Bullet vs. Blender

Hi All, I'm trying to have everything ready for when I'm post-op. I bought a variety of Proti-15 shakes, soups, drinks, etc....and when I'm home I have an awesome KitchenAid Blender. I need to buy something to keep at work. I was considering a smallish blender but then I heard mention of the Magic Bullet. I have not met anyone who has one of those. Which would all of you WONDERFUL losers recommend? Thanks! -Karen PS: I got word that my insurance approved everything!!! (Empire BCBS) It took less than ONE WEEK!!

I have to vote magic bullet...Its my favorite...I use it for everything and it mixes protein awsome. Its a little more expensive but to me its worth the extra $.....Congrats on the insurance approval..You are on your way!!! LisaMarie

hi Lisa, You are a true ! I think it's great that you are so active on this Support Board and your topics are awesome! Yeah..I think the Magic Bullet is the way I'm gonna go. I really don't want to publicize my eating at work....I only told a few people I'm having the surgery. I think the Bullet looks smaller than a blender (I have only seen pictures online). Another question: Is the Bullet Noisy? Same as a Blender? Hard to clean? Thanks again Lisa! -Karen

Hey Karen....I too had Garber/Holover as my doctors....you are in excellant hands....as for your question....I say live on the edge....get both....you are worth it....hugs Susan

Susan, Thanks so much! Dr.Garber -and- Dr. Holover are out of network for me....but I "interviewed" 2 other surgeons and Dr. Garber won - HANDS DOWN! LOL Maybe I will get both but for now I'm gonna get me a Bullet! WOW...that sounds kind of Kinky!!! LOLOL Hugsssss, Karen

Karen: I have had my Magic Bullet blender for almost 3 yrs now, it is AWESOME and I had a great blender and a smoothie maker, both went by by once the MB came into my life/home! LOL NOTHING crushes ice like this thing! I sue it to grind coffee, my flax seed and chop nuts for baking as well! It was SO worth the money I may buy one to travel to work w/ me (I work in 2-4 clinics) It is small, POWERFUL, durable (some had an issue w. it but has 1 yr warranty I beleive as some bought knock offs on Ebay etc!) they are WELL USED and recommended in the WLS community (or those who are 'serious' protein shake users!). It will help early postop as u can grind food (no buying babyfood!) and i use it at least 2x day w/ my shakes, makes a great whipped egg for scrambling/omlettes, pancake batter, mincing veggies, etv, I have the one w/ blender attach and juicer (not needed much but nice so I got rid of my blender!). WORTH EVERY PENNY! Small skits on counter etc! www.buythebullet.com has BOGO (bu****ch SH on em!), Target has em I believ and www.walgreens.com last I checked had $59 and free SH! Any other ? let me know! Be well, congrats on approval! Take Care, Jamie Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh 320/163 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=c1132518510 "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"

Hi Jamie, Thanks once again; you are a Wealth of Knowledge! You sold me on the Bullet! As I asked Lisa....is it Noisy? Same as a regular Blender? Easy or hard to clean?? I'll keep you posted. By the way: Can you re-post the info about the Protein products? (I had read it weeks ago and lost it!...sorry) Karen

Karen: Clean up is a snap! Rinse cup out (unscrew lid) and the blades also wipe off w water (In my experience!) It doesnt take up much room either on counter! Here are all the sites *I* know of for ordering samples of protein. www.vitalady.com (a 10 yr+ postop who runs this business w/ her hubby who is also 10+ yrs out!) www.wlssupplies.com www.bethsproteinboutique.com (she is a wlser in NY, where you can get my fav PVL whey gourmet) www.bariatriceating.com *run by a wlser Susan Maria, she has written a book before & after WLS... www.enjoyhealth.com I will say tastes CHANGE for many after WLS so if you find some now you like you MAY not like them postop....BUT I agree samples are the way to go! (*saves you money from buying a tub of something you can't/don't like to drink!) ''I'' don't think GNC has much that is tasty though....So ordering online seems to be best (for me)! Powdered pre-digested whey concentrate, or isolate or a blend of the 2 proteins are the kind/s that gastric by passers can BEST absorb! and are highly bioavailable. And so much better tasting IMHO and cheaper (70 servings in a 5# tub champion Pure Whey stack for $25.99 + 4.95 S&H = 44 cents a serving!!! (canned can be $1 ea or more!) good in a pinch though... http://www.vitalady.com/why_protein.htm read this about postop protein! So what is Biological Value: Method of rating protein. Biological Value (BV) represents a specific protein's nitrogen retention qualities in humans. BV indicates the amount of nitrogen (body protein in grams) replaceable by 100 grams of protein in the adult diet. The higher the quality of a protein, the higher the BV. Protein BV Whey 100 Egg 97 Milk 88 Soy 71 Casein 70 Whey protein is a high quality protein powder from cow's milk. Milk has two proteins: Casein (approximately 80%) and Whey Protein (approximately 20%). Whey protein is more soluble than casein and also has a higher quality rating. It is often referred to as the "Gold Standard" of protein as it is the most nutritious protein available. Whey protein isolate is the most pure and concentrated form of whey protein available. It contains 90% or more protein and very little (if any) fat and lactose. Whey protein concentrate has anywhere between 29% and 89% protein depending upon the product. As the protein level in whey protein concentrate decreases the amounts of fat and/or lactose usually increase. Another way that whey protein helps manage weight is by promoting satiety, or a feeling of fullness. One recent study showed that whey protein was superior to casein, the other protein in cow's milk, in promoting satiety. People recommend making them with WATER only (not milk, which adds 90-100 calories/12 g carbs and 8g protein *not the kind we can utilize well) , drink within 30 min also! You can buy a magic bullet blender to make w/ ice, sugar free syrups, Davinci now has 51 Sugar Free flavors! http://www.davincigourmet.com can order from or www.netrition.com (local in Albany NY S&H is $4.95 no matter how little/much you order! there 5# tubs of Champion PW stack is $25.99, tjmaxx has them sometimes also! Artisan roasters and torani's are other makers! http://www.artisancoffeeroasters.com/syrups/index.html http://www.torani.com/create/fpsugarfree.shtml http://www24.netrition.com/champion_whey_stack_page.html also if you find you like the chocolate, banana or strawberry (*I do not know of anyone who likes their vanilla!) http://www24.netrition.com/syntrax_nectar_page.html netrition has nectars for $26.95 extracts, spices, 1 tsp powdered sf/ff pudding powder or 1 tsp sf jello powder etc... www.walgreens.com has MB's for $59 free S&H or www.buythebullet.com has BOGO free, I think Target and other stores have them too! ***#1*** I like PVL whey gourmet flavors the best, White chocolate, vanilla, raspberry, caramel dip, milk chocolate, PB chocolate, blueberry, orange cremescicle....This is where I order it online: (2# tub $21.95) http://www.a1nutritionproducts.com/buy/pvl/whey_gourmet Most 120 cal 23g protein a scoop 2.6 g carbs 2 g fat.... 15 Flavors to choose from and more to come! NEW Arctic Cappuccino Frappe, NEW Creamy Dreamy Milk Chocolate, NEW Radical Raspberry Smoothie, Piña Colada Breeze, Creamy Orangesicle Swirl, Creamy Caramel Dip, Dark Chocolate Mousse, Mocha Java Madness, Smooth Peanut Butter Chocolate, Strawberry Banana Smoothy, Blueberry Burst, Chocolate Chip Mint Extreme, Vanilla Ice Cream Royale, Silky Smooth White Chocolate, Rootbeer Float, Cookies & Crème Supreme. SAMPLES AT: (beth's is only site I have seen pvl samples) www.bethsproteinboutique.com Runners up: Champion Pure Whey stack chocolate, banana scream or strawberry are good Labrada PV 60 vanilla is good IDS cinnamon/vanilla, mocha, Belgian chocolate The Nectars (fruit based) they also have a cappuccino my hubby loves! Strawberry-kiwi, fuzzy navel, Caribbean cooler, apple, lemonade etc.... ANYWHEY is an unflavored protein. You can cook with it too! (***70 calories a scoop/0g fat/1g carb (no sugar carbs)/17 G protein) 60 scoops/container http://www.optimumnutrition.com/anywhey/default.html they have recipes! I think 34g protein for 2 scoops/140 calories is DARN GOOD! Made by optimum nutrition. GNC carries it I beleive. or online many places but I use this site frequently. http://www.netrition.com/optimum_any_whey_page.html $22.95/2.7lb container _______________________________________________________________ The key is find what you like, add water/ice use the magic bullet for a smoothie consistency, spruce w/ extracts SF syrup, a little sf jello or pudding powder and voila! I now use 2-3 frozen strawberries or 1/4c pumpkin in shakes also (watch calorie and sugar in beginning stages!) Skies the limit! I have over 24 sf syrups, 5 flavors of protein at any time! It doesn't get boring! Happy Sampling!!! Take Care, Jamie Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh 320/163 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=c1132518510 "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!" PS a few of my fav 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 ______________________ 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! ________________________ 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! _____________________ 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

HEHE!!!! I just went out and bought the Magic Bullet last night at Target, it was $59.99. It's a 17 piece kit, and before I went shopping, I pulled out the recipe book, and made sure I bought some ingredients for smoothies and such. I am going to try it today, and can't wait, im excited. Molly

I love my Magic Bullet and use is every day. But, there is also a very similiar product sold at Macy's. I believe the brand is Bella Cucina and it sells for $39 and was on sale for $29. You might want to check it out. Also, if you like the taste of almond joys, Beth's Boutique has samples of chocolate coconut protein powder by Protein Delite which is deeeeelish!!! $1.50 a sample. Also, a1nutritionproducts.com sells the tub for $14.59. It's low in calorie, carbs, and protein is 19 grams. Best Wishes Linda