Question:
Is this a bad choice for a homeade protien shake?

I have been mixing a homeade protien shake that consists of the following: 1 banana 5 strawberries fresh 6 ounces unsweet pineapple juice 2 cups crushed ice 3 scoops designer whey protien powder in natural flavor My question is, is this a bad choice for a protien shake? is the carbs in the juice and fruit bad for me? It goes down so well and is really really good, frozen its like ice cream, and in the fridge is like a slushie. I really like this as opposed to the milk based shakes. What is ya'lls thoughts on this?    — Carol K. (posted on December 4, 2003)

December 4, 2003
Hi Carol, I read your profile and you are a pretty new postie. The shake sounds delicious, but at your stage I'm surprised the sugar content doesn't make you dump like crazy. I am a dumper so I don't think I could do it even at 6.5 months out. If I estimate correctly, the calorie content of your drink will be something like 430 including the designer whey protien powder. At your stage it seems awefully high, but your surgeon may advocate more calories for you at this point. Now... about the carbs. The banana is great for your potassium and so are the strawberries, but the bannana and the pinapple juice pack a LARGE glycemic punch to that shake. Fortunately for you at this stage you are probably not hungry no matter what you do, but for me I get very hungry now and I have to watch the carbs with a high glycemic index as they would make me super hungry. I use EAS Advantage shakes and they are good. They have 15g protien per 110 calories and they are pre-made, smooth and the chocolate is to die for. Also... only 1 gram of carbs. I hope this helps. You must be a very creative, good cook. Wish I was... God bless you.
   — Happy I.

December 4, 2003
I really don't want to sound harsh - but how are you NOT dumping from this? Not counting the added protein powder the juice and fruit alone have almost 60 grams of carbs - most of it pure sugar. Personally, I'm not obsessive about my carb intake, but I do try to limit it to around 50 or so grams a day(usually it turns out to be less). Some would say even that is way too much. Have you tried a vanilla flavored shake that you add water to and then add some fruit for flavor? Something else you can try is the Carb Countdown milks from Hood. I find them in the dairy section with the smoothies at super Wal Mart. They have only 3 grams of impact carbs and make the protein powders go down a LOT better. They have regular white, like whole, 2%, 1%, and fat free; they also have chocolate that is really thick and chocolatey. I mix that one with Soy protein from GNC - the unflavored, unsweetened one- and it really is great. I use the white 2% with the 100% Whey in chocolate, also from GNC and it's really good too. A shake like this is a little over 30 grams of protein and less that 5 carbs. Hope I didn't offend, good luck. Pam H
   — Pambylah

December 4, 2003
I'm with Lisa and Pam. Not only I am surprised that you are not dumping, I am also surprised that you can consume that much. I am all for creative shakes but the fruit is loaded with calories. Also, 3 scoops of protein may be more than you can absorb in one "meal" therefore you would be wasting the protein.
   — M B.

December 4, 2003
Check the protein amount in each scoop. the body can only absorb around 30 grams of protein at a time so if you are having more than that, your wasting the protein and the calories. The fruit would not make me dump..I use water instead of milk or juice but add extracts for the flavor. They probably have a pineapple extract you can use, and if you add coconut extract, you'll be in pina colada heaven!
   — Cindy R.

December 4, 2003
Carol, not everyone dumps. According to my doctor's rules, if you're not dumping and are keeping within a calorie count of 1000-1200, 60-90 grams of protien and a minimum of 64 oz.of water you should be alright.
   — Gail L.

December 4, 2003
Right now it is a weight gainer and might actually be dangerous (bacteria). Let's see if we can make it safe for you. With Designer, you want no more than 2 scoops at a time and you want it consumed within 45 minutes or so. No going back to the fridge. Mix with a lil less ice. Switch the pineapple over to s/f Tang or Crystal Light pineapple/orange. Slice up the bananas and berries, freeze on a cookie sheet and then put 'em in a ziplok bag like lil chips. Grab only about 1/2 C TOTAL berries & banana chips. Use more like 1C of ice. Try it. That takes almost all the sugar out of it, makes it much smaller, and possible to consume it within a safe period of time.
   — vitalady