Question:
Is there other ways to get more Protein
I am only 3 weeks post opt. I am having problem getting my protien. I do not like any of the protein drinks nor shake. I just started to be able to get more liquids. I am week and tired all the time. I went to my post opt appt and they are just telling me that I need to get the protein and the liquids down. It is easier said that done. I am really just having a hard time right now. Can anyone help. — youngta1 (posted on January 21, 2011)
January 21, 2011
I have not had surgery yet but I have been "tasting" and
"practicing" with different protein sources. (I meet with my
surgeon Feb 9 and from there get a surgery date: keep you fingers
crossed!). I also know tastes change after surgery but have you tried the
unflavored Unjury powder (buy online at www.Unjury.com) to your liquids?
This does not thicken your drink but will give you 23 grams of protein. And
you can add to ANY beverage or broth (they do have a temp requirement on
heated beverages because the texture changes....but they have a wonderful
gift pack that will introduce you to their products that comes with a
themometer, roughly $18. Does your program allow blended foods? Can you
have smooth yogurts? The All Natural Brown Cow 0% Fat Greek Yogurt has 23
grams of protein per cup. Dress it up with splenda and vanilla extract.
Yogurt drinks, sugar fee pudding, and other yogurt types may be helpful.
— yecats44
January 21, 2011
Hi...
Carnation Instant Breakfast (no sugar added) Lactose free, fat free Milk
(8 oz)... in a blender with ice... also add vanilla protein powder if you
can handle it... if not the milk and the carnation both have protein and
taste good... good luck! I'm 13 mos out and remember how difficult the
beginning was... good luck it gets better!
— fortywhat2
January 21, 2011
Before you try any of these suggestions from folks that reply, make sure
you run it by your DR. I wasn't allowed sugar free pudding. I am 18
months out and struggle with protein consumption, my NUT put me on
Proteinex, I reiterate, you must get this checked out with either your NUT
or Dr.
Proteinex is a pure form protein, you buy it through either your pharmacy
or a medical company, it tastes yucky, but 2 T equals 18 grams of pure
protein.
Like I have said a million times in here, I wasn't allowed any carbs until
I lost 75% of my weight, milk has carbs but it is different, that was
allowed for me.
I know how difficult it is, but keep trying different protein shakes, I
tried so many that at times at first I was in tears, then I found NOW
protein and I have one shake a day, I use milk and I get in 35 grams of
protein. When you can start eating, try cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, any
soft cheese, i.e. laughing cow. I couldn't tolerate any kinds of foods
when I first had this surgery. I still am having a lot of problems with
protein, I will be sick for days if I eat chicken, fish and pork. Funny
thing I can tolerate beef, so I cook it in a pressure cooker with mushrooms
and barley. I do not think you can eat barley yet.
SIP SIP SIP that darn water too, it is gross at first, but it does get
better. I drink ice tea too.
Write me any time if you want to communicate.
Shelly
— FSUMom
January 21, 2011
Smoothie king has the "Gladiator" which has 45g protein and you
just pick two fruits. I always get Strawberry and Kiwi. I get the small
and it is plenty. Also you can add powdered protein to your yogurt or
pudding. I can't do the regular protein drinks. Yuk! My friends have all
loved the Gladiator. Look at the nutritional guide and you will see it is
pretty healthy. Good luck.
— azoreangal
January 21, 2011
I'm almost 13 months out and have lost 132 lbs ! I use Pure Protein Shakes
that I get at Trader Joe's (if you have one near you). You can drink two
35g shakes a day and meet your requirements. I also still drink Pro15Ti
fruit drinks .. none of these that i've mentioned taste at all like they
have protein in it. If you don't have a Trader Joe's (where they sell it
in the can) they are now selling the Pure Protein in powder form at Target.
I couldn't handle the vanilla (for some reason made me vomit) but I love
the Chocolate and still drink it 2x a day (to ensure i'm getting all my
protein).
I couldn't do the Unjury products.. they all smelled like dirty feet to
me. I bought a bunch of it before my surgery and ended up giving it all to
a friend who had surgery after me. I think everyone is different with
what they can handle BUT... once I started drinking the pure protein,
people at work started asking me about it and even my dad (none of whom had
any weight issues, on the contrary, most of them were thin workout
buffs)... I've never heard of anyone who didn't like the Pure Protein from
Trader Joes. (technically it's called Worldwide Pure Protein.. their
slogan is eat good, live great !! I'm sipping on one right now as a
matter of fact... I still get up every morning and put my Vitamin D in it
...... you'll find u can pierce gel's open capsules and put the meds in
there and you won't even taste it ! Best of luck ! Karen--(just had
plastics and very happy ) !
— KQinNC
January 21, 2011
I got sick of the typical strawberry, chocolate, vanilla protein drinks
really quick but I found that Proti 15 makes fruit flavored ones that are
VERY good. I have orange every morning with my liquid vitamins, supplements
I take, then throughout the day I drink wild berry, cran berry, or orange
mango, I LOVE them and I am pretty picky.
— tfqh99
January 21, 2011
go online to bariatric eating.com i think or just google bariatric eating,
there is a non-flavor protein powder, i was having the worst time
imaginable... you can put a scoop in your water or decaf tea or coffee...
or do the "shots" of protein, they are high protein and only like
2 or 3 oz.
they have a ton of flavored drinks you can try. i am in ft. lauderdale, the
store actually has a setup where you can try the different flavors. good
luck.
— MarthaJ0110
January 21, 2011
I too am pre-op I am 2-3 months away. I have been trying different proteins
and watching blogs to see what is the most popular. I say keep trying there
is one out there...somewhere...
— That_816_Princess
January 21, 2011
I was not a coffee drinker prior to surgery really. I was a soda fanatic.
I would get terrible headaches. so i started trying a cup of coffee. If
you pour it and either wait for it to cool a bit, or cool it with just a
couple chunks of ice, you can add your protein powder to it. It acts just
like a creamer would. Make sure you can have a cup or two of coffee from
your doc first. Extracts help. My favorite way to flavor up the vanilla
protein shake that i was given for right after surgery was to add a drop or
two of banana to the blender. I did not like the bubbles it made so i
started shaking up the shakes by hand and this worked better for me.
Instead of ice, I would put in a chunk or two of frozen fruit like
pineapple or strawberry. Not the stuff swimming in sugar, the real fruit.
Just a dab will do it without irritating your pouch...again...always ask
doc. They also have protein shots at Walmart for cheap. they have 26
grams of protein in them. If you drink half in the morning and half in the
afternoon, you just added all that protein to your day! the unflavored
protein powder...i dont like the smell, BUT i cant taste it. I add it to
deviled eggs (make with no fat mayo and mustard), cooled off soups, milk,
yogurt...anything wet or creamy. Trick to getting protein in at first for
me was to think of things that had a ton of protein in them. Scallops and
tuna come to mind. Split pea soup with tiny bits of ham was another one
that i had. Just remember to watch your fat and carbs according to your
doc's specifications. You can do this!!
— lady_myst
January 21, 2011
Protein and liquids are very hard to get in at the beginning.. I ate ice
and sugar free popsicles and drank sugar free Crystal Light in varying
flavors to help get my liquids in.. remember that liquids are liquids and
the protein shakes count too..
I used "Unjury" protein.. It is the best out there for the amount
of protein in proportion to calories and sugar.. It has around 200 calories
and less for some flavors all that with 20 grams of protein.. When mixed
with skim milk you get more protein but you also up the calories.. Unjury
is a medical quality protein and is exactly the kind we need and get the
most benefits from. You want Whey Protein..There is an Unjury unflavored
one too that you can add to many foods.. There is also a chicken broth one
too.. I add it to a lot of my cooking as a base..you can make chickin soup
and even add it mashed potatoes at the beginning when you are allowed to
eat them.. I also add it to oatmeal. I dropped all white carbs after I was
able to get in solid protein.. Potatoes are a bad carb to eat but work
great when you are on soft foods..Unjury has a new chocolate one out too..I
think called chocolate splendor.. IT is great.. the best tasting one I have
ever had.. I even make hot chocolate out of it to drink when I am cold..
(remember do not ever heat protein above 130* as it will change the texture
and you will loose some protein from it)..any way you can get it at health
food stores, online too as they have thier own website.. you can also
request samples of it online and many GNC carry it and will give you
samples.. Please be careful and not get a protein at GNC that is made for
body building as that is what it will do for you..
I also eat "Pure Protein" Bars. I get them at Walmart or Kroger
.. they are rather inexpensive compared to others and have the most protein
for less calories and sugar.. you need to get at least 15 grams for less
than 200 calories out of a bar or your just eating candy.. I love the
chocolate and it is my treat now for my chocolate fix. I get my protein
mostly from food now as I am 14 months out from surgery.. but I rely on
them to take with me when I go out so I dont have to stop at fast food
places for a meal.. they are a great meal subtitute and keep you full for
hours.. they have many flavors and the chocolate peanut butter is great
too..
Protein drinks are never going to taste great.. but you have to experiment
to find one that you can tolerate and soon you will aquire a taste for it
and it will get better.. the hardest thing for me was the smell.. so I put
mine in a covered coffee mug so I didnt smell that smell as I drank it.. it
smells worse than it tastes and that sometimes makes it hard to drink..
You should also be able to get a list of high protein foods from your
dietician.. or get online and look up high protein foods..
Protein is very important so you do not loose muscle as you loose weight..
you want to loose fat not muscle..
Also water or other liquids are very very important too.. I can not tell
you how many people wind up in the hospital dehydrated.. so sip sip sip all
day and get in as much as you can as close to the 64 oz you need to get
in.. I get in more now.. and every time you pee you are passing fat out of
your body.. it does not magically disappear so the liquids flush it out of
the system and the drink water or other sugar free and or calorie free
drinks will help you loose weiht at a faster pace.. Nothing about using
the tool is easy.. Do not let people tell you you took the easy way out..
this is hard.. but as many say on OH.. you can do hard things.. and YOU
can.. just make up your mind and work hard at it.. the determination to get
healthy and loose can conquer many obsticals.. just keep at it and you will
suceed..
Also as a resort you can ad many sugar free syrups to flavor the protein
drinks.. they are avalible on line or at many grocery store.. some people
use coffee flavorers but make sure they are sugar free.. I use Davince
Syrup.. there are a lot of flavors in Davince.. Melting mama, The world
Accordin to Eggface and Pam Tremble are all on OH and have many protein
shake recipes..
Keep at it girl YOU CAN DO THIS..
I wish you the best at finding a shake or protein bar you like and also to
get in your liquids.. Work hard and achieve..
Hope this helps you. you are welcome to pm me if you have further
question.. or go to the veterans like the ones I mentioned .. they are very
helpful..
Teresa Stapleton
— Teresa S.
January 22, 2011
www.bariatriceating.com/ has a "Pure" protein power that has no
taste at all, I mix it in everything! I am only 4 week post op and also
found it really hard to get my protein in. But Pure mixes in clear and
tasteless to any cold liquid. I mix it in mashed potatoes, Applesauce, and
even my green tea. Hope this helps, feel free to contact me if you want to
talk.
— Shannahlynn
January 23, 2011
I am not sure where you live, but if there is a Trader Joes were you live,
GO THERE...lol
I buy my protein shakes there...thye are ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL they have
some that have 22, 35, and 45 grams of protein per 11oz can...they are
either vanilla or milk chocolate...NOT GRITTY AT ALL....they are filling
and you on the days that your not hungry at all can substitute your meals
with the shakes....a friend of my husband that had the surg. introduced me
to them and I can say enough about them....I aske my NUT about them and she
knew what I was about them she loves them...she said that I would have to
drink a can and a half in order to get my daily prot. intake...but I drink
two a day and on days that my hunger is not at its peak I substitute the
meal with the shake....
Good luck and I hope this helped you out....
ps. you can check them out in the web also...
— Jovanna P.
January 23, 2011
I'm kinda far down the list, but I hope you read this far. I know alot of
people get concerned about carbs and everything, but right since the
begining of my experience, everyone in my group talks about double milk.
Powdered Dry Non-fat milk is 8 grams of protein for each quarter cup. I
drink alot of hot tea (decaf or herbal) and add 1/4 cup of powdered milk as
my creamer. I do dump on some things, but not lactose (the sugar in milk
that is usually ok for those who aren't lactose intolerant, it isn't white
refined sugar, it's natural). Any cream based soup gets 1/4 - 1/2 cup, if
I am drinking carnation instant or plain milk, I add 1/4 cup to beef up the
protein. the sf carnation instant with 2% milk (remember we need some fat
in our diets or the brain won't work) and the extra powdered milk gets us
up 23 grams of protein. It may take an hour to drink the whole thing, but
it works well for protein. And you can flavor the vanilla one with Dole's
SF mandrine oranges (in splenda) to make a great orange creamsicle! A cup
of 2% with the powdered gives 16!
Anything with a creamy base-puddings, yogurts or even whipped sweet
potatoes can have a scoop of powdered milk or splash of double milk added
to it for an extra 8 grams of protein without changing the flavor.
Hope this helps!
— scootermedic
January 24, 2011
I am so sorry that you too, are having the identical problem that I still
have three months following surgery. The smell of protein drinks is enough
for everything to come back up. The best protein that I have found, and it
is not inexpensive, is called "Proti" or "Proti Diet".
Found near my physician's office in Columbia MO, but best of all, on the
internet. The drinks are like Crystal Light, but the concentrated version
of their drinks are excellent. I have not tried the powder, because the
woman in Columbia, indicated that the concentrated liquid was better. The
Protein Bars are like candy bars, and the only soup I tried was delicious
(chicken noodle). Every packet of their items, contains 15 gms of protein,
and every item contains 7 packets, I believe. If you use these to
supplement what you are already able to consume, it would be advantageous.
Consequently, as warned, I have mega hair loss, and my hair was thin before
surgery. In spite of all the sick times, it is so worth everything
involved. Down 75 lbs in a bit over 3 1/2 months, I shoveled snow for the
first time in over 10 yrs. I can bend my knees, and clip my toenails lol.
Oh my, fat hurts!! I wish you the best, knowing the best is yet to come.
— jgnme523
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