Protein Supplements

So, how many of you supplement your protein with shakes, drinks or bars? Just curious. I'm 6 months out and I still supplement on most days with either EAS Protein Shake, Isopure Grape Frost, or Lean Body Vanilla. Once in a while I'll have an Atkins meal replacement bar.

What about you? Do you supplement your protein? How far out are you?

Hello hun ~hugs~ I do a Archeiv Protein Coffee every morning and I am about 2 1/2 years out. It is not really a "protein" shake but it give you 20 grms of protein so that is good for me. Sometimes if I am out and can not eat anything I will have a Atkins protein bar. Other than that I am eating my protein at this point. Hoping that helps some ~hugs~

Hey Debra! I tried the Achieve One and love them. I can't find them locally though, and shipping on those gets expensive.

I do try to get my protein from food, but I find it's easier sometimes to just drink it.

I am about 4 months out & don't use any supplements. I couldn't find anything I could tolerate without gagging on so after talking to my drs they said the 50-60 grams I was getting through my food was good. Most days I get more than 60 grams but never less than 55.  Cece

Hi Cece. That's great that you can get your protein requirements through food. I'm sure I could if I really tried, but being vegetarian it is sometimes a challenge. My minimum is 75 g, but I seem to lose more if I get around 100 g.

Hi Rachelle,
I think people vary on how they supplement their protein. I occasionally have a protein shake, but mostly I try to eat my protein. I am 1 1/2 years out. On days when I don't feel like eating breakfast, I drink a protein shake. I think the idea with the shakes is that when you're an in between phase with surgery where you can't tolerate all protein foods and are trying to get enough protein, you can use the supplements to stay right nutritionally.

In the end, I think reasonable eating and conscious decision making around food choices is the best. If that means using a protein supplement every once in a while, so be it. In my mind use of anything to replace concious healthy eating choices is not good and anything in excess is no good, even if it's considered 'healthy'.

Hope that helps.

xo
Aim

I agree with you that reasonable eating and conscious decision making around food choices is the best. I think I'm doing great with my eating, I just seem to fall short if I don't do some sort of supplement throughout the day...and I'm fine with that...even if it's only that I use some protein in my coffee or chai while I'm at work for that little boost.

It's funny, I tried a protein that was really delicious and I told Chris that I'm not going to buy it because I would choose that over actual eating and that's not good.

Thanks for you thoughts sweet Amy!

5+ yeas out and do 1-2 shakes a day! Whey most 120 cal scoop 2-3g carbs 2-3 g fat, 23 g protien. One in am and one at night to help avoid carb attacks!

I can eat 100+ grams a day but even then I had low protein levels. Watch your labs! At 6 mo out I was eating 80gr amd and had low levls,I started shakes at 7 mo out love em and wont look back.
Protein bars are an emergency thing, they are glorified candy bars IMHO!

Iam a creative protein shake person, using SF syrups and sf/ff pudding a tsp or two , flax etc to spruce em up!
Jamie's Protein shake recipes
Caramel dipped apple shake:
3/4 scoop pvl whey gourmet caramel dip protein
3/4 scop syntrax nectar apple ecstasy
6 ice cubes
6 squirts (+/-) sugar free caramel syrup
Water to fill magic bullet mug (~5-7 oz)
Whizz up in mb blender yummy!
I also add 1 scoop (500mg) upcald and 1t ground golden flax seed to my shakes
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Jamie's berrylicious shake:

3 frozen strawberries
4 ice cubes
30g of protein powder (i love pvl whey gourmet's vanilla/white chocolate or raspberry) ~1.5 scoops
1 glug/splash of davinic's sf coconut, almond & strawberry syrups
1 tablespoon of flax seed groud (optional this is my fiber but adds nutty flavor!)
6-7oz of sf kooliad any flavor (cherry/fruitpunch/strawberry etc, i like walmart brand strawberry best!)
*1 tsp sf/ff of one of the following flavors: white chocolate/cheesecake/vanilla pudding also for a thicker shake (optional)

Mix all in magic bullet blender...vaaroom!
Awesome for a pre workout boost! Note strawberries do add carbs!
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Jamie's pumpkinlicious shake:

5 ice cubes
1/4 cup plain canned pumpkin (keep rest in fridge for more shakes!)
30g protein powder (~1.5 scoops) i like pvl whey gourmet vanilla or white chocolate for this best
Few dashes of either cinnamon/nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice to taste
2 glugs/splashes of either: sf davinics spice blend or gingerbread syrup
1 t flasx seed groung (*optional my fiber but goes well!)

Whizz up in magic bullet! Yummy! Like pumpkin pie almost!
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Peach melba protein shake

1 scoop syntrax nectar fuzzy navel (which is peach flavored)
6 ice cubes
1/4 cup frozen raspberries
3 squirts peach sf syrup
3 squirts raspberry sf syrup (may use 6 squirts of one or other also)
Water to fill mb mug (or some raspberry ice cyrstal lite!)

Mix in mb blender yummy!
I also add 1t golden ground flax seed and 1 scoop (500mg) upcal d caclium citrate powder to my shakes!
Enjoy
Holiday Eggnog shake

6-7 ice cubes
1 svoop white chocolate protein PVL brand
7-8 squirts davincis eggnog sf syrup
3 dashs nutmeg
1 tsp sf/ff white choc pudding powder
1 scoop upcal D
water to fill Magic Bullet mug
whiz around! YUMMY!

Thank for your imput Jamie! I appreciate it! I do like the shakes and look forward to them. Especially on those days that I just don't feel like eating. I find that using them also keeps the sweet cravings in check. I don't want sweets because I get sweet with my shakes. Does that make any sense?

My new kick is Labrada Lean Body. One of those throughout the day and I get 40 g towards my protein. I was just curious if everyone else still does this.

I just had my 6 month labs done and so far everything is great. For what it's worth, my Dr. doesn't pu**** either way. She's fine with the fact that I supplement.

Thanks for the great recipes. I will definitely try them out. The pumpkin one sounds delicious.

FYI Davinci's has a SF pumpkin syurp and Vitalady carries a pumpkin flavored protein powder as well, I haven't tried either yet!
http://www.vitalady.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?search=action&keywords=optimumwhey&template=Templates/sr_optimum_100whey.html
(eggnog and apple cider and rocky road as well!)

http://www.davincigourmet.com/products/sugar_free_flavored_syrups/


I agree with Amy, the shakes in am for me is the quickest way to get in protein and a few carbs pre workout when I am not half awake or even able to contemplate eating! I wizz and go. I then do yogurt/fruit typcially and sometimes a tad bit of kashi cereal go lean, bran buds or new south beach granola clusters in it.
6g protein, 6g fiber, 130 calories

Mixed Berry Granola Clusters or Cherry Almond Granola Clusters *cherrry are my fav!
Free sample here: http://justtryliving.com/captureAddress.iphtml?item=100056&utm_source=southbeachdiet&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=trylivingkit&utm_content=300x250



The night shakes is to ward of cravings merely so I figure 120 cal much better than consuming 5x that in grazing carbs/food I can do!