Daily Post--1/5/08

My surgeon and NUT do not allow us to do protein suppliments, ever. Before I knew this, as a preop, I did try several different brands and honestly and pretty glad I don't have to use them as the protein taste/smell does not agree with me. Holly

My NUT discourages the use of protein shakes, etc...she wants me to get my protein from food. But sometimes for an evening snack i'll warm up a cup of 1% milk in the nuker and then add a packet of SF Carnation Instant Breakfast. Yum.

At 3+ yrs. post-op, I rarely use protein supplements, but when I'm trying to get control of the bad carb monster or trying some version of the 5DPT, I do use a protein drink. I'm not much for experimenting, so I just mix Nectar Fuzzy Navel (bought on-line) w/ one of the sf o.j. type drinks like Crystal Lt. or the Walmart brand. It's pretty good. Or I use the choc. whey protein from Walmart (Body Fortress)--I don't think it's probably the highest quality, but for the price (approx. $13 for the big container), it's fine for me. I mix it w/ milk & ice & a squirt of sf choc syrup (and since I really like sweet, I add some of Walmart's Altern) and blend. It's NOT to be confused w/ a real choc shake, but it's fine. And since I'm really, really lazy, another thing I like to do for a snack is just add some protein powder to one of the sf puddings (Jello brand). Another fast & easy mid-morn. snack is Dannon's Light & Fit yogurt (only 60 cals, no added sugar--but it does have 11 g carbs, and 5 g protein)--and I add some protein powder to it. I like the Dannon peach flavor w/ the Nectar Fuzzy Navel added. ANOTHER really lazy snack I like it to mix equal parts of the Altern w/ whatever protein powder I have--which is usually either the choc. or some fruity flavor like the Fuzzy Navel or some kind of strawberry--just mix it up DRY. Put it in a bowl. Then I cut up an apple into kinda small squares and dump them into the dry mixture and coat. Then I just eat the pieces! When the apple is gone, I just eat the rest of the dry mixture dry! Wierd, I know, but I got used to doing this and like it.

I rarely use any protein supplements. I will occasionally use unflavored protein (either unjury or beneprotein) but not often. I keep protein bars but don't use them very often. I use EAS advantedge low carb when I use any. I like them because they are chewy. . .don't really like the crispy, crunchy ones.

I don't supplement - but that's only because I can't seem to stomach any protein drinks. The closest I get is adding SF Nesquik to a higher protein milk! Yummy! You can make that hot as well for when you're jonesing for some cocoa!

I really try not to supplement with drinks or bars, my doctor and nutritionist is totally against it and made sure I knew that from the get go. But, I do find that I do much better during the day if I have 1 protien drink, I don't get in enough protien with just food to meet requirements so I really enjoy Achieve One, they are more expensive, but it is the only thing I like and I am very lazy when it comes to mixing drinks, so I spend the money and buy what I will drink. I do not however do bars, I have tried a few and I've yet to find one that does not have that chalky protien taste. Maryann

I try to get in one protein shake a day. My favorite is Necter Fuzzy Navel made with crystal light peach tea. It has about 30 grams of protein per shake. I don't like any of the protein bars. I am looking forward to trying the hot choc with the protein. Just need to get the ingredients. Sally

I'm still struggling with protein shakes. my doctor also told me at my 2 wk post op that as long as I was eating regular food he preferred I get the protein from that so that is a relief. I still intend to find a protein shake that I like because I have read alot of people say their bodies sculpted better with protein shakes and that they lost more. The one that I have tried that I really like is the Vanilla Chike brand in 1% milk, it is good plain or with a touch of DaVinci SF Carmel. I also made a shake before I had surgery that turned out real good and it was made with either Unjury or Permalean Unflavored protein...Here's the recipe(it is long): Ingredients: 1 scope of your favorite unflavored protein powder 1/2 cup coconut milk 1/2 cup water 6 oz. cup of nonfat yogurt 6 strawberries 2 Tbsp crushed pineapple 2 Tbsp flax seed meal non calorie sweetener Preparation: Mix all ingredients in a blender until well blended. This makes a pretty thick smoothie so you may want to add more water if you prefer it thinner. I first tried this without the yogurt and it was a bit gritty but the yogurt just made this smoothie...it is wonderful. Coconut milk can be bought on the internet or you can make it yourself. I made mine myself(scroll down for directions) with a regular coconut. You can also buy desiccated Coconut which would save you some time and hard work at: www.coconutoil-online.com/desiccated%20coconut.html Once you get to this site if you will go a 3rd of the way down it will tell you how to make coconut milk from desiccated coconut. Flax Seed Meal can be bought at your local grocer, I found mine at Krogers in the health food section it was near the medicine isle. If you can't find flax seed meal you can use any type of fiber such as Benefiber but the flax seed meal does have many added benefits besides the fiber. To prepare a coconut pierce the eyes of the coconut and drain the coconut liquid and set the liquid aside to use later. Place the coconut on a rack for 30 mins. in a 325 degree oven. Remove from oven and let cool for a bit and then crack it with a hammer so the shell breaks into several pieces. You need to cut the brown stuff off the coconut once you remove it from the shell. To do this using a knive start to peel the back off...this isn't easy and you could easily hurt yourself so be careful. I found it easier to take larger pieces and put it on its side and cut it like you would and onion but just peeling the skin. Another thing I found helpful was to cut the backing off while running water over it. Once you remove all the backing cut in to very small cubes and place in a blender. I warmed the unused coconut liquid and water in a pan...you just want it warm not boiling because that will shatter the glass on the blender. You only want it about tap water hot. Put the liquid in to just cover the coconut chunks and blend real good. Take cheesecloth and cover a screen type strainer and place on top of a bowl. Pour out the coconut mix into the cheese cloth and then gather the sides and squeeze the liquid through the strainer into the bowl. Repeat until all the coconut has been strained. I then took coconut milk and run it through the strainer into another bowl or glass to make sure all the coconut particles are removed. I then poured the coconut in an empty water bottle and let it sit in the frig over night. The coconut milk stays good for 2 days. You can discard the coconut meat or put it into a plastic bag and save it to make other recipes that call for coconut. If you decide to buy desiccated coconut instead just start with the blender and water and follow the directions from there. Desiccated Coconut is the coconut meat in pure form without additives or sugar. With the ingredients I have listed here this will make you several shakes so you may want to cut it in half or share it with a friend. It might possibly be ok to freeze both the smoothie and the coconut milk but I have not found where you can do that on the net as of yet. Feel free to create your own version of this, you could use just the pineapple and coconut and it would be like a pina colada or you may not like the flax seed meal in it at all its whatever works for you!! Nutritional Value: Unfortunately the recipe I got didn't mention what the serving size was though I am assuming it is based on the ingredients listed... heres what I know for sure per the recipe: *Each serving has 11 grams effictive carbohydrate plus 7 grams of fiber, It has a whooping 31 grams of protein, and 654 calories. The nonfat yogurt has no fat but it has 11g of sugar, 90 cal., 16 carbs, and 7g of protein...this is added already to the amount above. The crushed pineapple in pineapple juice has 35 cal. 0 fat, 7.5 g of sugar, 1 g fiber, and 65 mg of potassium. This is also added already to the values above. NOTE: I think you could probably take alot of effort out of this by using coconut oil or even SF coconut sirrup but the idea is that the coconut has so many good things in it that it is worth doing it this way. I dunno, you can be the judge. As for coffee, I'm not a drinker so I can't contribute here. Thanks Lea for all your hard work you are very much appreciated! Kellie

Since it is discourage by my nut, i try not to use supplements too often, but when I do, I'll add either chocolate or vanilla to my first cup of coffee in the morning. Jenny

I usually have a protein drink for breakfast (and nothing else, because it's very filling). I use a chocolate protein powder combined with hot (but not too hot) water and a dash of sugar free syrup (cinnamon, kahlua, raspberry, chocolate, or whatever). I mix it up in my bullet and pour it into a thermal travel mug so that it'll stay hot for a long time (it takes me a while to drink the whole thing).