Question:
Will I ever feel normal?
( had open GPS on December 2nd, 2008 and am struggling to get my protein and fluids in. I absolutely hate water. I now gag with the protein shakes and shots. I have tried crystal light, sf kool aid, unsweet tea, etc. and just cant seem to get POP out of my head. Can someone PLeASE help me.....you know soda is an addiction of its own. i never realized that it would be this hard. This is actually harder than putting down the cigerettes 8 months ago. Thanks!!!!!! — amgentry (posted on December 26, 2009)
December 26, 2009
I didnt spell check prior to submitting my question....LOL
i had the open Gastric bypass on december 2nd of this year. sorry!!!
— amgentry
December 26, 2009
I had the surgery December 9th and I cannot do protein shakes. I have spent
a small fortune on different kinds trying to find one that works. I don't
really have an answer for you but wanted you to know you are not alone with
the protein shake struggle.
I talked with my surgeon about my strong aversion to the shakes when I
ended up in the ER a few days ago and he suggested eating 5 meals/day
(instead of 3) and concentrating on fish, chicken, eggs, and cottage
cheese. I am still on pureed foods but I have been trying this for the past
few days. Hang in there.
One suggestion on the water.. try sucking on a sugar free hard candy while
you sip? I do it once in a while to take the boredom out of it but remember
they do have calories and carbs so always in moderation.
— Sa-ruh
December 26, 2009
I suspect you'll find this too shall pass. But in the meantime, have you
tried the chocolate already-prepared Premier shakes at CostCo? To me they
taste like chocolate milk, or delicious chocolate popsicles when frozen,
and hot chocolate when warmed a little bit. My surgery was Nov. 18, and
I've been trying lots of different samples. Most of them are only
tolerable if I add decaf coffee to them, and use a good shaker to blend
them. As far as getting your protein, sprinkle the plain powdered proteins
in your food. And to boost your water intake, try the SF fruit-flavored
popsicles and drink hot SF jello. I hope you're able to use some of these
ideas. Best success.
— Janell C.
December 26, 2009
I will tell you about my experience with protein shakes and bullets.... The
IsoPure ready-to-drink 20-ounce bottles of clear protein was my favorite
when I was still on clear liquids (grape frost and pineapple-orange-banana
were the best - like koolaid for adults, with 40 grams of protein at a
whack). I also had a little trouble with the bullets until I learned that
I could put half a fruit-flavored bullet into a large cup of fruit-flavored
herbal tea (for instance, half of an orange-flavored bullet in a big cup of
Tangerine Orange Zinger tea, or half of a blue raspberry bullet in a big
cup of Wild Berry Zinger tea). The bullet, along with one packet of
Splenda, gave the tea a nice tangy taste that I actually missed when I was
told not to use the bullets anymore. I also bought some Inspire Peanut
Butter Cookie protein shake mix from BariatricEating.com. It's delicious!!
I'd drink it all day long if I could, but it's expensive and I'd go broke
if I did that. So, I also found a couple of other protein shake powders
that I really like - one is Syntrax Nectar Sweets Chocolate Truffle (very
low in calories and carbs, and NO fat), and Lean Dessert Chocolate Coconut
Candy Bar or Fresh Cinnamon Bun (a little higher in calories and a couple
of grams of fat per serving). Lean Dessert also has another one that
sounds great, called Banana Nut Bread, but I haven't been able to find it
on the shelves around here, and I don't want to pay for shipping. Now, you
can also find yourself a nice vanilla flavor (I recommend the Syntrax or
the Lean Dessert), and buy any of about 35 or 40 flavors of the DaVinci
Sugar-Free Syrups like Toffee, Pralines and Cream, Mint, Mocha, Strawberry,
Blueberry, Almond, Amareto, Butter Rum, Caramel, Chocolate, Egg Nog,
Hazelnut, Huckleberry, Irish Cream, Kahlua, Lemon, Macademia Nut,
Pineapple, Raspberry, Vanilla and Watermelon, and use them to flavor the
vanilla protein powder. Now, the Inspire Peanut Butter Cookie and the Lean
Dessert drinks mix up to be thicker and more velvety tasting than the
Syntrax Nectar Sweets. And finally, you can buy a protein powder that I
can pretty much vouch to be tasteless and odorless, and it's called Any
Whey Protein Powder. You can mix it into oatmeal, warm broth, soups,
puddings, just about anything. The Syntrax Nectar and the Lean Desserts
can be purchased at your local Vitamin Shoppe or GNC, and so can the
Iso-Pure koolaid kind of stuff.
— Erica Alikchihoo
December 26, 2009
You will need to just try different proteins to see if you find one you
like. I have done the shots in tea and it is pretty good. I get the ones
at Walmart that have 26 grams of fat in a 3 oz container. I am a year out
so I am able to do the 3 ounces at once. Normally I can just tip it up and
do the whole thing at once. The one thing that no one has addressed is the
pop addiction. It would have been good if you had kicked it before surgery
- which I am guessing you didn't since you are still wanting it. I was the
same way but was able to get away from it before my surgery. You need to
remember that the carbonation can hurt your pouch. Just remember that you
have been given the gift of having the surgery and you don't want to mess
it up. Just as it was hard to quit smoking, it is hard to give up other
addictions. You can do this. Even if you have to go minute by minute, you
can. I have to tell myself that all the time. I'm definitely not perfect
and I screw up sometimes and you will too, but you don't get discouraged -
just get up and continue on the right road.
— Dawn A.
December 26, 2009
Hi Angela,
I also went thru the dont like any flavors...protein would not set well.
Many people say they cant handle really cold things..well the colder the
better for me. So I use several different kinds of protein..one is Isopure
bottles..many diff flavors..I use crushed ice to pour small amounts over
and sip. There are many places to order protein from, but I have not done
that.I go to GNC and they will let you taste different flavors in the
stores here. Also, at my monthly group meeting we get different samples
from there. One of the best I have seem is with Vitalady. They have many
different sample packets to try. Most everything has been good. I'm just
not good at ordering in adavance. Also have had the Unjury to add to things
and has been ok.
Our tastes for some reason has changed since our surgery..so it does take
alot of sampling of different proteins. I also use a lot of cottage cheese
and beans to get my protein. Iam not able to fix fish at home..so only ge
it when I go out. Dont get frustrated with the protein..just use trial and
error ..you will get it figured out. Best of luck..
— tootsie52
December 27, 2009
Hi Angela, I know exactly how you feel about those protein shakes and for
me the protein bars too. I gag with just the thought of either of them. I
did, however, discover Isopure. It's nothing like the powdery, gritty
shakes and it's in several fruit flavors. It comes in large 20 oz bottles
or smaller 10 oz (I believe) bottles. One 20 oz bottle gives you those 20
oz as a daily fluid intake as well as 40 grams of protein in 1 bottle with
no carbs, no sugar, and only 160 calories. I myself, am a sugar freek so if
I find that one day I would like my Isopure a bit sweeter, I'll add a
couple of packets of Splenda to it. It's really rather good in my opinion.
You might want to try a couple of flavors and see if you like any of them.
You can find them in health food stores like GNC or online. I'm about 2
months out from RNY and am down 61 lbs since I started the pre-op liquid
diet before my surgery (17 lbs lost during pre-op liquid diet). Because I'm
not a fan of the protein shakes and those infamous protein bars, I used the
Isopure in it's place. It was a great support during those
"liquid" times and is still a great aid for me if I get stuck in
unsuccessfully trying to intake all of the daily protein I need. This way
I'm killing 2 birds with one stone. I was never one to drink sodas so I
can't really relate to your situation but hopefully you will be able to
find something that will replace the soda's and satisfy you at the same
time. Maybe this will help. Just don't give up and don't panic. You'll make
it through all of this successfully. You'll have failures and successes.
None of us can be successful until we've had a few failures to learn what
to do correctly. We're all in the same boat. Hang in there kiddo. You can
do this. I'll be praying for your continued success! Blessings abundantly!!
— annteekee
December 27, 2009
I cried when I found this protein drink, It is from the BA line, in the
banana flavor. 27 grams per serving the you add milk and then voila more
protein! I also buy the EAS Myoplex in chocolate only at walmart and then
get it cold, and sometimes add decaf crystals for my own iced coffee!
Another option with 23 grams per serving is Greek Yogurt, no sugar and no
flavor added, it takes like sour cream with a tang, so I add splenda. Now I
can add blueberries to it, yummy! Some add SF jam to it also....
— Lyzias
December 27, 2009
Keep in mind that you can get protein from things other then shakes. a
little jar of strained meat baby food has 8 to 9 grams. Mix it with some
broth and instant mashed potatoes and its not too bad. Also milk itself has
protein. 8g in one cup. I use muscle milk chocolate two scoops in about 12
oz of milk and you have a 37g protein chocolate milk. The Isopure is good
too. I have heard UNJURY powders are great. They even come in unflavored or
chicken soup and u can add them too food and liquids. You can put the
unflavored in refried beans and mix it up. I am only about a week out and
hate "shakes" as well. Hope this helps. Remember to find what
works for you and protein comes from many sources.
— lynnredboy
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