Thank you & I have another?

Thank you all for your answers & welcoming me to OH.  I'm really  not sure if I doing this messaging/forum thing correctly.  I am trying to figure this out as I go along.  It is great to have this available.  Hearing from others who have actually been through what I am now going through is going to be very helpful.  Another question.  I am having a hard time getting the protien shakes down.  I can't find a flavor that I like.  They don't bother my stomach or anything.  It is the taste, the after-taste & the smell.  I am holding my breath when I drink one so I can get it down.  Is there any protien powder out there that is totally tasteless that maybe you can mix in your food or something?  That would be fabulous!  Oh yeah, the Building Blocks chewable vitamins are pretty gross.  Any ideas on some that might be smaller w/ no taste that you could actually just swallow even if you had to take several of them at a time (that would work better for me).

Protein powder that I use is Vanilla Unjury and Chocolate Unjury that I get at the Weight Wise store. It tastes great and doesn't stink.

For vanilla, I throw in milk, strawberries and bananas, and flax seeds and powdered calcium.

For chocolate, I throwin in milk, SF choco syrup, PB2 (powdered peanut butter..available several places. I got mine on eBay), flax seeds and powdered calcium. I've even tossed in sf choco pudding powder and a smoosh of Splenda.

If you're early on, you might try Silk milk. I did that at first until I knew I could handle and have milk.

There is an unflavored one at Wal-Mart, I think, but I'm not sure. A lot of people go to GNC for theirs.

I take liquid vitamins available online from Dave (Ragdoll dude). Go to my profile and look at my friends. Click on Dave's profile, and his website is there. I take powdered Calcium that I get from vitalady at vitalady.com. It's much easier than taking all those stupid Citrical petites, that are horse pills.

Flax seeds I take for a natural laxative because the calcium can tend to lock me down, frankly speaking. I buy those at Wal-Mart in the pharmacy section in a big plastic bottle.

I mix all of this up in the Magic Bullet. I try different concoctions depending upon what's in the pantry at the moment.

The last several days, I've been doing protein bars, which Jessica hates, but these have 19 and 16 grams of protein so they're not THAT bad..Atkins Advantage Peanut Fudge Granola Bar...tastes pretty good this morning.

You're doing great at the forum. Welcome! and keep asking those questions. That's what we're here for!

Thanks for this information.  I think it will be very helpful.  I'm going to try to check out some of these things.  I don't know if there is a Weight Wisa in Tulsa.  If not, they may have a web site.  What is a Magic Bullet?

Don't stock up on protein powders before surgery.  Your tastes will change after- promise!  I just bought some Isopure powder and find it is pretty acceptable.  I mix it with some crystal light.  good luck finding one you can handle.

Do you think the Isopure powder changes the taste of your crystal light?  I don't use many protein supplements because Dr. W convinced me it wasn't necessary to really keep track of the protein count.  I don't want to loose my hair though but at 4 months out on July 12th I have lost very little....that might change tomorrow though.  I will expect it if it does.

I matched my crystal light to my Isopure flavor the first time.  I go the Orange pineapple flavor Isopure and added some orange crystal light.  I thought it was pretty good.  The next time I decided to be brave.  I added it to grape crystal light.  It was pretty good if an odd color!

I am working hard to get 100 grams of protein each day.  To do that I have to have protein supplements.  I can't get anywhere that much from food alone.  I made this decision (backed up by Jessica) because I have been stalled way more weeks than I have lost.  Jessica said to do this since I lost so much better on the pre-op diet. So, I am sort of mimicking the pre-op diet by adding 2 protein supplements to my regular 3 meals.  I am down 3 pounds since I started hitting the protein. Who knows if it would have happened anyway but I am not going to quit the protein!

That sounds like a plan to me.  We have to do what we have to do since we're in it this far.  I do use the supplements especially if I'm not going to be at home because I agree with you that getting 100 grams of protein each day would be hard without the supplements.  You're body is going to get this figured out for you and hopefully you'll get your hormones lined out as well.  I have been without hot flashes since about December and it is a WONDERFUL feeling.  I almost hate to even say it because the curse might just return.  I was so cold last night I even slept in socks.  I HAVE NEVER been this way.  Before I slept with an oscillating fan next to my head, the ceiling fan on high and the AC down low totally freezing my DH to death.  Now it is the opposite!  Go figure...the female body is weird sometimes.....

The only thing I could handle at first was the Orange Cream by Matrix.  My favorite right now is Gladitor in Vanilla from Smoothie King.  You can go in ask order a Gladitor with your choice of friuts so you can try before you buy.  I have been using it for 7 months now.  I mix mine with frozen strawberries and banana.  It's so good.  I buy the vanilla so I can mix all kinds of things with it.  I will also mix jello pudding power with it or coffee flavors and flavored SF syrups.  I mix it with milk and a little crushed ice.  Oh yeah,  I will add 1 scoop to my morning coffee aslo. 

Good luck!  Are you going to the dinner tomorrow night?  I still have a 1/2 bag of the Matrix if you want it.   

Are you talking about the dinner at Applebees?  Probably not this time.  I will probably wait until I can eat some real food instead of just soft foods.  It sounds fun though.  Do you all do this every month?  Where is Smoothie King?

I found a Smoothie King.  You are right about their protien powder.  I think I can handle it.  It tastes sooooooo much better than the Champion I have been using.  I wish they had a smaller size, but they don't.  I think I am going to go back tomorrow & join their VIP program & then buy  the vanilla.  Do you make your smoothies the same way they do at the store?  Powder, fruit, & ice?  I am really excited about this!  Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!