Question:
How can you afford the protein supplements?
Well, I was looking on a few sites and I saw some of the prices for the protein supplements and I just about fell over. One place I saw was $100 for 40 servings. $100 is darn near my entire food budget for a month! (I'm a college student living alone). I know I won't be eating as much, but still $100 is a lot of money. If you buy the cheaper tubs, how much do you use in a month? I saw some that were like $25 for 2 pounds... how long does that last and how effective is it compared to the more expensive stuff? I'm having surgery in December and I am really starting to wonder about getting all the nutrition in. Can anybody help me? I'm starting to panic here. — Toni C. (posted on October 8, 2002)
October 8, 2002
Toni...if you make your food choices right, you don't need to supplement
with these expensive protein supplements. In fact, the nutritionist at HUP
prefers that HUP post-ops meet all of their protein requirements through
food sources. Your surgeon and/or nutritionist should be able to point
you towards the more protein-rich foods that you will be able to handle on
your food budget rather than spending money on a protein supplement that
you may not even like the taste of and end up throwing it away...JR (open
RNY 07/17 -87 lbs)
— John Rushton
October 8, 2002
Toni...I too was worried when I first started checking out prices and
different brands, but I found Designer Whey protein supplement and love it.
It absolutely tastes great and I look forward to my shakes. It is also
not bad on price either. I pay $12.99 for 15 servings. No that is not a
typo either. I went to a local vitamin shop and asked them to order it for
me. It is manufactured or distributed by Next Proteins International P.O.
Box 2469 Carlsbad, CA 92018 Tel # is 1-800-designer. It comes in a varity
of flavors ....chocolate, vanilla, vanilla praline, nutural(can be flavored
with any extract live hazelnut or raspberry ect.). It can also be
purchased at GNC but their mark up is so high there that I won't do
business with them again. Their price is $17.99. I sure hope this helps
you. My favorite way to have my shake is......4 oz. 1% milk, 1 scoop
chocolate protein mix, 2 ice cubes, 1/4 banana and blend.
MMMMMMMM......YUMMY! It is so good! Good Luck!
— DRutherford
October 8, 2002
You know, I was worried about taht until my nutritionist whipped out the
sugar free Carnation Instant Breakfast and the other stuff just mentioned.
Don't forget that there are traditional protein sources that aren't as
expensive like eggs, meats, tuna, etc.
— Janet H.
October 8, 2002
I agree with one of the previous posters -- you can get in all your protein
from natural sources if you try. Tuna salad one meal per day accomplishes
about 1/2 your daily requirement for protein. Peanut Butter is another
excellent source, as well as eggs. I personally have trouble with the
drinks and also don't really like eating breakfast, so I eat about 1/2 a
protein bar for breakfast. That costs $0.50 approximately per day right
now since I am trying out different bars and not buying in bulk. Also,
check out vitalady.com for good prices on protein drinks. Remember protein
bars and drinks are meant to be a supplement, not your main source of
protein. Good luck and God bless.
— Jenni K.
October 8, 2002
There are some good whey proteins that are as little as 6# for $40 or 10#
for $60. The 10# one lasts about 52 days at 3scoops per day (66g), for
example. You just kinda have to look around. I use about 7 different ones
personally, but protein supp is my protein. Doc's orders, and my preference
(good match, huh?). You should actually end up SAVING money in the long
run. I use protein for appetitie control, volume control, craving control
and to keep me NOT food focused. I tend to eat balanced meals, but I don't
want to have to CONCENTRATE on meal content. Sometimes a meal is just
lettuce. Yum. Protein needs are covered completely in CHOCOLATE!
— vitalady
October 8, 2002
one word: BEANS!! They are cheap and full of protein (and they go down
pretty darn well too). Also drink your milk. You'll be fine!! (the
college life is temporary anyhow).
If you really concentrate on your diet, you'll probably be able to get
enough protein from food. Just make sure you keep track.
— mandajuice
October 9, 2002
A good start would be to buy some samples from vitalady.com. That way you
are not spending big bucks on crap you don't like. I have tried MANY and
THE BEST TASTING by far, for me, is the DEESIGNER WHEY protein powder. I
have shopped around and THE CHEAPEST place to buy it is at
http://store.yahoo.com/esupp/designerwhey.html I get the 2# containers for
$18.95. At GNC they are $30!!
— Kim B.
October 9, 2002
Don't panic. There are lots of doctor's who prefer you to get your protein
in the foods you eat. Mine is one of them. I exercise to help protect my
muscles and eat a well balanced diet that consists mostly of protein and
then some vegetables. I always eat a Lean Cuisine for lunch and sometimes
when in a hurry, I eat one for dinner. I just make sure that I eat the
protein part of it first in case I can't finish it all, which is usually
the case. I also snack on grilled chicken or tuna. I eat 3 small meals
and 3 small snacks a day. I've never felt better or been in better shape.
Just make sure you take vitamins. I get mine at Sam's club and I don't pay
a fortune for them. My labs have always come back excellent. I was enemic
off and on my whole life until now. Good luck.
— Teri D.
October 9, 2002
As an earlier post mentioned, no sugar added carnation instant breakfast is
great. The powder itself has 4g protein, but you mix it with skim milk
which adds 8g, for a total of 12g/serving. CIB costs about $3.50 for a pack
of 8 at Super Walmart (I have found it costs up to a dollar more a pack at
grocery stores like Bruno's and Publix). I also occasionally use Procal 100
(I buy it at Meditrim weight loss center for $12 for a packet of 12. I
prefer the taste of the instant breakfast though, and it's cheaper. Procal
has 14g/protein..but you can mix it with water on the go. You can also use
milk which will add more protein, but to me this makes it too thick and I
don't like it.
— sheltie
October 10, 2002
I use Carb solution protien powder that cost around $9 at Walmart.
I start off every day with protien shake, they have chocolate, vanilla,
and strawberry (but it is hard to find it). Very high in protien, and very
low
in carbs and sugar. Between my wife and I (both RNY) we go through about 6
cans per month.
So that is around $30 per person per month. I have tried several of the
more expensive protien powders, and I like it better, I don't have to
order
it from somewhere.
— Dell H.
October 11, 2002
First of all, if you aren't able to get in all your protein through foods,
you'll have to find a supplement that is reasonably priced and tastes
reasonably good. If you have a GNC around you, I'd highly suggest going
there first and buying one of a few different things. Keep your receipt!
GNC's policy is that if you don't like it for any reason, bring it back for
a refund or to try something else. If you then find something you like,
check out prices on the internet. One that I found that is quite tolerable
is the Ultra Pure Protein Shakes by Worldwide. They are pre-mixed in a can
and each can is 35g of protein. The last time I checked they came in
chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, cappucino, and orange cream. Buy one of
each of the flavors you might find tolerable. They are $2.69 or so at GNC.
When you find one that you like, go to www.juicers.net and click on
Worldwide then find the Ultra Pure Protein Shakes....and you can buy them
in a case of 24 for something like $1.79 each and there's no shipping cost.
— Lynette B.
October 14, 2002
Wow! Those prices are quite high. I'm having surgery also in December.
The supplement suggested to me is ProComplex. This is an expensive
proposition; however through my support group, I found it half price on the
Internet. I won't post the site here for fear of advertising. But, I will
say I'm getting 29 servings (55gms) -- a 4.4 pound container for $42.00
including shipping and handling. I can get the 2.2 pound container for $20
at the same site. E-mail me, and I'll give you the site. I had no idea
how I was going to do it, but this I can actually do. I get the vanilla
flavor and mix it with everything. For now I mix one scoop a day with 4 oz
of milk, non-fat plain yogurt and fresh fruit. Beginning next month, I'll
begin using 2 scoops a day. This I'll need to continue for my first month
post-op as was directed by my surgeon. You can mix it with water, juice,
anything.
Lisa
— Lisa P.
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