When can we start eating protein bars?

Donna B.
on 6/17/10 11:46 am - Round Lake, IL
RNY on 05/11/10 with
Since I am having difficulties drinking the protein. 
I though I could go the easy way at eat a protein bar.
How soon can we eat them?
And which are the better to eat?
SayNo2Me  (Donna B)
SW - 257.5 - / CW - 152.0 - / Surgeon's GW - 160                                                                  
trigirl64
on 6/17/10 12:38 pm - Broomfield, CO
I was allowed to eat protien bars at about 4-6 weeks.  I was just supposed to try to start with softer kinds.  I was supposed to have protien bars that were high in protien (obviously).  I had a calculation that I was supposed to go by: total calories divided by total proiein=x
x should be = or less than 15.  For example a bar that I like has 270 calories and 30 grams of protien.

270 divided by 30 = 9 
9 is less than 15, so I am good with this bar.

Good luck.  I had a problem getting all my protien in, so starting these protien bars around week 4 really helped!!
      
  
Start Weight 276, Goal Weight 160 maybe lower.
   
    
Mountain Mama
on 6/17/10 12:43 pm - Evansville, IN
You're only a month out, so I don't think you should try them yet.  Maybe in another month or so.

But it's going to depend on whether or  not you can handle sugar alcohols, too.  Some people experience a lot of gas or intestinal discomfort with sugar alcohols.  I've never had any issues, though.

You'll get a lot of opinions on which ones people like.  For me, it's the Pure Protein brand.  You can find them on Amazon, Drugstore.com or here's a list of retailers that carry them. . . 20g of protein and 3 net carbs per bar -- but quite a bit of sugar alcohols.
                 
Pre-Op  3 mos. post op  5 mos. post op  At Goal  Surgery Date - 12/10/2009  Goal Met -8/26/2010
                                        

Dave Chambers
on 6/17/10 1:43 pm - Mira Loma, CA
Two thumbs up for Pure Protein bars. Several flavors, taste good, 20 g protein, 2-3 g sugars, and 180-200 calories per bar.  Most places are $1.75 to $2 a bar. Fresh and Easy Stores have 4 of the flavors for $1.39 per bar.  Ralph's supermarkets has them on sale every few weeks for $1 per bar, so I check their stores about once a week to see if they're on sale.  I got some on Ebay that were relatively close to being outdated, at $1 per bar plus shipping.  DAVE

Dave Chambers, 6'3" tall, 365 before RNY, 185 low, 200 currently. My profile page: product reviews, tips for your journey, hi protein snacks, hi potency delicious green tea, and personal web site.
                          Dave150OHcard_small_small.jpg 235x140card image by ragdolldude

trigirl64
on 6/17/10 1:53 pm - Broomfield, CO
I never liked the Pure Protien bars.......I would buy one or two different ones at a time.  I ended up only liking bars that I can only get online.  I like the muscle milk bars choc carmel peanut. I also like premier nutrition choc crunch (they have these at Costco, but it is in a multi pack and I didn't like the other flavors).  You can get the muscle milk bars at GNC to try them.  I am super picky though.....good luck finding the right bar!
      
  
Start Weight 276, Goal Weight 160 maybe lower.
   
    
5100kiki
on 6/17/10 9:34 pm
I began eating protein bars around 3 months.  I could eat 1/4 bar at a time - then I was full.  I looked for low sugar grams (because I couldn't tolerate sugar early on) and so I ate Atkins chocolate peanut butter which is fairly soft (sold in bulk at Sam's) and Pure Protein - both of which have approx. around 2 grams of sugar.  I'd check with your doctor's office to see when you are allowed to eat protein bars.  If you can tolerate a little bit of sugar try drinking the No Sugar Added Carnation Breakfast drink and adding a few tablespoons of powdered milk for extra protein and you can quickly add up 20 grams of protein per serving.  Mix in a blender for best results.    It tastes a lot better than protein drinks.    I did find JayRobb WHEY protein mix at 4 months out and it has a nice subtle smooth taste and they sell samples of Vanilla, Chocolate, and Creamsicle.  It costs a little more but the taste is a lot better (to me.)
          
MoLawEd
on 6/18/10 1:24 am - Cambridge, MA
Copy/pasting a response to a similar question I wrote a couple months ago, so sorry if not perfectly responsive:
--

It troubles me that you seem to be saying you want to completely replace your shakes with bars.  That's probably not a good idea,ever.

Protein bars tend to have a lot more calories, fat, and carbs relative to protein.  I eat a protein bar on occasion, but even now I prefer to get my protein from either shakes or regular food.

Just to compare: 1 scoop of Nectar cappuccino protein has 90 calories, 23 grams of protein, and 0 grams of carbs and fat. 1 scoop of About Time birthday cake batter has 103 kcals, 25 grams protein, and 0g carbs and fat.  1 scoop Matrix strawberry cream has 110 calories, 23g protein, 1 or 2 carbs, and maybe 1 fat.

Even one of the carbier/higher calorie protein drinks like Click mocha has 120 calories, 15 grams of protein, 12 grams of carbs, and 1.5g fat; or like Syntha-6 has 200 calories, 22 grams protein, 15 grams carbs (10 NET), and 6 grams of fat. 

Compare this with an Atkins chocolate peanut butter protein bar, which has 240 calories, 19 grams protein, 22 carbs (10 NET), and 12 grams of fat.  Or even one of my favorite protein bars, Power Crunch peanut butter creme, which has 205 calories, 14g protein, 10 carbs (9 NET), and 10 or so grams of fat.

To clarify: Many good protein powders have 90-100% of their calories from protein, which makes them a significantly better choice for your regular protein needs than an Atkins bar, which has only about 32% of its calories from protein. 

Also, you will probably only be able to eat 1/3 to 1/2 of a protein bar so early out, so you won't even be getting much protein bang for your buck eating protein bars.
 
Remember - I'm not saying protein bars are per se "bad."  They're great. I love to eat them on occasion.  But you probably shouldn't give up shakes and replace them with bars.  You can sip on your shake to get it down over time. Mind over matter.

Also, as early out as you are, protein bars might make you sick because they tend to have a lot of fat.  Some people don't tolerate fats too well until several months out, but this is case-by-case.

Having RNY was probably the best thing I've ever done for myself.

Approx highest weight: ~350. Highest measured weight: 338. Surgery weight: 297. Lowest weight (for 5 minutes): 169. Current weight: 209. Goal weight: ??? - maybe 180-185, which was my maintenance weight before the regain.

trigirl64
on 6/18/10 4:48 am - Broomfield, CO
I wasn't allowed to have protien shakes after 6 weeks.  That is why they started us on protien bars at 3-6 weeks.  The point after 3 weeks is not to drink your calories.  You should get as much real food in your system as you can.  One protien bar throughout the day really helped me to get over that hump of getting all my protien in.  I still eat one a day. 

I can only have a protien shake now after I have exercised hard.  It is the only quick way to help my body recover.
      
  
Start Weight 276, Goal Weight 160 maybe lower.
   
    
MoLawEd
on 6/18/10 5:54 am - Cambridge, MA
How much protein do you get a day? 

Having RNY was probably the best thing I've ever done for myself.

Approx highest weight: ~350. Highest measured weight: 338. Surgery weight: 297. Lowest weight (for 5 minutes): 169. Current weight: 209. Goal weight: ??? - maybe 180-185, which was my maintenance weight before the regain.

Donna B.
on 6/18/10 7:01 am - Round Lake, IL
RNY on 05/11/10 with
Thank you all for your responses.
I am having trouble with fats yes in deed.  And not getting in much protein really struggling.

I think I will wait on the protein bars for now until I can tollerate foods better.  And the NUT says I can have them.

Thanks again for all the responses.


SayNo2Me  (Donna B)
SW - 257.5 - / CW - 152.0 - / Surgeon's GW - 160                                                                  
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