanks! Lynda

Kathy: If you let me have you address I could either send you a couple samples of the ones I use or bring them to you when I come into town. I like the Dymatize Elite Chocolate Mint and the Cafe Mocha. I make either one of them into a smoothie with ice, milk, and now that I am farther out, I add vanilla yogurt to them. I also use the sugar free Davinci syrups if I want to add some flavor to different things (the shakes, coffee, tea, etc...) My e-mail is: [email protected], let me know if you'd like to try them! Oh, the chocolate mint is really good in warm milk, it tastes very much like the Thin Mints Girl Scout Cookies. I don't care for really sweet stuff anymore since surgery and these shake**** the spot. Pam Rhodes from Paw Paw

Kathy, I just wanted to add that Joyce the NUT will give you (ask if she doesn't offer) some samples of Unjury. It is still my favorite. They have unflavored, chocolate, strawberry and vanilla. Look for me on Sunday and we can talk more about this. I'm not working the nursery this week so I will be roaming around. Sheryl