VSG Maintenance Group
Dense foods
I am having trouble keeping my protein levels up because I am still having trouble with dense foods such as chicken, burgers, meatloaf etc. I seem to do better with steak than ground beef. Sometimes fish is ok and other times not. For the longest time I could not do tunafish but seem to be able to get about 3 oz. down - sometimes. Eggs still don't work for me and that was part of my pre-op plan for getting proteins. I'm burnt out on protein drinks and can get some protein bars in but am bored with them too.
Anyone else still having trouble with meats this far out?
Anyone else still having trouble with meats this far out?
(23 prior to surgery)
I'm 5'8"
The old broad
I wouldn't say I am having trouble but can only eat small portions of these. I get a good dose of protein by having gy for breakfast. The Fage brand has 23g in a cup and with a teaspoon of honey its pretty good. I also have string cheese and toasted unsalted almonds often.
When I make meatloaf, usually from ground turkey, I run it through the food processor to mix it. That gives it a really fine texture that seems to go down easier. I prefer it this way now.
I also make oatmeal and add to it some PB2 and some unflavored soy protein plus a tsp of honey. Tastes good and sneaks in some extra protein. And most nights I take my vitamins and such with a glass of skim milk. And the evening treat is a blob of peanut butter on a spoon which has some protein. I often have a power crunch protein bar (the only kind I like anymore) in the afternoon for 14 g protein. I quit eggs for cholesterol reasons (see recent post) as I used to have them a lot.
The unflavored soy protein can be mixed into savory soups and doesn't taste too bad. When I do tuna I puree it with fat free mayo and dill pickles. The mushy texture goes down easier.
Hope this helps. Diane
When I make meatloaf, usually from ground turkey, I run it through the food processor to mix it. That gives it a really fine texture that seems to go down easier. I prefer it this way now.
I also make oatmeal and add to it some PB2 and some unflavored soy protein plus a tsp of honey. Tastes good and sneaks in some extra protein. And most nights I take my vitamins and such with a glass of skim milk. And the evening treat is a blob of peanut butter on a spoon which has some protein. I often have a power crunch protein bar (the only kind I like anymore) in the afternoon for 14 g protein. I quit eggs for cholesterol reasons (see recent post) as I used to have them a lot.
The unflavored soy protein can be mixed into savory soups and doesn't taste too bad. When I do tuna I puree it with fat free mayo and dill pickles. The mushy texture goes down easier.
Hope this helps. Diane
I can't eat more than a couple of bites of meat at a time. It doesn't feel good in my stomach. Although I do eat it, usually a little each day, I eat an awful lot of peanut butter, cheese, yogurt, and cream cheese. Smooth!
--Dorothy
--Dorothy
Highest weight: 292 Pre-op weight: 265 Goal met: 150 Six years out: 185 and trying to lose again!
I have found that adding salsa and/or avocado works well for moistening meat. Avocado is a healthy fat and in small amounts is an excellent addition to one's diet. I also add unflavored protein (beneprotein) to my morning Greek Yogurt ( Fage or Chobanni plain, NF) and a small amount of berries.
You could also add Greek yogurt to Tuna or any other type of meat for added protein, moisture, and flavor.
You could also add Greek yogurt to Tuna or any other type of meat for added protein, moisture, and flavor.
I don't have any problems with meat, but because of how much I exercise I aim for 100-120 gms of protein a day. There is no way I could do this without supplements, unless I want to eat just meat all day.
Here are my go to recipes:
Protein Cheesecake
1 box of sugar free, fat free instant cheesecake pudding
2 cups of fat free cottage cheese
1 cup skim milk
2 scoops unflavored protein powder ( I use GNC Pro Performance)
1 TBS vanilla
½ cup pourable Splenda or 12 packets of Splenda
Blend the cottage cheese until smooth. Add the milk, protein powder, vanilla, and Splenda. Blend again until smooth. Add the pudding mix and blend.
IMPORTANT - blend the cottage cheese before adding the other ingredients or you won't be able to get it smooth. If you need to, add just a little bit of milk.
Pour into 7 ½ cup containers.
Nutrition for ½ up: 89 calories, 0 gm fat, 9 gms carbs, 5 gms sugar, 12 gms protein.
Protein Jello Salad
1 box sugar free orange jello
2 scoops unflavored protein powder ( I use GNC Pro Performance)
1 TBS vanilla
2 cups cottage cheese
1 can no sugar added Del Monte Mandarin Oranges
1 Cup boiling water (I used the juice from the oranges and enough water to make 1 cup)
1. Drain the oranges and separate into 8 ½ cup containers.
2. Blend the cottage cheese and protein powder in blender until smooth. IMPORTANT - blend the cottage cheese before adding the other ingredients or you won't be able to get it smooth.
3. Dissolve the Jello in the cup of boiling water then add to the cottage cheese blend by HAND or it will get too frothy. I will usually do just a couple of short bursts with the blender.
4. Pour over oranges and refrigerate.
Nutrition for ½ up: 92 calories, 1 gm fat, 9 gms carbs, 3 gms sugar, 13 gms protein.
Strawberry Smoothie (I think this tastes like a Strawberry Julius!)
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup of milk
2 TBS or 4 packets of Splenda
Splash of vanilla
1 scoop unflavored protein powder
Mocha Cappuccino
1 RTD chocolate Premier Protein drink from Costco
6 oz decaf coffee (I prefer hazelnut)
2 tsp Coffee Mate Peppermint Mocha creamer
Heat the protein drink, but DO NOT BOIL, add the coffee and creamer.
I also recomend looking at the website The World According to Eggface. She has lots of ideas.
Here are my go to recipes:
Protein Cheesecake
1 box of sugar free, fat free instant cheesecake pudding
2 cups of fat free cottage cheese
1 cup skim milk
2 scoops unflavored protein powder ( I use GNC Pro Performance)
1 TBS vanilla
½ cup pourable Splenda or 12 packets of Splenda
Blend the cottage cheese until smooth. Add the milk, protein powder, vanilla, and Splenda. Blend again until smooth. Add the pudding mix and blend.
IMPORTANT - blend the cottage cheese before adding the other ingredients or you won't be able to get it smooth. If you need to, add just a little bit of milk.
Pour into 7 ½ cup containers.
Nutrition for ½ up: 89 calories, 0 gm fat, 9 gms carbs, 5 gms sugar, 12 gms protein.
Protein Jello Salad
1 box sugar free orange jello
2 scoops unflavored protein powder ( I use GNC Pro Performance)
1 TBS vanilla
2 cups cottage cheese
1 can no sugar added Del Monte Mandarin Oranges
1 Cup boiling water (I used the juice from the oranges and enough water to make 1 cup)
1. Drain the oranges and separate into 8 ½ cup containers.
2. Blend the cottage cheese and protein powder in blender until smooth. IMPORTANT - blend the cottage cheese before adding the other ingredients or you won't be able to get it smooth.
3. Dissolve the Jello in the cup of boiling water then add to the cottage cheese blend by HAND or it will get too frothy. I will usually do just a couple of short bursts with the blender.
4. Pour over oranges and refrigerate.
Nutrition for ½ up: 92 calories, 1 gm fat, 9 gms carbs, 3 gms sugar, 13 gms protein.
Strawberry Smoothie (I think this tastes like a Strawberry Julius!)
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup of milk
2 TBS or 4 packets of Splenda
Splash of vanilla
1 scoop unflavored protein powder
Mocha Cappuccino
1 RTD chocolate Premier Protein drink from Costco
6 oz decaf coffee (I prefer hazelnut)
2 tsp Coffee Mate Peppermint Mocha creamer
Heat the protein drink, but DO NOT BOIL, add the coffee and creamer.
I also recomend looking at the website The World According to Eggface. She has lots of ideas.