I've been trying a lot of protein powders and RTDs lately since I saw the surgeon for 1 year out.


Since I haven't update recently, first that - I lost 175 at a year out, I'm at about 180 now. The surgeon wants me to do 2 protein shakes per day along with my meals to continue the weight loss. He thinks I should be losing more and faster.

I thought I'd give my reviews of every protein I've sampled if anyone was interested.  I'll add as I try new ones - I have about 30 samples to go through right now.

By the way, I thorougly hate protein so the fact that I have anything nice to say about any of them is really a surprise.

Nectar Ice Tea Lemonade - kill me now, disgusting, yuck yuck bleck

Myoplex RTD - chocolate is ok, but too sweet for me, vanilla I can drink and do tolerate, strawberry was a big mistake. They all leave a sticky film on my mouth and lips that grosses me out, but they do not have a bad smell or aftertaste. They are, however, pricey.

Click Mocha Espresso protein powder - decent, its really thick if you make according to instructions, and it doesn't dissolve well at all so I have to use a blender, but it actually has espresso in it and tastes better than most coffee flavored things. The bonus is that it also has such a strong flavor that it overwhelms the protein smell and taste. The downside is that it makes me go to the bathroom instantly.

Isopure RTD - artic punch DISGUSTING, lemon-lime barely tolerable and slightly disgusting

Dessert protein banana cream pudding - makes a decent smoothie if you add a banana, and is not so thick and sticky, not bad at all

Dessert protein vanilla - better than most, good vanilla flavor, not sticky, low puke factor

Bariatric advantage banana tastes like banana laffy taffy, ok at first then kind of disgusting.  Very thick and VERY sticky aftermath

Bariatric advantage chocolate - thick, sticky, tastes like chocolate puddling. The taste is OK, no strong smell but its just too thick and sweet for me, even made with double the liquid

Atkins Advantage RTD - ok before surgery, now just the smell does me in

Syntha-6 Strawberry - quite yummy, no smell (not 100% whey though), hardly sticky, no aftertaste. The BSN proteins seem to work best for me so far.

This is a repost from the BMI over 50 board -

Its hard to believe next month will mark a YEAR since surgery! I lost 7 lbs this month (167 total), not as much as I'd like thanks to a stall and a change in birth control pills that added 7lbs of water over a week.  I definitely lost inches this month though, especially in my hips and a little more in my face (the double chin is almost gone, come on double chin, LEAVE).  I didn't make before and afters last month so I definitely will today and post them here later. 

I am mostly doing well - I get dizzy spells and lightheaded-ness pretty often, I have confirmed postural hypotension and suspected reactive hypoglycemia.  They are worse after I work out.  I will have blood drawn in a couple of weeks again but I suspect it will be fine.  I feel pretty darn good when I am not dizzy!  I don't sleep as much finally, but when I am losing I still want to sleep a little extra.  I can usually tell when I am about to lose (it all pretty much happens in one week these days) because I sleep more deeply and for longer each night.  The rest of the time I am kind of a restless sleeper these days - so different than before surgery.  I would collapse at night for another apneic night of poor sleep and I'd wake up cranky, tired and usually with a headache.  Now I have so much more energy and my sleep quality is so much better.  I don't think I realized what I was missing.  I've stopped the cpap, it felt like it was too strong.  I need to have another sleep test but insurance is still giving me pre-exisiting conditions hassles. 

I am wearing 22W pants and 20W shirts and dresses at this point.  I still flop around in the 24s and 26s of both that I have, but that's just because I'm broke and enjoy looking like a hobo. 


*** here are some before and afters and I'll but side and back views in my profile also





Ugh I didn't realize those shorts cut into the belly like that

Its about a week past my ten month anniversary.  I've lost 167lbs total, and I've finally gotten to under 100lbs left to goal.  I never thought it would get here!

I am feeling good.  We had an excellent vacation in Boston and I had so much more energy and was able to do so much more than I would have been able to do last year.  I fit into the seats at Fenway Park!

Other milestones - I've started taking baths, I fit into the tub.  I've jogged, not for long, but a real honest to goodness jog.  I had to buy a belt.  I am regularly stealing my husband's clothes to wear around the house (I am only 25lbs from being lighter than him now!)  My shoes are too big again, I can feel weird bones like hips and tailbone and gosh my hands look small now.  Still can't quite point out the collarbones but getting awfully close. 

I'm not sure how much loose skin I'm going to have - quite a bit I think.  My arms are shaping up a little thankfully, but the belly and hips are going to be interesting.  My boobs are disappearing fast, sadly.  I would have liked to have kept those.

Emotionally, I am doing good.  Better.  I think the Zoloft helped me in a lot of ways. 

I passed my 9 month mark a few days ago, and lost 150lbs by my 30th birthday.  That was a goal of mine (I've lost 152 actually).  Things are going well, I had my blood drawn last week, but don't have the results yet.  I also need to make my 9 month appt for the surgeon, and have an appt at the gyno on the 22nd for my annual exam. 

Emotionally, this is a tough process.  I am definitely having to work through why I got as big as I did in the first place.  I am having to face my issues with some other ammunition besides food.  Its a work in progress. 

I am excited to be going to Boston first week of June.  It will be my first flight since surgery, and I wonder if the buckles will close.  I hope so!  No more extender pppleeeeaaaasssseee.  I also have some anxiety about fitting into notoriously tiny Fenway park, but I'm gonna try.  Hopefully I don't hear a lot of crap from people. 

I am losing about 6-10lbs a month now, mostly all in one week each month.  I've gone from 36-32W clothes to 26-22W clothes.  I am smaller on top than bottom, and easily fit into 22s on top.  Bottoms, it depends but mostly 26s and 24s.  My bra size has changed from a 46DDD to a 40DDD, and my shoes have changed from a 8.5WW to a 6.5W.  My ring needs to be resized down to a 7.5 right now, from a 9.5.  I haven't resized it yet, but think I will very soon because I miss wearing it.  I may have to resize again in another year but in the meantime I'll have my wedding ring back.  Also, its nice not to have to wear extenders on 18in necklaces anymore.  And normal bracelets fit me.  I need some more jewelry :)

Exercise is good, I like the gym now.  I can walk 3 miles on the treadmill in about an hour, and I get cardio in 4-5 times per week generally, and weight training in about twice a week.  I have a lot of energy at the gym, and actually look forward to going.  Still don't have the guts to run on the treadmill yet though.  Maybe that'll be my goal for a year out. 

I think I can reach into the 250s by a year out if  my weight loss continues as it has been.  I am usually wrong though :) 

I've lost about 46% of my excess weight at this point, still a long wait to go.  My goal is 175, so I am 56% of the way there.  Gotta keep trucking. 

Well I remember last month, I'd just fit into the jeans I wore in that picture.  Now they are falling down.  I may have only lost 6lbs this past month but the inches lost were obvious to me.  I have some befores and afters here:

March 2006






And here are afters from today