Protein questions

I'm getting psyched up for Wednesday, and avoiding anyone with a cough or cold right now.   However, I'm still wondering about the protein supplement, just because it seems like everyone I've talked to is using something different, and I haven't found anyone using the St V supplement on the yellow sheets.  I think my dad may have, but he had serious issues with milk tolerance (and had before his surgery).  I have no issues with milk now, and I know that can change after surgery.  I've been planning to use the St V supplement, mainly because it seems like it's the easiest, cheapest and most convenient.  I've bought a single box of nonfat dry milk, and I always have 1% milk on hands for me and my girls.  The other night at the Kokomo support group, most recent post ops (those still on the supplement, so less than 12 weeks out) were using Isopure or other GNC products.  One woman was mixing Isopure with Slim Fast low carb shakes.  How do I know which Isopure to use, if I can't tolerate the milk?  I went on GNC's site, and about choked when I saw the price of a container of Isopure, until I realized it was the 8lb size.  Heck, even 3 lbs is practically $50!! What if that makes me sick?  As of right now, I'm not going to stress too much until I know how I tolerate milk in a week or so, but I would like to have Plan B in mind, so when I have my husband take me to the store, I know what I'm looking for. Any advice or words of encouragement are much welcomed!

i lasted about a week out of the hospital when my stomach decided that it no longer liked milk. i've been having problems ever since. i tried soy protein, and that caused by far the worst dumping crash that i never want to have again. i've tried vanilla flavored whey protein with crystal light and water, but that has an aftertaste. i'm currently on 16oz water, 2 packet crystal light, 1 scoop of gnc unflavored whey protein (21g). i'm also trying slimfast low carb option which has 20g in 11oz of liquid. i also went to the health food store and found protein 100 which is a concentrated protein liquid with 15g in 1 fl oz that you mix with 4oz of juice or water. honestly, don't worry about until it happens. buy everything in small quantities until you find something that works. i would ignore the isopure until everything you tried no longer works just because it is so expensive but it will work because it's "pure" of the things that make most wls patients sick. definitely check out your local health food store. we have 2 in lafayette that both have different stocks. in one of them i found individual packets of flavored whey protein in lots of different flavors. just remember to keep an open mind.

Hi- Good Luck! I personally didn't like the protein drinks, my nut gave me samples of a protein boullion and I loved it! i did try the ISOPURE drink in the bottle! By itself it tasted nasty to me, BUT I could tolerate it by using it as the water for jello and then making protein jello! I used the orange Isopure with orange jello! Hope this helps! Just a thought! I also was lactose intolerant after surgery and still am! Good Luck, I will be rootin for ya! Hugz Dawn REMEMBER - you can take anything back to GNC for up to 30 days with the receipt EVEN if it has been opened, if you do not like it!

I was sitting behind you at the support group and did not speak up when they were talking about protein. I am using the Whey from Wal-mart. They do only have chocolate and vanilla thoughand it is only $14.88 for a  smaller container.  I mix mine with water because I thought that when I mixed it with milk I had extra stinky gas, no pains though. Even 9 months later I still have 2 supplements a day because I still don't get in my protein if I try to just eat. My morning one I have been mixing with my 2 ounces of yogurt (#1 yougurt only has  1 gram protein per ounce and I need to mix my calcium with it also) I usually use the vanilla for that. In the evening I usually make a smoothie type drink with my protein. I use my smoothie machine, take my scoop of protein powder, add some packets of no calorie sweetner, put in 3/4 cup water, add flavoring of choice (strawberry, banana, peppermint, almond, chocolate, ect.) then a cup of ice. It comes out to the similar consistency of a  Wendy's frosty. Sometimes I use fresh fruit or even frozen, instead of flavorings or even use 1/4 cup plain yogurt or even dry sugar free pudding mix and these will make a thicker consistency. If you have a problem with the air then you would need to wait until the foamies go down in the glass. It is only about an hour or so but I don't have a problem. I think my all time favorite is chocolate banana, using 1/2 banana with extra sugar free chocolate syrup and the chocolate powder. I have also posted a cinnamon apple one on this site also. I usually have this in the evening because that is the time of day that I always had the munchies. I can get through the day not eating between meals but the evening is the worst so I have my protein drink  and it fills me up and I don't want to munch.

Yeah, I am with Dawn Yuck ISOPURE.....I can't tolrate it either, Shanna Give me Carnation Instant Breakfast (you can make it with soy and non fat) I'd rather drink 8 of those before i drink anymore Isopure.

I like Body Fortress from Walmart.  It is only about $13 for a huge canister.  It comes in chocolate and vanilla.  I would mix mine with milk. I am lucky....I haven't had any problems with mik!  Good Luck on your surgery!!

Amy... Good luck on Wednesday!        I drank the St. V's mix for about a month before I became lactose intollerent (I'm not anymore). I used sf lemon or lime jello in it for the flavoring. I couldn't handle it with CIB in it at all. The nuts told me to try Isopure. OMG..yuck! I am a very texture sensitive person every since my RNY and that is probably the thing that alerted my system to be sensitive! The taste was bad enough...which, I added a little bit of sweet & low to it; no help. The thing that got me was I would have a film on my tongue after I drank it. I literally scraped my tongue with my top teeth afterward and got something that looked like paper! I never tried it with jello...probably wouldn't have helped me though. Once I have a bad experience with something, I tend to shy away from it.                      Over the course of the years, I've tried many, many protein powders, jells, and ready to drinks. The pure Protein RTD aren't too bad. The Nectar powder (bariariceating.com) isn't either. Well..neither were for me for a SHORT period anyway. Everytime I'd have another surgery, my taste buds would change on me!  I think since (and not including) my RNY, I've had 11..that's alot of changing it's mind! The only protein drink that I have enjoyed constantly is the AchievOne's (bariatriceating.com). They ARE pricey...but to me, not as pricey as cases/jars of stuff I can't/won't drink taking up space. (which..I have almost 3 cases of Micellular Milk, vanilla flavor, for sale right now for that very reason!).  I would not recommend the AchievOne's to anyone less than 6 months post-op though because they DO contain a little bit of caffiene...and caffiene can cause ulcers to the new pouch.                           I know many people quit doing the protein drinks when they are 6-12 months post-op. I'm over 3.5 years out and I drink 2 (40 g) every day...3 if it isn't a good eating day. I've had alot of surgeries and alot of complications though so my protein intake has been critical for my health. Alot of people switch from the drinks to protein bars. I haven't found any bars that I liked the taste AND were worth the calories for what protein you got. 10 g of protein for 150 cal just isn't worth it to me..not when my AchievOne's have 20 g of protein for 120 cal. Your taste buds & your wallet is going to help guide you on your protein path. What works for me...may not for you. And what ends up working for you, probably wouldn't work for the majority that comes after you. I would recommend your checking out any samples you can get! Some places...I think BariaricEating does..has a variety sample pack for sale. GNC will refund you for returned products that you don't like. There are some nutritional stores (like one in Castleton) that will let you taste test some of their products. When you do find something you like, buy small because you never know when your taste buds are going to change on you.              Good luck! Sherri

I bought a lot of samples of different protein to try and was able to find one that I like without buying a lot of large quantities. Here are some of the sites that I have gotten samples from. Most will ship to you within a weeks time.

allthewhey.com

unjury.com vitalady.com enjoyhealth.com I found that I like All The Whey's bariatric protein the best (mixed with milk). Good luck.

 

I found out I was lactose intolerant the very night I got home from the hospital. I was a good girl and mixed up my St. V's mixture and managed to get a glass of it down.  I went to bed, in my own bed (very painful, lol)and in the middle of the night it hit and I couldn't get up so I'm screaming for my husband to wake up and pull me out of bed, no more milk for me lol.  I can now drink milk though with out problems.  I tried all kinds of things after surgery and never found one that I handled very well.  I was and still am like sherri I have the issues with textures. I cant even stand most meat in my mouth now.  The guy in castleton is very good at helping find something to help out and he did let me taste test stuff before buying.  I did the protien shots in the vials for a little bit but they are expensive too, and nasty lol.  I tried the nectar protiens and oooooh my the smelled like vomit to me and i couldnt even get those in my mouth.  My husband smelled it one day and he was like you better pour that out its bad, and i told him I just made it.  Nasty Nasty Nasty ! At the moment I am using EAS AdvantEdge Carb control. Its only got 17 grams of protien in one and they are kinda pricey but the french vanilla is the one i used, chocolate was not so good.  I still have issues with eating my protien due to the texture problem so I have been at least drinking this too to help me out. I get them at wal mart.  I have heard alot of people that have used and liked the body fortress from wal mart, that is one that I actually never tried.  Just buy in small amounts cuz like somebody said earlier u never know when you tastebuds are gonna change. Good luck with your sugery on wednesday and finding a protien drink that will work for you.

2 weeks after surgery I found out that I am not able to tolerate milk products or am lactose intolerant. I was using the protein from Walmart, couldn't tolerate it. Tried Extreme XXX from GNC couldn't tolerate it either. They did take back the opened one. I actually traded it for the Isopure powder and drinks. The drinks leave a film in my mouth too. I am using the vanilla flavored powder (it is lactose free) and I am tolerating it for now. I blend it with a whole can of SF peaches sweetened with splenda and tried it with frozen blueberries last night (next time I wil strain the berry seeds out after blending). I add ice to make it a smoothie. In my search for protein powder, I have found most of them are made from milk (whey). So if you do become intolerant to milk products make sure you read the labels.