Question:
I hate all protein drinks, they all have flavors or they are grainy! Help!

I am having a ton of problems with getting my protein in , I hate them all. I have tried them all too. I am thirsty all the time , and I cant enough water down to satisfy my need. If I drink more or faster I get stomach cramps. Helppppp! I am two weeks post op and want to exercise more but I walked a mile and slept two hours. I am always tired and thirsty. I am never hungry though, weird. I had my first hunger pain this past Sunday, it was weird since I havent eaten anything solid in several weeks. Anyway, help advice plzzzz!!    — neneburge (posted on August 2, 2003)


August 1, 2003
Hey Anita, I too have had problems with protein drinks however I LOVE the adtkins advantage shake. It tastes like a milkshake... Another thing that you could do to get your protein in is adding protein powder to your water... They sell it at all vitamin shops, GNC, etc. It is protein whey. They make all flavors but there is one that is no flavor... When you add it to water or whatever you are drinking it adds so much protein and it has NO TASTE. So if you are a water drinker then you should get that and add this powder. I was scared to try it at first, I put it in some crystal light and I couldn't believe that it had NO taste. Good luck!
   — Jaime K.

August 1, 2003
You may want to try the Nectar protein powders - yes they are flavored, but not the usual chocolate or vanilla. They have Caribbean Cooler, my favorite, a mix of coconut, banana and pineapple. They have Cherry Berry, a mixture of Cherry and Raspberry and they have Green Apple (think Jolly Rancher Green Apple candies). Someone on another board told me they just came out with a Strawberry Kiwi flavor too. The Nectar drinks mix very easily and are not grainy at all - and it's all protein - 23g per scoop with no carbs or fat. <p> You are going to be tired at this stage. You just had major surgery and your body is using the few calories that it's getting in at this point for healing so there's not much left for anything else. Maybe instead of walking a mile once a day, walk 1/2 mile twice a day. <p> As far as the stomach cramps, maybe you are gulping the water - try sip, sip, sipping all day long. If you have a sports bottle, use that to prevent the gulping. You may want to change the temperature of the water. Some newbies have trouble tolerating ice water and have to drink it at room temp...JR
   — John Rushton

August 2, 2003
hiya~ i have a list of supplements i use at my website,you may find it helpful. www.geocities.com/katebme2002 i use a "natural" flavor whey protien concentrate plus a soy protein powder - neither of which are flavored. i also drink pre-mixed protein that tastes like kool-aid. these are all listed on my "my supplements" file. you are only 2 weeks post op from MAJOR surgery. please take a few minutes to think about what the surgeon did to your intestinal tract & stomach -- it has been cut and rearranged -- your body needs time to heal and rest. instead of walking one mile, maybe walk 1/2 a mile twice a day with time to rest in between. for the thirst, sip sip sip water and you can also suck on ice cubes. it takes awhile to adjust to your new body... {{hugs}} kate
   — jkb

August 2, 2003
I found that I do not like protein shakes unless I "doctor" them up a little. I usually use GNC 100% whey in vanilla and I either subsitute the water with SF Tang (LOADED WITH VIT. C)decaf. coffee or a crystal lite drink. I also use SF syrups..like hazelnut in the coffee shake. I also use extracts a lot. Maybe if you tried something like what I've suggested, you'd like it enough to get it down. Hugs..MJ
   — Mary Jane C.

August 2, 2003
I too, couldn't drink the shakes early on, even doctored up. My dietitian told me to drink "double protein" milk instead. You make this with powdered milk and skim milk. Make the powdered milk according to the package directions, but mix it into skim milk instead of water. That doubles the protein value of the glass of milk. This really saved me that first four to six weeks. Also, don't worry about being tired. You've put your body through some pretty major changes, and it needs to heal in a bunch of places. You will be tired (it took me eight weeks before I could do anything much). I agree with a previous poster that you should break your walk up into two or three shorter walks (better for preventing blood clots, too) than one long walk. Regarding the stomach cramps, I would get those if I drank too much, too fast, or took in air with my water. Try slowing down and taking small sips. I know you miss the sensation of a big drink of water, but that will come back later. As for not feeling hungry: perfectly normal. Most people don't feel hungry for months after surgery. It's a good thing. But remember to eat when you're supposed to--you need the calories and nutrition. It sounds to me like you're doing just fine, right on track with where most of us were at the same stage. Keep plugging away. You're going to feel much more normal real soon.
   — Vespa R.

August 2, 2003
being extremely thirsty is a sign of diabetes. maybe you should have that checked too...
   — candymom64

August 2, 2003
hey,I am just like you these regular protien drinks are nasty. Have you tried carnation instant breakfast no sugar added.mix it with skim milk it is really smooth.I have found i cannot mix in a blender nay protien it is to froothy and makes me gag.today I blended 20 g of protien with sf butterscotch pudding and it is good.I am only 2 weeks out to.I had trouble with water but seems to get better everyday. best of luck and Email me if you want to Patty
   — patty L.

August 2, 2003
Have you tried extreme smoothies www.VHTbody.com or the Vita4life.com packets are 2 oz--30 g. and can be chugged like a shot or added to Fruit 2 O --go to www.imnotfatanymore.com for more protein choices (Sandy). You have to get your protein in so you don't lose your hair or nails or catch a disease where the dehydration causes you to go in the hospital. It's that important.
   — who A.

August 2, 2003
soy is always gritty to me, i hate anything with soy in it, makes me retch, i stick to whey products. the fruit drinks are different, you can get liquid concentrates that can be added to juice and waters also i got one at www.vitalady.com she is most helpful if you explain what you need she will help you and you can get samples of most things too. good luck i know it is hard to find somehting that is not vile.
   — janetc00

August 2, 2003
I never did protein drinks. I ate alot of deli meats, and various cheeses. My protein level was VERY high! :)
   — Danmark

August 2, 2003
I have also tried, many differant protien drinks, and the nectar, I liked it pre op but I cant bring myself to take a sip. But I have found the one that I really look forward too and it is CARBSOLUTIONS pre mixed in a can, sold as a 4 pack for around $5.85 at walmart. I love chocolate, and it is rich and not gritty, but I like to eat pumpkin seeds, I suck the salt off the sells and just eat the nuts inside. I dont like the powder kind. good luck!
   — wizz46

August 2, 2003
I am still pre-op and had a terrible time finding something that I could keep down. Even the Carnation Instant Breakfast didn't work very well. I went to a discount nutrition store (not GNC, but a mom and pop store) and explained the situation to the owner. She gave me several samples of Champion Stack Whey protein in chocolate and banana and suggested that I mix them together. It actually tasted better than any of the others that I've tried. Now I wouldn't go so far as to say it was good as a milkshake, but it wasn't grainy, and didn't have the aftertaste that the others did. Also, you can mix it with only 4-5 ounces (instead of 8)of water or skim milk (I use milk) and get 23 grams of protein (28 with milk).
   — Denise B.

August 4, 2003
HI there, I too gagged at all protein shakes until I tried some premixed ones. Ultra pure protein at GNC is good, so is advantage ease at walmart. I am 3 wks out and can tell when I miss my protein shake, I get really tired.If I then drink my shake I get a boost of energy that lasts most of the day. Good Luck!!!
   — WendieS

August 6, 2003
I've found that neither Unjury or Real Meals are grainy. Good luck. Protein is super important. Keep trying. Also, GNC has an unflavored protein that I mix in with my meals to keep my protein up. That may work for you, too. Good luck.
   — Rachel T.




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