Happy Sunday and need the 411 on protein shakes

There are Sugar Free Syrups you can use to get alternate flavors - Torani, DaVInci, Jordan's Skinny Syrup. I buy them at Homegoods?marshalls, World Market and online at Netrtion. Can also buy on Amazon but often have to buy like 6 at a time. I make decaf green Ice tea and add Peach or Blackberry. Have also bought Mango. No reason you couldn't add those flavors to a vanilla protein drink.

In the beginning you are not going to want a big blender with ice protein drink...too much volume. You will have a hard enough time getting it down. Personally I would go with the shaker cup method. Shake- let it sit a few minutes to dissolve- shake again.

Especially in the beginning aim for 100% whey isolate proteins. Inspire Brand at bariatriceating.com is really good. Many people like unjury brand...

Sometimes I blended frozen strawberries with a chocolate protein shake and made it thick enough to eat with a spoon.  It tastes like a Wendy's chocolate frostie.

The biggest issue I've had with blending shakes is how much air is added. It just takes up valuable space in that little pouch and gives me a bloated feeling. One time was enough to keep me away from the blender with shake mixes. I'm using Premier Protein Shakes which are already mixed but I'm moving away from the shakes altogether because, like others, I rather chew my protein.

As for salad dressing... well, as my vegetable garden is currently producing in quantity, I'm preparing to can the tomatoes by blanching, peeling and freezing until I have enough to justify making up a year's worth of tomato sauce. The cucumbers will be pickled. The cabbages turn into kraut and the green beans, peas and broccoli are all being blanched and frozen. I'm growing potatoes for my husband and children (and their families). I do enjoy a couple of bits of vine ripe tomato on my steak and frankly, for me, nothing beats a smear of cream cheese on a freshly picked slice of cucumber.

I make my own olive oil and vinegar salad dressings (I'm allergic to soy, and most commercial dressings have soy oil or soy lethicin) and I'll put the dressing in the bottom of the mixing bowl, toss the lettuce (not iceberg as it has zero nutritional value) and remove the lettuce to the serving platter. Top with cucumber, tomato, a bit of avocado, steamed and chilled green beans or Chinese peas, a little shredded cheese or a couple of feta cubes crumbled. I am happy with 2 ounces of meat which I eat first, then four to six small bites of salad... perhaps with two bites of each ingredient.

I will eat 1/4 to 1/2 cup of steamed veggies with real butter AFTER I eat my meat for the meal.

As for fruit, I put a few (5 or 6) blueberries or two cut up strawberries  in my yogurt (again, home made) in the evenings. The yogurt makes a HUGE difference in my regularity and despite it having carbs, being able to be comfortable makes it worth what little slow down it creates in the weight loss.