Need Help--Protein, water, vitamins, food...How do you do it all??

HI everyone,
I'm 6 weeks post op.  I need some help with a couple of things.  One, I have tried a couple of protein shakes and am not crazy about either of them.  I have been adding a scoop of vanilla flavored protein to chocolate Carnation Instant Breakfast.  Its okay but not great.  I have tried Champion Whey Cookies and cream.  Again, okay but not crazy about it.  I have a hard time drinking more than a few ounces.  I did mix the vanilla with a banana one day.  That was pretty good but I can't have too much banana...very binding.
Does anyone have experience with unflavored protein powder.  I just bought some by unflavored protein by Jay Robb.  I haven't opened it yet.  I'm worried it is going to be too powdery and gritty like the vanilla flavored one.  I have to use the Magic bullet to mix it otherwise it's clumpy.  I don't want the unflavored to be that way too.  The vanilla flavor is egg white protein and the unflavored it  Whey Protein Isolate.  Any thoughts??
Okay...one more thing...how the heck to you fit everything into your stomach in one day?  Between water, protein shakes, vitamins and food...there doesn't seem to be enough time in the day to fit it all in.  I think this is my biggest struggle so far along with finding good protein sources to snack.  Which protein bars are the best?  I've looked for Atkins' bars but can't find them.  i've looked at the grocery store and places like Target.  How do you feel about other protein bars.  They seem to have lots of protein...maybe 20 grams but then there are twice as many carbs.  Is it worth the protein right now and just eat those bars with all those carbs?
I'm really NOT getting enough protein...I might just settle for all those carbs just to get my protein in.  I'm lost.  I need some direction!!
HELP!!!
Thanks for all your help!!
Terri

I like the taste of the Champion, but it gives me awful gas.  Try the Designer Whey - it's pretty mild, and doesn't taste too "whey-y."  If you're still having a hard time getting protein in through food, then you might just have to find something that you can tolerate and do what you gotta do to get your protein in.   I eat protein bars all the time, and prefer them to shakes, but you usually can't get one with 30 grams of protein like a shake.  My favorites are Power Crunch bars and Labrada bars.    You should be able to get Atkins bars at Walmart.    At first, it all seems like such a job, but it gets easier.  It's still a chore for me to get in all my vitamins, especially when my schedule is disrupted.  

Are you able to eat your protein? At 6 weeks out, it seems like you should be close to getting most of your protein through soft proteins (tuna, cheese, eggs, meat with sauce or gravy). It is hard to get it all in. Always keep fluids with you & sip at it constantly. I keep my vits in a little dish on my desk at work so I remember to take them. In between meals, snack on small portions of nuts, cheese, lunch meat - it will add up! I have one protein "shake" in my coffee every day & I never tried the protein bars. Good luck - you can do it!

I totally disagree with the above statement. I could not disagree more if I tried. At 6 weeks post op I was still barely eating anything and was getting most of my protein via shakes. Even then I wasnt able to drink enough to get it all in. That is why most surgeons suggest that you shoot for the protein goal of this. 30 grams of protein a day by 30 days post op, 60 grams of protein a day by 60 days post op and 90 grams of protein a day by 90 days post op. Don't be too hard on yourself, we've all been where you are. In the beginning it all just seems so hard, but just keep at it and you will get your routine down. If you fail to get it in one day, don't beat yourself up and just try again the next day. You WILL find what works for you, just keep at it.  

At 6 wks. post-op no way was I getting my protein in through food!  Everything tasted like crap and if not for the protein shakes I would have been in trouble.  Even now I struggle getting my protein through food alone.  I just don't have an appetite.  I drink Syntrax Nectar Chocolate Truffle three times per day--1 1/2 scoops/shake.  It's much tastier than any other shake I've tried--and I've tried a lot of them.  I avoid the protein bars due to the carbs and sugar alcohols.  Plus they are too much like a candy bar and I'm not going to let my mind or appetite go there.

Getting the vits in takes time and is still an effort.  I follow Vitalady's plan plus add biotin.  I'll be getting my labs done in a couple weeks so I'm hoping I'm on the right track.

I put a lot of emphasis on getting in the water as, historically, I am not much of a water-drinker, but know how critical it is.  I bought an insulated water bottle and carry it with me to work and in the car.  I force myself to drink 14 ounces of water with each round of vitamins so I know for certain I'm getting in a quantity at that time then add more throughout the day.  Once a day I "treat" myself with a glass of sugar-free lemonade to break up the monotony of plain water.

I'm 11 1/2 weeks post-op and know how hard the first two months feel.  Follow the 30-60-90 gms of protein rule as you progress and you should be in good shape.  Right now it feels like a real chore but gradually things get easier.  Just try to establish good habits now so they will follow you into the future. 
Good luck!
Lisa

Hi Terri,
Relax a little, it's a trial and error kind of thing. You can read through the daily Bites, Vites and Exercites thread to see how some people tackle getting everything done. 

My surgeon encourages protein supplements because he wants his DSrs to get at least 100 grams of protein from the get-go. This is a goal, and it will take a few weeks to reach it.  If you have a VitaminShoppe close by, try some Syntax Nectar vanilla. It's low carb and mixes easily. You can also add SF syrups and spices to change it up a bit. I also like the Nectar chocolate and strawberry flavors for regular creamy shakes (I mix them with 1/2 & 1/2 but this early out you may want to use Lactaid milk). Other folks like the Fuzzy Navel and Caribbean Cooler fruity flavors. You can order samples of the Syntrax Nectars from www.VitaLady.com  to see what might work best for you. Nectar also has an unflavored "Medical Nectar".  On Vitalady's site you kind find my all time favorite, IDS vanilla-cinnamon. I mix a slurry of this with 4 oz of 1/2 & 1/2 and pour reduced caffeine coffee over top. Yummy!

There is no best or better thing about "real food" over protein shakes. The whey protein has a 100% bio value and is very bio-available to our rerouted guts. Surgeons who push dense protein over protein shakes are trying to keep you too full to overeat (like you're going to be able to do that early out).  I call it BS!

Hydration is your number one priority early out. The good thing about protein shakes is they count towards both protein and fluids.  Sip constantly to get 64+ ounces of fluids daily from the get go. Again, this is a goal and you do the best you can but know that it is your primary goal.

JayRobb has a nice protein bar I get from VitaminShoppe as well. I like the peanut flavor, but I haven't tried the others yet. It's not your typical protein bar consistency so if texture is an issue, try one and see before you buy an entire box.

Vitamins, you can ease into as well. Start with your multi, calcium and D, then start adding more as you can handle them. Cut the horse pill in half or dissolve the calcium in water and add to your fluids. I think you can do the same with your Dry D3--open the capsule and dump it into your shake or soup, etc.

In order to track my schedule and make sure I got everything done, I used a "diet diary" which I also put my fluids, vitamins and meds on. I kept it on paper so I could take it with me and just check things off. I kept the diet diary for 2 years post -op. 

Good luck!

--gina


Sample diary page:

Date:		Day of the Week:			Weight:
Meal  Time	Foods Eaten		Protein Grams	Meds	Vitamins	Other
Breakfast  Time:					Multi Vits, calcium, mag cit, D, A, B Complex, B12, E, K, zinc, selenium, potassium, folic acid
Snack  Time:					calcium + mag cit
Lunch  Time:					calcium + mag cit
Snack    Time:					2-C + 3-Iron + copper
Dinner  Time:					Multi Vits, calcium, mag cit, A, B Complex, B12, E, K, zinc, selenium, potassium, folic acid
Snack  Time:					calcium + mag cit
		Totals:	0
Water/Fluids			Exercise
O O O O O O O O O			Walking: W W W W WWWW
Temperature:
Notes:

 

I didn't read all the previous responses, so forgive me if I'm repeating someone....

First of all, finding a protein drink that's okay, but that you don't love just might have to be good enough.  I don't love any of them, either, but I have found one that I can drink.  I prefer the Syntrax Nectars.  They dissolve easily in water (NO CLUMPS OR GRIT) and they taste fruity.  I can't do those thick milky ones.  I like Nectar's twisted cherry (tastes kind of like red jello).

Also, your protein drinks count towards your fluid intake.

I remember in the beginning, taking my vitamins was sometimes my meal!  LOL!  You may need to rely on shakes to get your protein in for awhile.

Oh, and Walmart has Atkins bars, but they're usually near the pharmacy section with the protein powders.

If you have a Vitamin Shoppe near you, they have TONS of protein bars and you can buy them individually to try them out, instead of having to buy an entire box.

I hated all protein supplements from the very beginning, which made me selective with REAL food, to get the most bang for my buck.  Ricotta cheese and custard were my saving grace (see my profile for recipes).  They were soft so I could eat more than I could of meat or other foods, and loaded with protein.

I hate protein shakes as well but for me they are a must. I tried to do all food - and I DID get all my protein in every single day. Time for labs? It wasn't pretty and I had to do some SERIOUS readjustments. So my Dr. says that we don't absorb protein as well by eating as we do with protein shakes so now I have to drink 90 grams of protein by shakes a day. It really stinks, but it is what it is. My next set of labs were better, not perfect but better. Not everyone will have this problem for sure, I hope one day I can just eat my protein.

Thanks so much everyone,.  I appreciate the advice and the encouragement.  I'm trying to start as much of the full regime of vitamins as I can. 
I'm just hoing to find a shake or two that I can tolerate.  They're just so blah!  LOL!!
You guys are the best!!  Thanks again!!
Terri