Protein diets and shakes

I am almost 3 years out and never tried a protein shake or bar. My last lab results said that I was low on protein, so I am interested in trying them. Can anyone give me advice as to what is a good kind and how do I exactly use them. I am not able to tolerate milk.

My advice to you is to buy samples first and try them all out to figure out which ones you tolerate and like. Here are some links for ya I've drank protein shakes from the start. I actually like a few of them, where some people can't stand any... Hadn't tried the Unjury until this week and I thought it was pretty good. They also have the unflavored kind which you can add to your food: http://www.allthewhey.com/Products/productdetail.asp?PL=SAM https://www.unjury.com/ssl/purchasing.php http://www.vitalady.com/products-samples.htm http://store.bariatriceating.com/ulprtapa.html Have fun discovering! Angie

I don't like to eat too many of the bars because they remind me too much of candy. I do like the Achieve One coffee drinks and they have 120 cal and 20 grams of protein in each drink. Unjury protein powder is good and it mixes up nice. I use it in just cold water. That way you don't have to use milk and you save on calories. Shaklee makes a good unflavored protein that mixes up so fine in anyting and you can cook with it and put it into hot liquids and foods which you can't with a lot of other protein powders. Hope this helps Lori

P.S. I tried a lot of the bars... some were good, but others I couldn't stand... somehow sugar-free meant super-sweet I LOVE Power Crunch though. It's the only bar I eat. I have one pretty much daily. My breakfast is normally a Power Crunch and an AchievOne! I almost forgot about the AchievOne! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! My favorite is the Cappuchino, followed closely by Vanilla Nut My favorite Power Crunch is Cookies and Cream... used to be a berry one they've since discontinued. AchievOne - http://store.bariatriceating.com/proteinpowders.html Power Crunch - http://store.bariatriceating.com/proteinbars.html (you can buy the "grab 4" to figure out your favorite flavor Angie

you're right. Sugar free doesn't mean calorie free either. Some of them have so many calories. I got into trouble with the Power Cruch bars. I likes them too much. I was eating them like a snack and not like a meal and at 185 calories, I thought that was too much to add. Lori

You would just have to give up something else (like dinner!) for the Power Crunch... tee hee... I got into that trouble too, believe me... one day I realize 3 Power Crunches a day was oh so not a good idea! I do keep some at work, in case someone brings goodies and I get tempted. A Power Crunch takes care of my craving and it's a much better choice than a cupcake or a brownie ;) Angie

I am a band patient - so sugar content has never been a consideration (except for not having too much), so I'm not sure if my input would be helpful! But there are also Ispoure drinks sold at GNC - they are clear. I never found one I liked, but I think the orange and grape ones were supposed to taste like koolaid. I used to use unflavored Unjury, but I would mix it with milk - others I heard would mix it with Crystal Light, in soft foods like yogurt or applesauce, and I used in in thicker soups. Right now I am using GNC's whey protein in various flavors and really like it -- but I mix it with milk, yogurt & OJ. How you tolerate the taste of protein drinks is so individualized. I would definately buy a bunch of samples. Kristin

Is this the first time in 3 years your labs were low on protein? Just curious? If your answer is yes...what did you do before that kept your levels high? Did you keep a food journal of that time? Perhaps you can revisit these menus and go back to eating them and see what happens. I do shakes and bars....I like Nectar (Syntrax product) and power crunch bars (peanut butter). But I would think if you didn't use them before and everything was good why go there now? Ask yourself what are you doing differently. Debbie

this is the first time they told me they were low. What am I doing differently is I have changed my eating habits. I am not eating my proteins first. I know that and I am trying to go back to the other way.

I use the GNC liquid protein every morning - 3 tablespoons is 18 grams of protein. While the container says Fruit Punch flavor - it is the worst fruit punch I have ever tasted. I chase it with orange juice. I also use the South Beach diet protein bars (they actually call them meal replacement bars) They are the best tasting that I have found. I also use banana flavored protein powder - mix it with vanilla sugar free ice cream and ice in the blender and pretned it is a banana shake. (I have also mixed it w/ fruit and yogurt in the blender) Anne