Question:
Why is the protein supplement so important?

All the protein drinks i have tasted or so nasty. I currently have the new Nectar Protein that is suppose to be the best tasting on the market and it is nasty still to me. I know I need the protein but dont know why and why will happen of I dont take it. Any suggestions or help with htis is greatly appreciated. Thanks    — crlindfw (posted on May 15, 2007)


May 15, 2007
I personally do not like the Nectar proteins. I think they taste nasty too. I have been told it is because they use Stevia to sweeten them. I use the protein powders available at the Vitamin Shoppe - I think they are called Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey. I dont drink them as just plain shakes though. I encorporate them into my morning hot tea or Chai. My mother makes her morning coffee with them. Basically I make a 'milk or creamer' from a scoop of vanilla or chocolate powder and a small amount of cool or room temp water. I also sometimes add a few spoons of dry skim milk, splenda, or diet cocoa or diet quik mix for added flavor. I blend the small amount of water, mix, milk, splenda for a few seconds until smooth and then make my hot chai tea, hot cocoa, or hot coffee and use the "protein milk" in my hot drink. I have also done the same thing making a "protein milk" and pouring it over instant oatmeal to increase my protein intake.
   — pattilca

May 15, 2007
Hi Courtney You ask an important question. The "framework" of every cell in your body is made with protein. For every cell you make or replace, you need protein to do it. And more specifically, you need amino acids (the "building blocks" of protein) in specific proportions. ------ When you don't get enough protein over time, problems that can occur include: -- deep fatigue -- weight loss plateau -- hair loss -- muscle loss (your heart is a muscle, so if you are deficient in quality protein over time, your body will begin harvesting protein from your muscles including your heart muscle) Yes, we sell protein, but we sell protein because we believe it is important. All of the above is accepted in the medical community. Does that help? Kind regards Jerome UNJURY Protein
   — UNJURY

May 15, 2007
I agree that many of the proteins taste bad or leave an after taste. I like Walker. It's inexpensive and quite delicious. I add a few banana slices, strawberries sometimes. You can buy it from vitacost.com
   — Sheri A.

May 15, 2007
Same thing happened to me. I now use AnyWhey tasteless protein powder. You can add it to almost anything and even bake with it! It has VERY little taste and when I add it to my crystal light I can barely taste it. I buy it at GNC. Granted it has only 17 g of protein, but I add 2 scoops to about 32 ounces of water, crystal light, tea etc and sip on it all day in addition to my 3 meals and sometimes 2 snacks per day. Try it, I know you won't be disappointed. Good luck!
   — crystalsno

May 15, 2007
Layman terms... You need protein to heal and to rebuild muscle. Protein is the core source of everything you do and without it you feel weak and tired. Most protein is nasty. Try stuff with only around 20 grams per serving. You will have to use it more often but it will taste better. Also it depends on flavors. Choose ones you can mix with things you like. Strawberry with orange juice, strawberries and ice for a smoothie.
   — Silkie

May 15, 2007
Are you asking why do you need supplement vs food? There was an excellent article in www.bariatrictimes.com that I just read today describing why, exactly, we get our protein from supplements vs food. In short, because the food doesn't go into the stomach, normal DIGESTION does not occur. And because the food BYPASSES the duodenum, regular ABSORPTION cannot occur. Further, there is the reality that when you factor in malabsorption, you really cannot eat enough food protein to compensate for what the bypass has done. I could go on & on about the benefits over the long haul, but since you're new, I'll skip that part. I'll list my personal faves, but in my world, the Champion Pure Whey Stack family is far, far, far ahead of Nectars in loveability. Shakes up easily in water, 30g protein, 3g carbs (varies by flavor) in 4-8 oz water? Couldn't be easier. I don't use milk or juice. I've lost 150 lbs and I don't want ANY of them finding me again, so I leave no "sugar bread crumbs" for them to follow back to me! Any of these are what I use: 1.) Champion ProScore 100 choco + 8 oz water + ice, blended (hand blender or Magic Bullet). 2.) Champion Pure Whey Stack choco + 6-8 oz water, shaken. 3.) IDS vanilla-cinnamon + "glop" of DaVinci sugar free caramel sauce + 8 oz water + ice, blended. 4.) the PWS chco + the van-cin (50/50) in about 10 oz hot water, stirred or hand blender. Lately I've been adding a shake of cinnamon to my hot ones since cinnamon fights belly fat. I always put 1 scoop of UpCal D powder in (500mg calcium citrate, 250 IU of vit D3).
   — vitalady

May 15, 2007
Courtney... go to the following website and it will tell you why protein is so important, why we need to eat protein, what can happen if you become deficient... http://www.stepuptotheplate.net/Modules/Protein.asp and http://www.thinnertimes.com/gastricbypass/protein.html and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastric_bypass_surgery and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_in_nutrition Hope this helps..........
   — Kari_K

May 15, 2007
hi there. it took me a while to find a protein shake that i like .i have and use 100% ON WHEY POWDER -VANILLA ice cream and i use a bit of frozen fruit like berrys or mangos in it and splenda and its good and i usually make extra and i put it in the freezer and eat it when i want some ice cream ,its getting the protein in plus satisfying the ice cream crave . i also use stivia and i use the vanilla powder and add rootbeer stivia which it taste like a rootbeer float or i sometimes add orange and vanilla and it tastes like a creamsicle.. so you might want to try that out , the powder is sold at vitamin shoppe that is where i get it . hope this helps .rebecca basra
   — LUVROSE4U

May 15, 2007
I had a hard time in the begining with shakes as well. I used protein soups. I think the brand is Proti or Bariatric Advantage. I liked the cream of tomato the best. Once I could eat solid food, it became much easier to get my 80 grams in per day. Another favorite of mine is Achieve One Coffee / Protein drink. It has 20 grams of protein for 120 calories. It tastes yummy, too! This website has those items and sample sizes of protein powders so you can try before you commit to a huge tub. www.c2linfo.com Hope this helps! I remember feeling frustrated, too.
   — robinmarra

May 15, 2007
I' m going to be a little different here since I don't drink protein shakes or use protein powder - can't stand them and no matter what I try I get sicker than a dog. I get all my protein from food, nothing else. I keep track at fitday.com to make sure I'm getting it in and I have had no problem at all. My nutritionist is on the side that you stop taking protein shakes after the first couple of months, she feels that if you stick with real food you are more successful in the long run. So far it has worked for me - all my tests are good. BUT, you have to get the protein in, one way or another (many have answered about why protein is important and it absolutely is!). I just choose to do it without protein shakes or supplements. I couldn't tell how far out you are from surgery but if you are still in the liquid phase and can't tolerate the shakes, try cream soups fixing them with milk. That was my lifesaver.
   — [Deactivated Member]

May 15, 2007
I was there 3 years ago, at the beginning. Best advice I can give you is the Bariatric Eating Website: http://store.bariatriceating.com/ You can order samples of the different protein powers, as well as other protein packed foods. I do it occassionally because it allows me to try something new before I buy it. The samples are not free but they are decently priced. The website also offers recipes to jazz up and add variety to your protein regime. I have been a faithful customer of Bariatric Eating since I had my surgery. Everything they sell is geared towards helping us stay on track. Susan Marie, the owner, is one of us - a bariatric patient. Hang in there, the going will not always be tough! By the way, I have no affiliation with Bariatric Eating or any of it's employees. I just like to pass on a good thing when I find it.
   — L. Susan P.

May 16, 2007
I'll have to second Susan's recommendation of Bariatric Eating. Micellar Milk is great tasting. The strawberry flavor does taste exactly like strawberry milk, and I am extremely sensitive to that protein taste. You can order samples of various protein powders and drinks. Supplementing is important because, due to the limited foods we can eat, it is very difficult to get all of the required protein from food alone. My experience is that if I do NOT supplement, the weight comes off much more slowly -- probably because my body is not getting enough fuel and goes into 'starvation mode' for lack of a better term. Good luck, and don't throw in the towel!
   — cerrac

May 16, 2007
protein helps with healing -- protein helps with your hair and fingernails (fingernails are made of hair) loss due to the lack of protein -- your body needs protein to survive (basic chemistry of the human body) -- you don't have to drink protein shakes -- you can get your recommended amount of protein with food -- milk, eggs, seafood, beef, pork, poultry -- there is no protein in fruits of vegetables -- good luck to you
   — RCassety

May 16, 2007
I have recently been using Muscle Milk which has approximately 30 or more grams of protein. They have several different products such as, powder, shakes, cereal and pudding and a nice selection of flavors. I've also heard about protein bullets which I haven't tried yet but have heard they are good. You can get them at GNC or their website
   — msferret6

May 17, 2007
Another product is the Isopure Fruit drinks you can get at GNC. You can use them with other low cal fruit drinks so you don't always feel like your drinking a shake. There is 40 grams of protein in a bottle and I take to work in a big jug and drink all day- or until gone. Some times I drink 2 a day- because I still have a problem eating meat. FYI- ALL your organs are muscles and made up of protein. If you don't get enough nutritionally- which is hard for us as explained in other answers, this is the first choice of the body to digest and use because it is easiest. Your body can only use fat to replace the carbs you need- it can not use fat to replace the protein you need. That is why there is such a big deal made about getting your protein in.
   — Cdavis226




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