Protien Shake question

After surgery I know protien shakes are a must. My question is what kind is best and where do you get them? Do you have to go to GNC or can you just drink Ensure? Or does Ensure not have enough protien and vitamins? Thanks in advance.

Hi Angela... I'm sure everybody's story about protein is different...but here is what I did. Before surgery I ordered a lot of samples from various websites...and refused to taste them because I had heard that tastes change after the surgery. (They do!!) I had tried a sample of a protein at GNC and thought it was pretty good but very expensive. After surgery I found that I could only stand the chocolate flavored ones. And now, four months later, that is still all I like. I use a whey based protein called Dymatize and I get it from Manna Nutrition in Overland Park, Kansas. (It is available on the web too) So far it has one of the better tastes and I can't really taste or smell the protein. (Some of them just really smell bad - ick). And as for me, I cannot stand the fruit flavored drinks...yet. It basically boils down to being prepared (having some samples on hand) and understanding that what tastes good to you now will probably taste different later. I haven't ever thought about the drinks on the market (like Ensure) because I have found that they just don't have all the nutrition I need and they usually have too much sugar or sugar alcohols in them. I find that most of the powders have great nutrition and low carbs. But this is just what worked for me. Best wishes in your search! Peggy

Peggy....I just read all of your profile and you are so funny. love all of your discriptions. I would like to keep in touch with you...Jan

I like UNJURY and you can get it at www.unjury.com. It leaves no bad after taste and they have vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and unflavored. The unflavored is great to add to crystal lite, jello, etc . They send you recipes on how to use it. I found it to be the best that I have found. LOL Brenda Lap RNY 11-11-2004 start weight 284 pesent weight 175 goal 150

Ensure is a nutrional supplement. It has way to many calories in it. DOn't use that one. My dietician's office gave me a guide about protein drinks. They needed 15 grams or greater of protein and less than 5 grams of Carbs. The the lower the claorie the better. I like Choclate Fudge EAS Advant Edge Carb Control. they are ready to drink. I can get them at the grocery store, but they are cheaper at Sam's CLub and you can get them by the case there. They taste great cold. The Vanilla is ok and the Strawberry is alright. I've tried Slim Fast Carb Options Strawberry, (NASTY!!!) And I've tried on that was Carmel Cappacinio one. But then I found out that we're not supposed to have caffeine. It was a good one to start with thought before surgery because it helped to get me off my carbs and helped deal with the carb withdrawls and headaches and such. But like everyone says after surgery things are different. (I wouldn't know yet. Surgery date is March 20th.) But I would start getting used to drinking them now. They have to become a part of life wether you like them or not. Get used to replacing some of your food with protein drinks now. They really did kill my munchies. And once I was through carb withdrawls I felt great! I didn't care much for food. ANd didn't miss it much. I lost weight over Thanksgiving. I gave myslef a break during Thanksgiving and all the carb cravings came back. SO now I'm getting ready to go through withdrawls again. I'll make it! Hope this helps. Your dietician should be able to hlep you with requirements for shakes and should have a list of where to go and products to try. GNC does have a money back guarantee. If you don't like the taste you can return it in 30 days for a full refund.

You will get as many differant answers to this question as there are people on this web site. Everyons taste is differant. I use NOW Unflavored Whey Protien Isolate. You can get it online at http://www24.netrition.com/now_whey_protein_isolate_page.html I find that by using the unflavored I can flavor it any way I want and fit my tastes for the day. Good luck! Wayne

i like the "nector protein " drinks. i drink the lemon ice tea , but they have many different flavors. if you call they will send you samples.

I had a hard time finding one I really liked and could tolerate. But I have recently discovered Nectar and LOVE it!!! I'm using the Very Cherry Berry flavor and it's fabulous!

Angela, one of the things that I would personally recommend with the protein shakes is either a hand held blender or the Magic Bullet ( I saw Kathy at support group last night using one and I am going this weekend to get one now) but it helps in making sure that you mix it up really good, I was just using a fork at first and then had to gag the shake down cause I wasn't stirring it enough, but with the blender it now taste like chocolate milk. I ended up buying about 5 or 6 different protein shakes so that I have a different variety to try, and I am usually drinking the chocalate ones the most. I have been drinking them since my surgery in May and still have quite a bit left so it will last you quite a while.

the protein powder that I found to be the best bet for me is the isopure zero carb powders. They have different flavors, just so happens that my fave is the strawberries and cream. They have 50 grams of protein per shake and NO carbs. I got it at GNC, but I found it cheaper online, let me know if you need the web address for it, I cant think of it off hand.