Visalus a good idea or bad idea???

coppertop84
on 7/4/12 4:42 pm - Canada

Hey y'all.
I see a lot of people posting on here about having protein shakes for breakfast or snack post op. Has anyone tried visalus? My gf is trying to get me to take it for my protein but Im nervous. I thought I'd get a feel in here before running to my clinic and asking them.
Rachel :)

joanne_1970
on 7/4/12 5:27 pm - Harriston, Canada

RNY on 09/01/11 with

If you have Dr Reed he will definately tell you a big no. Guelph does not recommend protein shakes at all.
Also Visalus tells customers that they have been on Dr Oz and recommended by him. Im not a Dr Oz fan but I searched and he did not in fact remommend them and has warned people about company's using this claim so I would be cautious about a company like this.

Diminishing Dawn
on 7/4/12 5:39 pm - Windsor, Canada

RNY on 07/05/06 with

I will you now that visalus sellers make a point to target us as their clientele. I have had lots of them call me , email me and even show up at my support group meetings telling me that they are "here to sell". I would never sell these to our members to make money or to get free shakes. (Ive had ladies tell me their surgeon approved them even though i know this is not the case as I've called and checked on that. The sellers are very aggressive in marketing - at least most of the ones I've dealt with.

Unfortunately many gastric patients get suckered in because if you get something like 3 people to join under you, you get free shakes. For people with limited income it seems like a dream.

They are not high quality for us. They are a mixture of proteins (mostly soy), they barely have any protein in them, they have lots of carbs in them and then you have to add more milk which is more carbs. They do not meet the bariatric centres requirements according to both Windsor and Guelph which I've consulted on this topic.

Get a proper shake, low carb and get away from the hype. You can do so much better than these barely there protein shakes

Dawn

Visit my Webpage That Documents My First Year Post OP
6+ Years Post Op in July '12.. Diminishing Returns. (my newest journal!!). I love answering questions of preops! Send me a message anytime to add me to fitbit or facebook ****Ask me about the Windsor WLS Support Group**** Facebook group : bariatric long-timers for those 3 yrs plus!
"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children... to leave the world a better place...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." *~Ralph Waldo Emerson~*

PatXYZ
on 7/4/12 8:44 pm

Hi Dawn - great info on this, thank you.

I had a question about something you mentioned because it came up in another post the other day. Is there a reason why soy is not a good protein for post-ops? It also has a 100 PDCAAS score just like whey and egg white proteins, so does it have something to do with it being plant based? I ask because Hamilton recently amended their dietary info and are now suggesting soy as a fine alternative to whey protein. I haven't been able to find any firm info on this. Thanks!

I had OHIP approved Duodenal Switch surgery with Dr. Dennis Hong at St. Joseph's Hamilton on March 7th, 2012. Want more information on the DS in Ontario? Send me a private message!

Diminishing Dawn
on 7/4/12 9:38 pm - Windsor, Canada

RNY on 07/05/06 with

It's more about how RNYers absorb it than the actual protein score. Whey isolate is the best, whey protein is next. Soy is an alternate for those who can't do whey.

Dawn

Visit my Webpage That Documents My First Year Post OP
6+ Years Post Op in July '12.. Diminishing Returns. (my newest journal!!). I love answering questions of preops! Send me a message anytime to add me to fitbit or facebook ****Ask me about the Windsor WLS Support Group**** Facebook group : bariatric long-timers for those 3 yrs plus!
"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children... to leave the world a better place...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." *~Ralph Waldo Emerson~*

PatXYZ
on 7/4/12 9:49 pm

Right, but why would there be a difference in how it is absorbed if they have equal digestibility scores? Protein is mostly absorbed in the same part of the digestive tract, so what is the difference? Does it have to do with it being plant rather than animal based? I've just been trying to dig up info on why whey should be preferred over soy and I haven't been able to find any good info on it from studies. If you know of anything and can pass it on I would appreciate it.

I had OHIP approved Duodenal Switch surgery with Dr. Dennis Hong at St. Joseph's Hamilton on March 7th, 2012. Want more information on the DS in Ontario? Send me a private message!

Khedgehog
on 7/4/12 10:07 pm

Could it have something to do with the estrogen-mimicking properties of soy? I have no data to back this up, it's just a theory, but bear with me - estrogen is already released in large quantities in individuals losing weight rapidly so adding more could potentially lead to some pretty serious mood concerns. Too much estrogen is linked to depression, mood swings, suicidal ideation, irritability and so on and so forth.

Approved for DS in Ontario! Waiting for a date!

PatXYZ
on 7/4/12 10:10 pm

Interesting idea, I don't know enough about this issue to comment on it without doing further research, but I've never heard this issue mentioned before.

I had OHIP approved Duodenal Switch surgery with Dr. Dennis Hong at St. Joseph's Hamilton on March 7th, 2012. Want more information on the DS in Ontario? Send me a private message!

Khedgehog
on 7/5/12 4:41 pm

What I do know, and it isn't much, is that some women trying to conceive use soy in lieu of certain ovulation promoting fertility drugs, such as clomid.
There was also an article in some magazine a while back saying that baby boys should not be given soy formula due to the estrogen-like qualities of soy protein.
I only read the synopsis because it wasn't a scientific article (not meaning to come across as a snob, just that magazine articles rarely provide more information than what can be found in the first 5-6 lines...), I only took note in the first place because my son had to have soy formula as a baby because of a cow's milk protein intolerance. That's where my theory came from.

Approved for DS in Ontario! Waiting for a date!

twins4meplus1
on 7/4/12 6:29 pm - St Thomas, Canada

RNY on 08/22/07 with

Nope not the best option for us. There are much better shakes on the market that at low carb, more protein and less sugar. Whey protein isolate is a good choice for us.

Linda

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coppertop84
on 7/4/12 6:54 pm - Canada

Thanks so much for your ideas and answers. I'll definitely stay away from it. I'd like to get the majority of my protein from real food but might give that whey protein isolate a try if I struggle :)

PatXYZ
on 7/4/12 8:46 pm

You should never feel bad for using protein shakes, almost everyone does and it is a great way to start your day with a big hit of protein. Guelph's recmmendations re: protein shakes will soon be changing, ignore the ban and get your protein in however you can.

I had OHIP approved Duodenal Switch surgery with Dr. Dennis Hong at St. Joseph's Hamilton on March 7th, 2012. Want more information on the DS in Ontario? Send me a private message!

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Visalus a good idea or bad idea???