What do you look for when shopping for your protein supplements?

How many grams of protein, carbs, sugars do you try to stick with?  I'm sure I will learn all this later down the road with the nutritionist, but I have a company I order a lot from and I'm seeing that they have a large variety of protein powders, bars, puddings, and ready-to-drink things.  As I started to look through the products, I wasn't sure what level of sugars are acceptable and wondered what rule-of-thumb to go by.  Any input would be helpful so I can surf a bit more and get an idea of what I could purchase post-op through them.  Thanks bunches!  :)

It's something that you'll have to experiment with.

For example, I don't dump.  So I don't care how many grams of sugar there are in anything I eat or drink.  My body doesn't care for a whole lot of sugar alcohols.. but nothing catastrophic.  However, someone at the meeting on Saturday said they dump on anything over 4g sugar.  So her requirements are obviously different than mine.

But here's my general rule of thumb:
The protein must be *at least* 2/3 of the carb count (whatever the carb count is) to even consider it.  For example, I like Twisted Protein bars.. they are the closest things to candy bars I've seen post-op.  They have 15g carbs, and 10g protein.. so they fit.  A 1:1 ratio is ideal, and there are a *few* that have an even better protein:carb ratio.

I also gauge the caloric content.  Sometimes, I *need* extra calories.  So it's not unusual for me to have 300 calorie bars in addition to my lower caloric supplements.  This just helps me get to my caloric goal at the end of the day sometimes.


And another thing.. your tastes will probably change postop.  I became lactose and soy intolerant post-op... so the protein drinks I was using preop no longer worked for me.  Some things that I used to love preop (propel, for example) are just too sweet now (it makes me gag now.. so does most crystal light).

It really depends on your surgeon/NUTs guidelines - some are more strict with the fat/carbs than others - the basic rule of thumb is to keep sugars in 'single digits' per serving, keep in mind however that if you are mixing with milk it has its own sugar in it as well (carb countdown milk is a good one to use because its low).

I like designer whey - here is there stats
Serving Size (scoop 1
Servings Per Can 40
Calories 93
Fat Calories 9
Total Fat (g) 1
Sat. Fat (g) 0.7
Cholesterol (mg) 19
Sodium (mg) 60
Potassium (mg) 112
Total Carbs (g) 2.6
Dietary Fiber (g) 0.6
Sugars (g) <1
Proteins (g) 18.5
Calcium(mg) 100
Magnesium(mg) 100

I also liked biochems 100% whey protein, couldnt find the stats but it was similar to the above.

Both you can get at GNC or at Harris Teeter (at least at my teeter!)

Thanks so much ladies.  Your answers definitely have helped me. 

I had heard that tastes will likely change post-op so I'm guessing it would be wisest to order lots of samples to try rather than to stock up on one thing or another. 

I'm already a bit lactose-intolerant and I should avoid real dairy more than I do now, but holy cow...please don't let me be soy intolerant afterwards!  I exist on soy in the present moment...soy milk, Boca, Morningstar, etc.!!! 

I have used the Hood Calorie Countdown product before and liked the flavor when mixed with protein powders just fine, so I am making a mental note of that.  Thank you!  I also love 8th Continent Light and Silk Unsweetened soymilks and I know they have just 1 or 2 sugars per serving each.  Like I said, I need my soy so fingers crossed on that note!

I like the MOST protein in the LEAST amount of volume. 

I like my shakes to have at least 25 grams of protein per scoop of powder, and I try to stay below 6 grams of sugar per serving of anything.  Much over 6 grams of sugar makes me dump. 

I don't check carbs, fats, calories, etc.  If they meet the protein and sugar levels that I choose, 9 times out of 10 then the other numbers are not too high.

Hi Shauna
I am pre-op and I've been trying all sorts of things...Most of the protein drinks (Atkins, Isopure, Muscle Milk, slimfast, carnation...) make me want to vomit. 
There's a lot of sugar in milk so I've replaced milk with Calorie Countdown (I get it at Walmart)...They have it in Chocolate or 2% and it only has 2 or 3 grams of sugar and 8 grams of protein.  I've been trying all sorts of protein powders and I found this one called...I think...Jay Robb's When Protein at the Vitamin Shoppe, they do have individual packets you can buy just to try it.  It has 25 g of protein, no sugar, no carbs...I add it to the calorie countdown and now you have only a 1 cup shake with 33 grams of protein.  I love the vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.  I love it now, but from what I hear I may hate it after surgery...so I'm going to just buy the individual packets until then.
Hope this helps!